Why do Irish people use Plastic basins in Sinks?

finnegan2010

A friend of mine was over on holidays and asked me what i thought was a good question.......

Why exactly do Irish people put horrible plastic basins in perfectly good sinks?

So i thought about and came up with "People use basins in sinks to hold water when washing etc, Using a basin also helps in saving water. He ascerted "sure when you put a plug in the sink it holds water just as well and as for your point of saving water you're bound to be more likely to pour water down the sink inadvertently if you use a basin".

Is this an Irish Phenomenon ? I have never seen it done in other countries ? Why do we do it? I just do it cos my mum did it lol ! I know its not done in Asia and he was from the states and he never heard of it.

jimthemental

To distance ourselves from the British. I think De Valera started the trend.

petes

I was trying to think up a witty reply but to be honest I haven't a fcuking clue.

jimthemental

Insurgent wrote: »

I was trying to think up a witty reply but to be honest I haven't a fcuking clue.

I was trying the same and failed miserably.

newmember2

It's like you've got two sinks! - one inside the other and if you need to use the real one you can just lift out the basin of water. Handy if you've only got one sink when you're doing the washing-up, etc for emptying cups down the drain, etc.








Surely 'Thread of the day'!

finnegan2010

reason i ask is .....

This morning i was cleaning some delph and someone had taken the horrible thing this presented me with a beautiful stainless steel sink.... which does the same thing and looks better

BUT I WANT MY BASIN AND I DONT KNOW WHYYYYYYYYY

RedXIV

I used it for peeling vegs and so I wouldn't end up blocking the drain with all the crap that came from that and washing up. the crap stays in the basin which you can conveniently empty the water from into the sink and then flip upside over the bin.

Simples

FlutterinBantam

It's a throwback from the 'old days' when sinks were huge square marble monoliths and it would take about a gallon of water to cover the bottom.

Also babies were bathed in these sinks and often banged out sheets of loose midden which wouldn't look well mixed with the knives and forks.

Hence the basin was used to conserve water and making washing up easier and more hygienic.

Qualitymark

It protects the dishes. I don't think it's just Irish people - after all, Ikea sells those basins.

deandean

I reckon most people put a basin in the sink because that's what their mammy used to do.

It's a horrible habit IMO, right up there with picking your nose while preparing food.

MIRMIR82

its so you can pour stuff (the left over tae) down the sink - even if your mid-way through washing up!!!

jeremyr62

Not unique to Ireland. Common in England too. My mum ((in Manchester) has one which I hate using. Maybe it's an older person thing from when hot water wasn't so easily sourced?

chin_grin

Plastic basin in sink.
Put washing up liquid and put on tap.
Leave running cos you remembered that you need to put on a wash\do something else real quick.
Overflow? Goes down sink. (if you don't have that part at the back of it......<shrugs>)

Like a boss. (Maybe).

jester77

I've never seen or heard of this

Sounds like double baggging, maybe the person had a leaky or dodgy sink, or had lost the stopper.

sunflower27

Hey OP, I'm Australian have always found the 'plastic basin' thing weird

I first stumbled across the phenomenom in the UK when I lived there. I thought it so odd. In fact it bothered the hell out of me. The basin always seemed to have some residue on the bottom, slime from the water underneath.. I dunno, I just hated it.

Living in Ireland it was the same thing. I have my own place now and it is and shall remain forever more plastic basin-free.

Larianne

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

its so you can pour stuff (the left over tae) down the sink - even if your mid-way through washing up!!!

This is the reason!!

sunflower27

Larianne wrote: »

This is the reason!!

Why wouldnt you just use the toilet?

Joke

the keen edge

There are a number of reasons:

1:The base perimeter of the basin is shorter then that of the sink, therefore it takes a lesser volume of water to fill the basin to a adequate depth for washing dishes.

2:Dishes are less likely to brake against the softer plastic basin, than the relatively harder steel sink.

3:And probably most importantly for us Irish people. Our mammies used them, therefore we must do so as well.

finnegan2010

Larianne wrote: »

This is the reason!!

Hmmmm sounds good but... what about those of us who dont drink cups of tea when doing the washing up?

TaraFoxglove

OP, I don't know why but it drives me mad. My mother insists on keeping a plastic basin in her sink, thinking it more hygienic but I think it's less so.

sunflower27 wrote: »

The basin always seemed to have some residue on the bottom, slime from the water underneath.. I dunno, I just hated it.

This.

Larianne

It's so you can rinse off the excess dirt/grease from plates/dishes/cups before you put them in the water so it doesn't dirty up the wash water.

egan2020

I don't use one and if I wash up in a friend's house, I'll take the basin out of the sink first because it seems to be in the way.

sensibleken

Because.......um....so you can......eh....

Jesus. I have not one single clue.

Come to think of it this is even stupider than putting those U shaped carpet things around the jacks

FatherLen

sensibleken wrote: »

Because.......um....so you can......eh....

Jesus. I have not one single clue.

Come to think of it this is even stupider than putting those U shaped carpet things around the jacks

i fuckin hate those things!!!!

newmember2

I'm .a little pissed off. I gave the explanation/reason in the 5th post and people are still sh*teing on without even giving me thanks.

F*ck yis all.

feelpablo

The heat from the hot water doesnt disperse as quickly in a plastic basin as it does in a metal sink...........and less water used :cool:

MalteseBarry

the keen edge wrote: »

There are a number of reasons:

1:The base perimeter of the basin is shorter then that of the sink, therefore it takes a lesser volume of water to fill the basin to a adequate depth for washing dishes.

2:Dishes are less likely to brake against the softer plastic basin, than the relatively harder steel sink.

3:And probably most importantly for us Irish people. Our mammies used them, therefore we must do so as well.

I've never heard of anyone breaking a plate against a stainless steel, or ceramic, sink filled with water.

I agree that it is a curious habit. I've seen someone fill the plastic bowl with crockery, then have to take it all out, fill the plastic bowl with water, then wash it all, again in the plastic bowl.

Logically, it makes no sense at all, and even in houses with dishwashers I've seen the plastic bowl in the sink.

chin_grin

newmember? wrote: »

I'm .a little pissed off. I gave the explanation/reason in the 5th post and people are still sh*teing on without even giving me thanks.

F*ck yis all.

<pats back>

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, there there.

bnt

I've never done it (not Irish), but I can think of another reason: the metal of the sink has much higher heat conductivity than the plastic, so the water is likely to stay hotter for longer in the plastic basin. It's Science, People! :cool:

FlutterinBantam

sensibleken wrote: »

Because.......um....so you can......eh....

Jesus. I have not one single clue.

Come to think of it this is even stupider than putting those U shaped carpet things around the jacks

That's not stupid pal, leave the 'piss collar ' off for a few days and see the residue of dried in piss on the floor.

Gross :eek:

Check it out.

Larianne

newmember? wrote: »

I'm .a little pissed off. I gave the explanation/reason in the 5th post and people are still sh*teing on without even giving me thanks.

F*ck yis all.

No-one thanks new members ffs.