Is pre-rinsing plates really necessary?

The dishwasher can be a genuine source of debate in households. From what’s suitable to put inside, to how frequently it should be run, there’s plenty to argue about.

One of the recurring questions that arises is whether plates and dishes require rinsing beforehand, with families often divided on the matter. That’s why I approached the experts to settle the debate definitively.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, revealed that pre-rinsing is “one of the biggest myths” surrounding the dishwasher, reports the Express.

He explained: “In reality, this uses extra unnecessary hot water and typically won’t improve the results.

“Modern dishwashers use high temperatures designed to break down stubborn stains with little trouble so pre-rinsing plates is a bit like hand washing your car before taking it to the car wash.

“You can save water and skip the pre-rinse; pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher can waste around 1,115 litres of water each year!”

The cleaning products and detergents used in dishwashers perform more effectively on dirty dishes because the enzymes in the detergent are formulated to latch onto grime and be washed away. Ian said: “If dishes are thoroughly rinsed, they have nothing to attach to.

“However, if you have a pan with some burnt-on food residue it can be a good idea to give it a soak beforehand. Not scraping away any food before putting items in the dishwasher can cause clogs and eventually need a dishwasher repair.”

David Miloshev, an appliance technician at Fantastic Services, concurred that pre-rinsing is unnecessary for most modern dishwashers.

He explained: “Most current dishwashers and detergents are designed to work with food residue, using sensors that detect how dirty the water is and adjust cycle length, temperature and water usage accordingly.

“When the dishes are rinsed, the dishwasher can assume the load is lightly soiled and shorten the cycle, which can result in not fully removing the grease or dried-on residue.”

He agreed with Ian that dishes should be scraped rather than rinsed.

He added: “Large food scraps, bones, toothpicks or fibrous leftovers should be removed to prevent clogging the filters and spray arms, which is a common service issue with dishwashers. In cases where the food is likely to harden for many hours before a wash cycle runs, a light rinse can help prevent stubborn buildup, but it should be minimal.”

If you’ve ever wondered, you’re not alone – and the answer might surprise you.

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The dishwasher often sparks debate in households, from what items are suitable for cleaning to how frequently it should be used.

A particularly divisive question is whether crockery and dishes require rinsing beforehand, with families frequently divided on the matter. To settle this once and for all, I consulted the experts.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair specialist at Domestic & General, described pre-rinsing as “one of the biggest myths” surrounding dishwasher use, reports the Express.

He said: “In reality, this uses extra unnecessary hot water and typically won’t improve the results.

Modern dishwashers use high temperatures designed to break down stubborn stains with little trouble so pre-rinsing plates is a bit like hand washing your car before taking it to the car wash.

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“You can save water and skip the pre-rinse; pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher can waste around 1,115 litres of water each year!”

The cleaning products and detergents utilised in dishwashers perform more effectively on soiled dishes because the enzymes in the soap are formulated to latch onto grime and be washed away. Ian explained: “If dishes are thoroughly rinsed, they have nothing to attach to.

“However, if you have a pan with some burnt-on food residue it can be a good idea to give it a soak beforehand. Not scraping away any food before putting items in the dishwasher can cause clogs and eventually need a dishwasher repair.”

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David Miloshev, an appliance technician at Fantastic Services, concurred that pre-rinsing isn’t needed for most contemporary dishwashers.

He explained: “Most current dishwashers and detergents are designed to work with food residue, using sensors that detect how dirty the water is and adjust cycle length, temperature and water usage accordingly. When the dishes are rinsed, the dishwasher can assume the load is lightly soiled and shorten the cycle, which can result in not fully removing the grease or dried-on residue.”

He shared Ian’s view that dishes ought to be scraped instead of rinsed.

He added: “Large food scraps, bones, toothpicks or fibrous leftovers should be removed to prevent clogging the filters and spray arms, which is a common service issue with dishwashers. In cases where the food is likely to harden for many hours before a wash cycle runs, a light rinse can help prevent stubborn buildup, but it should be minimal.”

At least 32 people have been killed after gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on three separate communities in northern Nigeria, police have said.

Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa, all located in the Borgu area of Niger state, were targeted in dawn raids on Saturday.

Six people died in the assault on Tunga-Makeri, Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said, adding that it was not clear how many people had been abducted.

Mr Abiodun said that Konkoso was also attacked, but gave no other details.

He did say that security teams have been sent to the scene and a rescue operation for those who were abducted was under way.

Abdullahi Adamu, from Konkoso, said 26 people were killed in the attack there, describing how the attackers were “operating freely without the presence of any security”.

