Why don't Western-style dishwashers rinse away the foam?

In Korea, when we wash dished, we thoroughly rinse off the detergent with water and let them dry on a rack. However, in the West, the process is different. While many Western household use dishwashers, hand washing involves a quick rinse followed by wiping with a dishcloth. Drawing from my experience living abroad, I can explain why this variation exists.

 

 

Wetern-style dishwashing diverges from the Korean approach

When living in the UK, actual dishwashing

 

During my time in England, I observed that there's no rising step with water when washing dishes. In Korea, we apply detergent to a sponge, wipe the dishes, and then rinse with water. Conversely, British individuals fill the sink with water, dissolve detergent, and soak the dishes. Istead of rinsing, they simply wipe away the moisture and foam with a dishcloth before cleaning up.

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Is there no need to worry about residual detergent when washing dished Western-style

Despite concerns, tests have shown that the Western-style dishwashing method leaves less detergent residue compared to the Korean method. Remarkably, you can mitigate worries by adding 2ml of dish detergent per 1L of water, soaking the dishes, and then washing them. In essence, dissolve the detergent in water before use.

 

 

Why did the West adopt dishwashing without rinsing with water

In the UK, where I resided, the water contained lime, leaving behind a powerdery residue called kalk or scale after evaporation. Consequently, wipping with a dishcloth became necessary to remove the limescale. Additionally, high water bills in the West, particularly in Europe, fostered a culture of water conservation. This notion is sensible, considering that as of 2021, the average water rate in major overseas countries was 1,928 won per ton, compared to Korea's 748 won. Reflecting on this, I recall being midful of water usage due to the water rate in England, which stood at 3,412 won per ton.