I've never understood the point of cleaning dishes if you don't actually clean them. It seems to me that incompletely washing dishes is a complete waste of time, energy, water, and soap.

My tendency is the opposite—I wash things by hand, usually, and take too much time, energy, water, and soap. But some of that's covering (or uncovering) for people who leave 3 of 4 dishes they breathe on and sweat over caked in layers of slime and breakfast mud of sundry hues. How is it justified? "This sure beats diarrhea anus!" How can you face that on the other end when you're pouring clean water for tea?

Maybe I seem too careful, but when I'm done washing dishes, they're clean. You don't have to wash any of them again.

If you leave all that fossilized eating, the person who comes after you, the one unfortunate enough to notice what you've done, will now have to put more effort into cleaning before than after, even if they are extra-careful normally.

Seems... uh, dumb. Yes. Quite dumb?

If you aren't going to clean the dishes, own up and just don't. Stop faking!

At least that way we'll know where the dirty dishes are: NOT in the cupboards and drawers, but in and around the sink, ready for someone who will de-dirt them, rather than waste time, energy, water, and soap looking like they're doing something they aren't doing.

Honestly, it amazes me that I feel the need to say this.

No, I'm not exaggerating. You think I'm being a prima donna. You think I'm spinning a tall tale for your amusement. You do, don't you?

Some people—apparently a surprising number—are happy to look like they're washing dishes, instead of actually washing them, because I guess every few dishes they might accidentally get it about right.

So they'll convince themselves that they just missed a few, when in fact it's the opposite: they just cleaned a few, and missed most.

Sigh. I guess people have other things on their minds and we all in our own way become creatures of habit and that's how this kind of bizarro-world stuff happens.