Security is deteriorating in the northern part of the West African country, where killings and kidnappings for ransom have been carried out by both Islamic militants and armed gangs.

Earlier this month, 162 people died in an attack in neighboring Kwara State.

In recent months, the US government has accused Nigerian authorities of not protecting Christians, although attacks affect both Christians and Muslims.

The two nations have set up a security partnership which saw Washington carry out strikes on armed groups in Nigerian territories in December, and a US military force being deployed to the country.

Now, one resident of Chassen Road, Bolton, has received an update from United Utilities saying the issue will not be fixed until November of this year – more than a year since the problem first appeared.

Residents have also experienced problems with the plastic barricade surrounding the sinkhole, which has been blowing into the road and people’s gardens, leaving the area exposed.

Resident Dominic Parmenter said: “The stuff they put around it is always flying off and blowing away.

“The hole isn’t even completely covered.

“We’ve already had quite a bit of wind and rain this year, so the plastic has been blowing into the street.”

A recent sinkhole on Mytham Road, Little Lever necessitated the digging up of a significant portion of the road (Image: David Meehan)

The problem first appeared on the road around September/October 2025, according to Dominic.

The issue was reported, and around two days later workers from United Utilities came to dig up the road, putting the plastic barricade around the site of the collapse.

But no work took place until Wednesday this week. On Wednesday, United Utilities workers came to investigate the issue on Chassen Road.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “This is a complex issue, and we have carried out extensive investigations.

“The position of the highway gully and a water main means that repairs are required to reposition the infrastructure.

“We are in touch with the highways authority to agree next steps for this – we apologise to residents for the inconvenience.”

An email was erroneously sent to one resident that stated the work would not be completed until November 12, 2026, but it should have read February 12, 2026.

A nearby manhole was checked and found to be flowing as usual and the sewer water was clear with no signs of blockage.

The work has now been passed back over to the Bolton Highways team.

Airbourne Colours, based at the airport, painted an Airbus A320-200 for Brussels Airlines donned with the Belgian favourite Tintin.

The project, which took 14 days to complete, marks the sixth “special livery” job Airbourne Colours has completed for Brussels Airlines. It is also the first project the company has caried out from Teesside.

One side of the aircraft features Tintin and the Moon, while the other shows Snowy and Captain Haddock.

The aircraft’s inaugural commercial flight was scheduled yesterday (February 13) to Milan, which is hosting the ongoing Winter Olympics.

Airbourne Colours Chief Executive Steven Darbyshire said: “We have built a strong and trusted relationship with Brussels Airlines over the years, and we are extremely proud to have delivered another bold and eye-catching special livery for the airline.

“It’s fantastic to see our Teesside team rising to the challenge on a project of this scale and profile. It shows the skill, precision and passion we have here, and we look forward to continuing with our partnership with Brussels Airlines on future projects.”

After establishing its first site at Teesside in 2024, the company expanded its operations at the airport late last year, opening a second 27,000sq ft facility and creating more jobs.

Teesside Airport Managing Director Phil Forster said: “This is another fantastic example of the work Airbourne Colours do.

“To see such a striking aircraft painted here underlines the capability and expertise we host.

“The company has made a big commitment to Teesside Airport, and this is another great example of the kind of high quality, global work now happening here day in, day out.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “To see Airbourne Colours and their trainees work on this aircraft at Teesside is another feather in the cap for both the firm and our brilliant airport.

“Airbourne Colours has been a great addition to Teesside – creating jobs, training new staff and welcoming aircraft from around the world.

“We’re looking forward to the firm having even more names from across Europe and worldwide landing and flying off from Teesside.”

The two other boys were charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. They appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court and Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court respectively on Saturday, 14 February. They have been remanded into youth detention and will both appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 17 February.

A woman has shared what she said is a ‘fool proof’ way to get perfectly poached eggs in under two minutes with her unconventional method – but not everyone was convinced it worked

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Poached eggs can be a tricky dish to master. Whether they split or become overcooked, it often seems like only professional chefs can get them just right. But now, one food enthusiast has shared how she managed to get perfectly poached eggs every time, and it takes her less than two minutes to do.

Food enthusiast Elise Brulotte has amassed a massive 469,000-strong following by sharing her best recipes and cooking life hacks tricks. In one particular video, Elise demonstrated her fool-proof method for when time’s tight, allowing her to tuck into perfectly poached eggs in under two minutes.

“The random life hack that I learned and never stopped doing is microwaved poached eggs. I am always in a rush, I never have to do anything. And this hack literally saved me,” Elise stated at the beginning of her TikTok video where she showed off her poached egg hack.

With a mug positioned before her on the counter top, she proceeded to walk viewers through the simple technique – requiring nothing more than a mug and microwave.

