The amount of times she says "only in the UK" when in reality her 'surprises' are commonplace around a large part of the world. So what she is actually attesting to is that so many health and safety issues we take for granted haven't yet reached the USA!
I think it's clear that house design in the UK is more safety conscious than in the USA. Traditionally, hot water taps/faucets were fed by a storage tank in the roof space and cold water came directly from the main supply. Therefore water from the cold tap was potable (safe to drink) and water from the hot tap was definitely not. The supply would not be combined at the tap to avoid people inadvertantly drinking unhygenic water that had laid in the hot water storage tank. Nowadays most domestic hot water is heated by "combi-boilers" which use the main supply without the need for a storage tank, so both are now safe to drink. Therefore mixer taps are much more common than previously. Despite what Americans seem to think, separate taps aren't quaint or eccentric, they're logical and were necessary to protect public health.
Over 400 years ago, we started using ceramic sink units called 'Butler Sink'. They were originally invented for the linen industry as they were extremely durable and scratch proof, so they caught on and were soon found in most households nationwide but had one drawback. They were so strong it was very easy to chip or break the crockery, so one had to be very careful until the softer plastic Sink liner bowl was invented and proved to be a very cheap, handy and effective solution to the problem so you see.. they are not a 'Silly thing' but a very very VERY clever solution to a nagging problem. They come in so handy for other reasons, too, like you can fill it with hot soapy water, carefully take it outside, and wash your car. If you have a sink full of crockery and you want to use the sink for something, you simply pick up the inner bowl and your sink is clear for use, no need to empty it of crockery one by one just take the bowl out. Ingenious if you ask me 😊
don't forget the old one under the sink full of cleaning products, or the one from before that in the garage full of spray cans, or the one before that you use for oil changes...
A washing up bowl helps stop the breaking or chipping of crockery and glassware and prevents the scratching of the metal sink with utensils. A hot water bottle is a must during colder weather. It also helps ladies when they have tummy pains. Keep warm without burning yourself but also pre-warm the sheets before going to bed.
Radiators sometimes get air trapped in them. The process of getting rid of that trapped air is called bleeding the radiator. You use a specific tool (kind of in the same vein as a spanner/wrench or allen key) to open a valve at the top of the radiator, which lets the air escape. You keep this valve open until water starts to come out, then you close it which allows the whole of the radiator to heat up as it is the water that heats the radiator and the air leaves that part of the radiator cold (or at least cooler). When I was a kid we had carpet in the bathroom…and it was very much a necessity at the time. Our bathroom was downstairs and the whole of our ground floor had concrete floors, this was also before we had double glazing or central heating. I grew up in Scotland and like in many (if not most) parts of the UK, without double glazing and central heating the condensation on the inside of windows would freeze and you’d have to go around chipping the ice off to be able to open the windows in the morning, so that you could air the house out. Now think about how cold a tiled or vinyl floor might make the room that you get naked and wet in, the carpet at least took the edge off a little and should have been a type that had a specific bathroom/kitchen/high moisture area backing on it. The washing-up bowl enables you to still use the sink while doing the washing-up (as double sinks are rare and even the 1.5 sinks aren’t THAT common), so if someone needs to fill up a water bottle or the kettle while the dishes are being done, you can just lift the bowl out or if you had a pan steeping, you can lift the bowl out to pour the water away and wash out the bulk of what you’d been steeping the pan to loosen up. Hot water bottles are great for stomach cramps and backaches as well as for warming you up when you’re cold or warming the bed before you get in. You can get ones that go in the microwave to heat up but they neither get as hot nor stay hot for as long as the ones you pour boiling water into.
Also seperate from the Mains Electricity via Transfomer 110v is centre tapped so Completely Safe! 110v is Centre Tapped so only shows 55V AC which isn't lethal!
The keys on window locks are an extra security feature. They'll open and close just fine when unlocked and the keys are often removed and stored in a kitchen drawer full of random junk. Measuring cups? We use them as well as kitchen scales. Bathroom sockets have an isolating transformer for added safety.
