The term dishwashing refers to cleaning eating and cooking utensils, in addition to dishes. In British English the term washing up is more common.
There are cultural divisions over rinsing and drying after washing. British people are rather unique in avoiding rinsing, putting the items directly on the rack or in a storage area from the dishwather, sometimes after wiping them with a cloth.
Dishwashing is usually done using an implement for the washer to wield, unless done using an automated dishwasher. Commonly used implements include cloths, sponges, brushes or even steel wool when tackling particularly intransigent stuck-on food particles. As fingernails are often more effective than soft implements like cloths at dislodging hard particles, washing simply with the hands is also done and can be effective as well. Dishwashing detergent (aka "washing up liquid") is also generally used, but in principle all that is required is water. Rubber gloves are sometimes worn when washing dishes by people who are sensitive to hot water or dishwashing liquids, or who simply don't want to touch the old food particles.freestanding dishwashers