“So you just microwave a quarter cup of water for a minute and then crack an egg in there directly from the fridge,” she explained while cracking an egg into the cup.

She then advised gently prodding the yolk with a cocktail stick, while being mindful not to pierce it completely and risk it breaking apart.

“And then you’re gonna cover it and microwave it for another 30 seconds,” she instructed before jumping ahead to reveal her finished microwave creation.

“And then you’re just gonna dump it onto a paper towel, and look how cute she is,” she remarked, admiring her poached egg before slicing it open to show off the gloriously runny yolk. “I’m gonna eat this with some sourdough toast, but it’s cooking, but look at that.”

She declared: “It’s actually perfect, it took two minutes.” However viewers were quick to flood the comments section with queries about her unconventional cooking technique.

One viewer questioned why she’d pierced the yolk beforehand, prompting another user to explain: “So it doesn’t explode.”

“Poached eggs the normal way take no time at all what u talking about!” a second viewer commented, while a third person said: “Worked fine until it didn’t. Don’t do it unless you want to spend an hour cleaning exploded egg from the microwave.”

Should you microwave eggs?

While the viewers were right to say microwaving an egg could be dangerous, there are safe ways to do it.

The reason it can be dangerous to microwave an egg is because the water inside heats quickly when microwaved which makes it turn into steam and building extreme internal pressure. This is what commonly causes eggs to explode, creating a huge, hot mess and burn hazard, even after removing them from the microwave.

To safely microwave eggs, you must break them into a dish, whisk them (like scrambled eggs), or pierce the yolk to vent steam, allowing moisture to escape slowly. So by following Elise’s instructions, your egg should cook nicely in the microwave thanks to cracking the egg in the mug and piercing the yolk before heating it.

Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring extended all the way to Africa’s southern coast – held together by the invisible chains of psychological bondage that kept his victims ensnared for years at a time. 

“Invisible chains is a good way to put it, it was like I was handcuffed invisibly,” says 43-year-old Juliette Bryant.

“I’d never even told my family, I never told anyone about what happened with him until he died.”

Juliette was recruited from Cape Town by Epstein in 2002, as a first-year university student and aspiring model. At only 20 years old, she thought her life was about to change for good.

“It just seemed like my dreams were all coming true because our family was struggling financially and I just really wanted to try and make a difference for my family.”

Juliette was on a flight to New York on her first overseas trip outside of South Africa, three weeks after meeting Epstein for the first time at a Cape Town restaurant with Bill Clinton, who was there on an official AIDS awareness trip accompanied by actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker.

Hours barely passed after arriving in New York City when she was told she would be travelling on to the Caribbean. A driver dropped her off at a runway at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and she boarded a private jet where Epstein and the women she says initially recruited her in Cape Town were waiting to fly to his private island.

“He patted the chair next to him… and then I went and sat there. It was such a confusing situation for a young person to be in.

“As the plane took off, he started forcibly touching me in between my legs, and I just freaked out and I suddenly realised – oh my God, my family aren’t going to see me again, these people might kill me, you know?

“They [the women] were laughing. I was really petrified.”

It is unlikely she was the only young woman trafficked by Epstein from Cape Town. Emails from the Epstein files show flight details for unnamed female travellers being shuttled from Cape Town to London, Atlanta and New York up until late 2018.

Juliette says she was not trafficked to other men but raped by Epstein repeatedly.

“I would see him at lunch, breakfast and dinner, and then I would be called to his room. Otherwise, I didn’t see a lot of him, he was always off working.

“I spent a lot of time there on my own. I’d sit by the pool or read books, and I also found disposable cameras in the kitchen which I took to, so I took photos while I was there.”

Juliette’s photos flit between beaming smiles in the embrace of other young women and haunting portraits of desolation and loneliness.

“There was no way of getting away, you know. They had my passport and by then we had landed on one of the Caribbean islands and then were taken on a helicopter to his island. There was just no way of getting away. I’m not strong enough to swim away. I wouldn’t be able to swim off there.”

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Were Epstein’s victims secretly filmed? Sky’s Tom Cheshire investigates

Read more:
‘I am too young and he is too old’: Epstein survivors’ diaries
Epstein asked staff to install hidden video cameras at his home
How Epstein made his money

Her entrapment was more than physical. Even after she was sent back to Cape Town, she boarded more flights to Epstein’s properties in New York, Palm Beach, Paris and New Mexico where she says she met women and underage girls from Brazil, Romania, France and Spain.

Juliette tells us she is still piecing together the depth of Epstein’s dark machinery while contending with her psychological recovery and constant exposure to news about her abuser.

