On Instagram, a British influencer posted a video explaining that people in the UK wash their pots and pans in a very specific way that differs from how it is done in other countries.
Joshua Cauldwell, also known online as @imjoshfromengland2, shared a clip of himself washing dishes at home. The video quickly gained attention and sparked a heated discussion.
However, what he did next caught many viewers completely off guard and left some people stunned.
Instead of rinsing the soap off before placing the dishes on the drying rack, he set them down while they were still covered in visible soap bubbles.
“When we wash our dishes, with soap, like so, we don’t rinse the soap, we simply put it to dry with the soap on.”
“This is normal practice in the UK. Apparently, in America, you guys don’t do this.”
After demonstrating his method, Josh asked his followers whether he was washing dishes the “right way” or not. The response from viewers was immediate and very clear.
While many Americans reacted with shock and disbelief, plenty of people from the UK were also surprised and confused by what they were seeing.
Another person responded with concern, saying: “So you’re eating all that soap? Has it ever occurred to you? To do it like you wash your hands or hair? You. Rinse. It. Off.”
A third viewer added: “Do you also lather up in the shower and then just get out all soapy?”
It did not take long for other Brits to step in, with one writing: “Fellow Brit here. Who is this ‘we’ you speak of? I have never personally known anyone who doesn’t rinse the soap off.”
A third person summed it up by saying: “Fellow Brit here. You’re washing up wrong.”
With opinions split and emotions running high, many people began asking the same question: is it actually safe to wash dishes this way?
“Not all the water will run off—some of it will evaporate or dry on the dishes instead,” he explained.
“Ingesting a bit of detergent residue isn’t necessarily harmful unless you’re allergic to the ingredients. But over time, consistent ingestion of residue can pose health risks, including gastrointestinal irritation and endocrine disruption.”
