It's a chore that few people enjoy doing - especially as a child - but now it appears that today's youngsters have lost the skill of washing-up.
The popularity of dishwashers and the trend for eating out of disposable containers may have silently sounded its death knell.
It is claimed that the younger generation have failed to grasp the basic knowledge of the cleansing properties of hot water, washing-up liquid and a draining board.
According to figures by the Office for National Statistics, the number of households in the UK with dishwashers doubled from 24% in 1998 to 49% in 2018.
Jayne Hill runs a food and nutrition class at Okehampton College in Devon, and explained how some children are unable to do the washing up.
She told the Sunday Times: "A 12-year-old boy cried when he was told off for not washing up properly.
"This poor kid was in turmoil. He’d never had to wash up at home.”
The 64-year-old said it was "a common theme" among young people and shows the difference from when she qualified as a home economics teacher in 1978.
“I walk around and dip my hand in the sink of water and 90 per cent of the time it’s icy cold," she said.
"They don’t understand the concept of draining. When I first started, you certainly didn’t need to tell them you need washing-up liquid and hot water.”
Lynsey Crombie, TV’s “Queen of Clean", is calling for parents to "step up".
She said: “If my kids use a plate for one slice of toast and there’s a few crumbs, rather than dipping it in water and giving it a quick clean they’re straight to the dishwasher.
"I think it’s just laziness. Parents need to step up. Learning starts at home."
