is it really bad if hand washing dishes without using a full hot-water sink?

Question

It usually says use a tank (a sink) with hot water and dish detergent when hand washing dishes. But, what about putting detergent onto the sponge, wash the dishes. Then rinse the dishes with hot water. Shouldn't bacteria get killed this way too?

Answer 1

we fill the sink with hot water and soap and then soak them for about 10 mintues to help fight off bacteria etc. Then wash and rinse.

If you are trying to save water, I wash and then set the dishes in the other side of the sink and rinse all at once.

Answer 2

Yeah, but you really need to soak them completly, so they get hot-the heat is also what kills the bacteria, not just the soap. Also the heat in soaking helps release the junk from the dishes.

Plus...if you do dishes like my husband...he lets the water just run while he's using that sponge on a stick(full of soap), then rinses them...it makes me crazy!

I like to fill up the sink with hot, hot, hot water, soap and dishes...the glasses first, then the glass bowls and plates, then the ceramic stuff, then if that water is still hot-which it should be-I throw in the utencils and let them soak while I dry and put away the other dishes. I save the dirty, dirty stuff for last.

I hate that sponge-stick-full of-soap thing...I dont think it gets dishes that clean...the surface of it really only touches a few parts of the dish. I have clear glass dishes and you can see where it hasn't cleaned! I use a rag with some kind of plastic scrubbing net on once side, or I use one of those sponges with that same plastic netting wrapped around it. Your hands and fingers can really get into nooks and crannies that the sponge with the handle cant get.

Answer 3

There are differing opinions about the need for hot water and the amount of water. My opinion is that you don't need to use a full sink of hot water and you don't need to soak the dishes. Just do as you are doing if you are satisfied with it and rinse the soap off with clear water and let them air dry. Think about this though -where does the water go that you use for rinsing? Couldn't some of it go into a dish pan for washing the dishes and the rest into another dishpan for rinsing them?

These sites should help.

Answer 4

Of course not... It is quite clean to have a plastic pan(dish pan) in your sink and use regular water(not necessarily hot) and dish soap.. get a good lather and wash away at those dishes and then rinse them off with clean water... Nothing wrong with that AT ALL !!!!