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Plastic washing up bowl in stainless steel kitchen sink - why?

(92 Posts)
Moocow Tue 07-May-19 10:43:27

I've never understood why people do this. From small I always thought it was a breeding ground for germs. Now especially with water meters, why are people still using them? Why did people ever use them?

Curious as I saw someone trying to decide what size fitted their sink. It was a lovely colour so I was tempted myself grin

lovebeigecardigans1955 Tue 07-May-19 17:05:24

It uses a lot less water. The left-over space can act as an 'in-tray' as it were.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 17:03:19

And I think, a grey one.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 17:02:52

I think my present one is red. Or that might be the one I've been using for compost carrying this afternoon. I am not in the kitchen at the moment. There is a yellow one in the shed.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 17:00:47

I don't have a double sink. Just one large deep one. Can't stand a shallow sink. I get wet.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 16:59:39

I am finding it really difficult to find another one in the size I like. It's quite worrying. I might even have to bring a previously used one from the shed and give it a really good spruce up.

I much prefer round ones to square. They seem easier to clean round.

DanniRae Tue 07-May-19 16:25:45

I don't have a dishwasher so all washing up is done in a washing up bowl.
All things that I feel about this have already been said BUT now I want a new bowl in an exciting colour because mine is dark grey. This is why the internet is potentially dangerous - it has caused me discontent. I HAVE to have a new bowl!! envy

lemongrove Tue 07-May-19 16:25:10

Perhaps because we are all different Monica so we do things differently.
Also, not everybody has a double sink.

M0nica Tue 07-May-19 16:21:54

That's the point, if you have a double sink you usually have a large and a small one and what is to stop you using a big sink and having only a couple of inches of water in it. I have a dishwasher and a big sink needs very little water when dealing with vegetables, or for cleaning purposes. I would probably have more in a bowl because I would have deeper water in it because it isn't possible to spread things around in it.

yggdrasil Tue 07-May-19 16:19:11

All that has been said already. Getting rid of dregs, using less water, much less likelihood of breakage if you happen to drop a delicate item. As far as I know, everyone I know has a plastic bowl, except right now my partner hasn't because he put it on a hot stove (wally) and it makes washing up a lot more difficult. Neither of us has dishwashers.

lemongrove Tue 07-May-19 16:16:22

grin
Mine is elephant grey.?

JackyB Tue 07-May-19 16:13:41

I can't imagine what colour Moocow's bowl is. What plastic bowl can cause such raptures?

lemongrove Tue 07-May-19 16:10:30

Exactly wot JackyB says.smile
You use less water in a smallish bowl, rather than filling a sink ( unless you have a tiny sink.)

M0nica Tue 07-May-19 16:05:39

How?

bikergran Tue 07-May-19 15:44:52

Im on a water meter I used a washing up bowl to save water.

M0nica Tue 07-May-19 15:42:50

I have a double sink, so the emptying tea cup dregs problem doesn't exist I just use the other sink. I do not have a bowl in the sink because I have a dishwasher so rarely wash uo anything other than large saucepans.

I do have a plastic bowl in the cupboard under the sink. Much easier to squeeze a mop out when washing the floor, also for taking a bowl of warm soapsuds out to scrub the garden table and cleaning the car - much more convenient than a bucket.

JackyB Tue 07-May-19 13:57:12

My kids don't get it either. They always remove the washing up bowl (they were recently here whilst we were on holiday).

I agree with everyone else

- where do you put the slops if you don't have one?
- It's far more gentle on the delicate things,
- and you can't lose anything down the plughole.
- it's more hygienic, as I stand the bucket for the floor cleaning, etc, in the sink (stand the washing up bowl on the draining board first)

The first thing I do when I clear the kitchen is fill the washing up bowl with water and a few drops of bleach. I leave the washing up brush and dishcloth in there, too, whilst I tidy.

Then I know it's clean and can replace the water with hot washing up water and go on to do the hand washing up in it, and can wipe the counter with the bleachy dishcloth.

crazyH Tue 07-May-19 12:34:12

Wotsits does cover the lot, gonegirl ?

Lazigirl Tue 07-May-19 12:31:22

Probably more germs in dischcloths, sponges & washing up brushes if you use them. Wouldn't lose sleep over a plastic bowl.

Alima Tue 07-May-19 12:04:19

Seems perfectly fine to me to use a washing up bowl in the sink. Uses less water, doesn’t scratch, won’t lose water as the plug thingy isn’t in properly. As to the hygiene factor maybe all those germs over so many years have simply added to our antibodies.

jura2 Tue 07-May-19 11:57:57

I must say this is something I never do and it puzzles me when I see it. My sil now does so since she has a granit sink and worktops - as they were breaking so many things. She says she would never have granit or marble again, as she has broken so many heirlooms, crystal and beautiful bone china!

grannyticktock Tue 07-May-19 11:57:30

I once stayed with a friend who didn't use a bowl in the sink and found washing-up a frustrating task because every time there was a dribble left in a cup or something messy like ketchup on a plate, it just had to go into the dishwater, whereas I would normally pour it or sluice it round the side, directly into the sink. I also think there's less risk of damage to glasses etc in a plastic bowl, and it avoids wasting hot water as you can get away with less, especially if you've only a few things to wash.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 11:55:41

Yeah, that's what I thought Crazy. Didn't want to risk getting it wrong though. 'wotsits' covers the lot.

Elegran Tue 07-May-19 11:49:49

I hand wash-up two kinds of things - glass and delicate china (better in a soft plastic bowl than in the steel sink) and large pans/dishes which either don't fit in the diswasher or would take up too much space (better in the sink than in a bowl)

The sink is also used for non-dishwashing purposes, some of which are pretty messy. I wouldn't like to follow them with my crystal glasses.

shysal Tue 07-May-19 11:43:56

I am puzzled by your question. Reasons are obvious as already stated.

crazyH Tue 07-May-19 11:43:40

Double negative gonegirl ?