Dirty dishes do not look twice as pleasant in the kitchen. Here is a strong reason why you should wash it (even with a total evening boost).
Of course, dishwasher owners have it “on the hook”. Just stack the dirty pieces in the appliance, add a pill and the miracle of technology will take care of everything. It’s worse for those who don’t have a dishwasher and have to deal with their dirty kitchen arsenal pretty much “by hand”. Are you among them? Then you learn to wash the dishes continuously (ideally after every meal), or at least in the evening before going to bed. The wall of dirty china and pots could take revenge on you. As?
“Clean Sink” Event
“If you leave dirty dishes out overnight, you run the risk of food, water and grease residues becoming an ideal breeding ground for bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella or Listeria,” warns scientist Dr. Brian Labus, who studies epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Nevada School of Public Health. According to him, any liquid below 60°C turns into a “bacterial soup” overnight, contaminating everything in the sink, including dish sponges.
Dangerous acidity
In addition, if the dishes also contain acidic food residues, such as tomato sauce, ketchup, yogurt, sour cream, citrus fruits or fermented vegetables, it can happen that this “deposit” is also absorbed into the surface and leaves behind a strong odor trail. “The risk is mainly with utensils made of wood and plastic. Both of these materials quickly absorb acidic compounds, which can then make the job of cleaning more difficult,” says the expert, adding that by washing dishes you protect your kitchen equipment and your health.
Unwelcome guests
It’s no secret that the remains of grease and sweet or sour foods start to smell after a few hours. This stench attracts harmful insects – such as flies, ants or cockroaches – to visit your kitchen. And not only that, the olfactory pleasure of food stimulates the production of pheromones in insects, which they use to mark the way for others. That’s why you can’t be surprised if you find a lot of unwelcome guests at the dirty sink in the morning.
What to do when you don’t feel like doing…
What’s more, you can easily rinse the mugs and plates. But it’s not so much fun with dishes with dried or baked-on remains. The expert therefore recommends that you soak the dishes in hot water with a drop of detergent for twenty minutes. In this “spa”, most dirt or cake will loosen. Then just take a dishwashing brush, get rid of the residue, rinse everything in hot water and you’re done.
