Both water and soap are important for cleaning dishes effectively. Here's why:
Water: Water is essential for rinsing away food particles, grease, and residues from dishes. It helps to loosen and remove the dirt and grime. The temperature of the water also plays a role. Hot water can help dissolve grease and oil more effectively, while cold water is generally sufficient for rinsing.
Soap: Soap, specifically dishwashing soap or detergent, is designed to break down and remove grease, oils, and other residues from dishes. It contains surfactants that lower the surface tension of water, allowing it to penetrate and lift away stubborn food particles and oils from the dishes. Soap helps to emulsify fats and oils, making them easier to wash off.
In combination, water and soap work synergistically to clean dishes. The soap breaks down grease and food particles, while water helps to rinse them away. Without soap, water alone may not be sufficient to remove oils and stubborn residues from dishes. On the other hand, using soap without water may leave behind a soapy film on the dishes.
It's important to use an appropriate amount of soap based on the level of soiling on the dishes. Using too much soap can leave a residue, and using too little may not effectively clean the dishes. Additionally, proper rinsing with clean water after washing with soap is crucial to ensure all soap residues are removed.
So, to achieve clean dishes, a combination of water and soap, along with proper rinsing, is necessary.