“I look on Facebook, I see Epstein’s face. I look on X, I see Epstein’s face. I look at the news, there it is again. You know, there are times when it’s made me feel physically ill, to be honest, it is just constantly there and there is no way of escaping it.”

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‘All horror’: Epstein survivors’ stories told for first time

The controversial US Department of Justice release of the latest Epstein files saw dozens of vulnerable victims exposed by insufficient redactions. Juliette’s emails to Epstein were published unredacted and show her expressing support for him ahead of his trial in 2008 and continuing to contact him until 2017.

“Whenever I sent emails, it was always when I had been drinking or when I was having a bit of a breakdown… I always felt like he was watching me, and that was also why I emailed.

“I have nothing to hide. It has obviously been upsetting because it confuses people because obviously the man had a terrible grip on my mind.”

It comes as the character, along with Moth and Conkers, performed in front of the studio audience and judges Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama, for one last time.

Last year’s winner Pufferfish, aka Samantha Barks, known for her role in Frozen the musical, also appeared as a guest judge this evening.

Who was Toastie on The Masked Singer UK?

Toastie performed Jocelyn Brown’s A Star is Born, followed by a duet with Pufferfish (Samantha Barks) to Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves by Eurythmics.

Just some of the guesses on Saturday included Vanessa Williams, Brenda Edwards, Jennifer Hudson and Mica Paris.

But in the end, Toastie just missed out on being crowned champion of The Masked Singer this year, as they were eliminated from the final three, and told it was time to finally remove their mask.

Hiding underneath the Toastie costume was in fact Mica Paris – soul diva, actress and presenter.

After revealing her identity to the studio audience and judges, Mica said: “I’ve had the best time, it’s been amazing.

“I wanted to do it for my grandkids.

She added: “I’m so proud I made it to the final.”

Recommended reading:

Who has been unmasked on The Masked Singer UK 2026?

Here are all the characters who have been unmasked on The Masked Singer this year, prior to the final:

• Disc Jockey – Alex Jones – TV presenter on BBC’s The One Show (episode 1)
• Teabag – Professor Green – Rapper, singer and songwriter (episode 2)
• Yak – John Lydon – Sex Pistols frontman (episode 3)
• Gargoyle – Marcella Detroit – singer from Shakespears Sister (episode 4)
• Monkey Business – Kate Nash – singer and actor (episode 5)
• Artic Fox – Anton Du Beke – Strictly Come Dancing judge (episode 5)
• Red Panda – Harry Hill – comedian (episode 6)
• Sloth – Ben Fogle – TV host (semi-finals)
• Can of Worms – Marvin Humes – Radio host and singer (semi-finals)

Who was your favourite on The Masked Singer UK this year? Let us know in the comments below.

This local shop in a small corner of Carmarthenshire was saved from closure because the people who use it refused to give up. Now, a new shop is being built, complete with a cafe, which will benefit the community for generations to come

In April 2008 the UK Government announced that more than 2,000 Post Office branches across the country would close. It was a move, we were told, that would “modernize and restructure services”.

In reality its main achievement was to hurtle parts of Wales, particularly rural areas, into a modern age where community spirit is becoming harder to maintain, where neighbours are strangers, where half-an-hour drives to the nearest town offer the best opportunity of communication, companionship even.

The loss of a village shop and post office can decimate communities. Jobs are lost, social hubs wiped out. Property values go down, isolation goes up. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.

Whether it’s a pub, a shop, a post office, a village hall, communities need something, otherwise a village is essentially just a road you travel through on your way to somewhere else.

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As part of the nationwide changes made in 2008, Dryslwyn Community Shop and Post Office, serving the hamlet of Dryslwyn and the village of Cwrt Henri in Carmarthenshire, faced up to the reality of a new way of life.

Set in the gorgeous Towy Valley between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, this community, bound together by a post office that had served its people since the mid 1800s, was to lose its focal point. It was in no way financially viable to keep the post office open, and it closed on March 28, 2009.

But thanks to dozens of volunteers, various donations, and plenty of community spirit, the shop reopened, less than a week later, on April 3, 2009, only this time as a not-for-profit, volunteer-led project which proved that if there is a will, there is always a way.

That was almost 17 years ago, and the shop is still thriving. In 2021, it won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest honour awarded to a voluntary group. It was one of the last awards signed and sealed by Queen Elizabeth II before she died the following year.

“When they said in 2008 that the post office and shop would have to close, a lot of the people around here just said ‘no’ and didn’t accept it, so everyone clubbed together, volunteers came forward and we worked with the owner of the land and the shop was saved,” said Michele Powell, a director at the shop and one of the army of volunteers who keep it running.

