London - When it comes to doing your washing up, it may seem as simple as clean, rinse and dry.
But with millions now relying on dishwashers to clean our pots and pans, many of us have apparently forgotten how to carry out the task properly by hand.
So now, for those who scratch their heads when presented with a grease-caked dish or burnt saucepan, household experts have compiled their own Sud’s Law – a set of guidelines on how to efficiently complete the job.
And it seems the key to it all is the order in which you tackle your dirty crockery.
Domestic gurus at the Good Housekeeping Institute say you should begin with glasses, before moving on to mugs and then cups.
Saucers, side plates, dinner plates then cutlery are next on the list, while the final items you wash should be serving dishes, pans and roasting trays.
Doing your washing up in this order means your water and sponge will stay cleaner for longer, as you are tackling the least soiled items first, and saves the clean items from sitting in dirty water.
It also means that your most food-encrusted items can be soaking on the side while you wash everything else – making them easier to clean when the time comes. Other tips in the guide include wearing washing up gloves, as this lets you use piping hot water, which is more effective at killing lurking germs than lukewarm.
Changing the water halfway through is also a must, as is the simple but messy job of scraping as much food off the plates as possible before putting them in to soak. "Not getting rid of food debris before you wash up not only clogs the drain but also makes your scrubbing redundant; all of your dishes will only end up soaking in grease and dirt,’ says the guide. ‘And if your pans are burnt or stained then a soak in hot, soapy water will make your wash much easier." The guide also warns against using washing up brushes as they house bacteria.
If used they should be changed regularly, while non-metal sponges should be dampened and put in the microwave for 40 seconds to zap bugs and dishcloths also washed often.