A Spanish content creator living in London has ignited an online debate after expressing her sheer disbelief at a common British approach to washing dishes, suggesting the practice is so unusual it should be "studied at university".
In a TikTok video posted on November 17, Lucía Francés highlighted one of the cultural "shocks" she claims she will never get used to since moving to the UK. Her critique centres on a two-part method she has observed, which has since been echoed by numerous other social media users.
The 'Non-Normal' British Method
Lucía outlined the process that left her baffled. She claims that many Brits fill their kitchen sink with water while all the dirty dishes are already sitting in it, then proceed to wash everything in the same soapy water. However, her main point of contention is what happens next.
"They don't even rinse the soap off the dishes; they put them in the drainer with the dish soap still on," she explained in the clip, which was later reported by Spanish newspaper El Confidencial. "I understand cultural differences and all that, but I'm sorry, I just can't accept this."
A Viral Trend of Disbelief
Lucía Francés is far from alone in her observation. This specific cultural critique has become a recurring theme on social media platforms.
Back in 2024, TikTok user arieffyong posted a clip titled 'When an Asian lives in a British household for the first time', noting the same dishwashing habit. In 2025, another video from user calimarcopt_ featured the same footage of a man not rinsing soap off dishes, with onlookers appearing puzzled.
Further videos from users homachiglere and gabrielachristoni_ in 2025 reinforced the trend, with captions like "POV: you’ve lived in the UK for 3 weeks and this is how they wash their dishes" and simply "Brits washing dishes".
International Reaction and Defence
The topic gained significant traction in October after British TikToker Paul Johnston-Naylor showcased his own no-rinse technique in a 2024 video. The comment section on his and similar videos became a battleground of cultural practices.
Many viewers from outside the UK, particularly from the US and across Europe and Asia, expressed similar surprise. One American viewer even created a response video stating plainly: "Have you seen how British people wash their dishes? They don't rinse."
This ongoing online discussion underscores the deep-seated, often unconscious, domestic habits that define cultural norms. For many Brits, the method is simply the efficient way to wash up, while for others, it's a puzzling breach of basic hygiene. The debate, much like the soap suds, shows no sign of draining away.