“It’s been a big success since then, we didn’t even close during Covid-19. We have two part-time staff but everybody else who works here is a volunteer – there’s around 40 of us, all from the local area.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation so everything we make just goes back into the shop, and we also provide grants to other local organisations.”

While the shop continues to thrive, it is about to embark on a new chapter which will safeguard its future for generations. The existing building will return to its owner, and the community shop will be relocated to an adjacent piece of land in a new 2,000 sq ft building which will boast not just a shop and post office but also a cafe.

The idea was first discussed as something of a dream years ago and now, with construction under way following the gifting of a piece of land by local man Tom Lloyd, that dream will become a reality this autumn when the new shop is set to have its grand opening.

“We had been thinking about a move for a while,” said Michele. “I mean, this place is lovely, but it can be a bit cold and there’s no toilet! The owners have been very supportive, but a change in their plans gave us that bit of a kick to get on with our plans.”

Michele added: “Without a local shop, people wouldn’t know each other. We support people. We know what they want, they ring us up, we put things aside for them. We know we’re not going to get people doing their weekly shop here but it’s a vital part of the community.

“The new building will expand on that; there will be more space for people to meet up, there will be more parking, and a cafe.

“It’s very exciting. I was in a pub up the road the other day and people kept asking about the new shop, so there’s definitely a buzz about it. It’s just brilliant for Dryslywn and Cwrt Henri and for the future of the wider community.

“We’ve evolved as a shop because we’ve had to. We’re small but we can react in ways that a big supermarket can’t because we know our customers and they tell us what they want.

“There will always be a call for a local shop, for people who don’t want to drive miles and miles to the nearest big shop in a town. And of course, people love coming in for a chat!”

Strolling around the Dryslwyn Community Shop and Post Office is like taking a warm and reassuring walk back in time; it has a nostalgic sheen to it which reminds you of what every village once had but many have since lost.

Pens, Sellotape, glue, newspapers, Welsh tea towels, magazines, a book swap service, ring binders, wellies, milk, groceries, fresh (and very nice!) chicken salad rolls……there’s also a side room you can use as an internet cafe with printing facilities. They think of everything here.

Another volunteer who helps make the local shop tick is Nigel Jones. He always had something of a calling to one day work in a post office.

“My wife started volunteering here because it’s up the road from us, and then a couple of years later I started too,” said Nigel, who is chair of the new build project, SiopNEWydd Dryslwyn.

“My father ran a post office in Llanybydder for years so it felt a bit like going back to my roots; as a kid I was used to post office life!

“The project for the new shop really got off the ground during Covid, when we had a lot of meetings online, and then we had meetings where the community just told us what they wanted. The message was clear: they wanted to keep the shop and the post office, and also add a cafe, if it could be done.

“We’re very fortunate that the land owner gifted us half an acre of land to build the new shop on, while the existing tenant using the land kindly agreed to end his tenancy early.”

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Volunteers have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure grant funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the National Lottery, and various charitable organisations.

“We have a local volunteer called Dr Rosie Plummer who has put all the grant applications together and it’s been a remarkable success,” said Nigel.

In total the project is expected to cost more than £1m and promises to be “light in its environmental impact, big in its social impact”.

The community may need to source even more volunteers for the new venture if how busy business already seems to be is anything to go by.

Talking to Nigel on a typical Tuesday morning is difficult because he keeps being called back to fulfil his till duties as customers bustle in and out of the shop.

“It was a bit of a dream previously and I think some people thought it might never happen, but it’s very exciting because you can see it happening now, you can see it being built,” said Nigel.

“Having a bigger premises with a cafe will be a big change. Some people don’t want to have a cup of tea when they come here in case they need to use the toilet and we don’t have one!

“So the new building will be totally different. It will bring new challenges and that’s what it’s all about.”

The importance of securing the shop’s future is not lost on anyone connected to it.

“It’s so important for everyone because it means they can get out and about without having to travel into towns all the time just to get basic goods,” said Nigel.

“The cafe will only add to that. We haven’t got the room here for people to have a sit down and a chat, so the new building will give people that opportunity.

“It’s been a long and winding road but we’ve always been heading in the right direction! Planning permission came through in 2023 but getting to that point was the easy bit. There’s more work to be done but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

“Without the volunteers there would be no shop at all, it’s as simple as that. It’s about people giving something back, and it says a lot about a local community that there are so many people willing to give up their time.”

With the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by a small group of people, this shop, which in reality is so much more than that, has thrived since disaster almost struck 17 years ago.

And with a new building on the way which guarantees its future, this community hub will continue to bring people together, just as it did two centuries ago.