Hi there fella, yeh, I'm a Brit. A couple of things you may enjoy..... First, you've never lived (or died of electrocution) if you haven't been zapped by 230 Volts. It's a big wake-up call, assuming you survive the encounter. Next up, measurements in the kitchen. Imagine if one day you wake up and can no longer use Ounces, Pounds, real Tons, Fluid ounces, Pints, Gallons, feet, Inches etc etc etc. And if that wasn't bad enough, even you currency has gone Decimal. No Proper Pounds (They're New Pounds). No Guineys, no Shillings, no Pennies, no Happennies etc. 12 of Her Majesty's pennies were suddenly worth just 5 "New Pence." So many Companies changed their prices from 3d (old pennies) to 3p, overnight. Decimalisation was the biggest RIP-OFF Britain has ever seen. Being a kid at the time, it hit hard. My bus fare into Town was more than doubled, and even worse, a Mars Chocolate Bar also doubled in price. The ultimate worst thing was that one day I could get 4 Fruit Salad or Black Jack or Mojo chewies for 1d (old pennies) and the next day it was 4 for 1p (new pence.) Things like this are really important when you're 10 yrs old. Sorry this is a very long comment but I was hoping to raise a smile, or at least a sickly grin. Have a nice one...... PS. The getting zapped by 230 Volts - it's a joke. Don't do it, really it seriously bloody hurts!
In the UK we can put cold water in an electric kettle and it's boiling in 60 seconds - so maybe the USA need to upgrade their slow system??? We don't use the switch to turn electricy on for the appliances that are regularly used - like cooker, fridge, freezer, kettle, washing machine, TV, hi-fi equipment, computer etc. If you've got to use the hoover then having a Henry makes it more fun!! Just a point to mention, we have practically ZERO people who get electrocuted in our homes in the UK because companies are held responsible for ensuring people are safe, so builders are not allowed to put 'normal sockets' in bathrooms. Listening to her makes me realise how backward America really is. The UK has faster internet speed, homes made to last hundreds of years because they are made of bricks instead of wood - and that includes internal walls, and is much more aware of the differences around the world.
In the UK, electrical safety is a matter of great importance. As someone who has worked as an electrician, I can attest to the stringent regulations in place.
The airing cupboard, was from early emersion boiler systems that had the water tank in the cupboard that generated a lot of heat, so was great for drying clothes and storing towels for those cold nights getting a bath before modern central heating :)
A washing up bowl uses less water than the sink and makes the sink easier to clean. It also means you can fill it with boiling water, leave dishes in it for 20 minutes and they wash themselves. If you need the dink during that time, you can lift the bowl out. Anericans seem to always double the work they have to do.
Most chargeable items have a light that is on/changes colour when active. If the light does not turn/changes colour on then switch on the power. Also simple child proofing is available for the UK 3 pin socket in the form of a 3 pin plastic pro forma which 'plugs' into the socket to prevent small fingers from finding their way into said socket.
The taps thing is so weird to me. It's pretty simple. If you want to mix them to make warm water you stick the plug in the sink. Takes 1 second. No burnt hands, no cold hands. If you're only swilling your hands for a second, most people just risk the hot tap, fair enough. But it's not some great conundrum to make warm water.
I so agree with you. It’s so simple to fill up the sink with the hot and cold water. Totally submerging your hands in the water with soap is more hygienic (probably) and uses less water than a running tap.
Some of the fancier public toilets don't even have buttons to flush the toilet any more! They have light sensors! You just wave your hand in front of it and it just flushes without you even having to touch anything. Marvellous.
My dad had carpet in the bathroom and the kitchen 😂 It was a 70s/80s thing. He never changed his mindset. I live in a modern house and have separate hot/cold taps, it’s not an issue you just use the hot tap to wet your hands, rub the soap over them then turn it back on to rinse them. A washing bowl means you can empty cups dishes etc down the sink while you’re washing up.
People make me laugh with the tap thing. They get all sarcastic, acting like they burn or freeze their hands. There's a sink with a plug right there. It uses a fraction of the water too. They should force people to have separate taps. 🤣
If you're fiddling about with anything electrical in a UK bathroom, I strongly advise you to have made your legal Will testimony beforehand, because with 240 volts coming out of your ears, you are going to fry.!!!!!
The washing basin/bowls are generally used to catch food scraps or the likes of potato/carrot peelings by catching them when emptying the basin to prevent the scraps/peelings from clogging up the drain inlet.
No soft boiled egg and Buppy soldiers !you don't know what you are missing . Bleeding the radiator is using a special key and cracking a small plug in the top to bleed off any air locks , once water comes out you tighten and the system is ready for another winter. Washing up bowls are very handy , and cheap to replace they save water ,and wear on the sink you just empty it into the sink when you are done . They are also convenient if you need water around the house for cleaning windows or other jobs .
Having a switch on the electric outlet does not save energy. The switch is to prevent a person plugging directly into a live electric current (240 volts can kill). The switch just means you have to plug into the wall outlet, then when it is safely inserted because there is a longer pin at the top that is partly covered in plastic. You can then switch on when the plug and the circuit is correctly earthed. Generally you can leave an appliance plugged into the wall with the switch off, there will be no electricity used there is no circuit.
I LOVE hot water bottles- Great in the winter with covers. Do BECAREFUL though - 1. Do not fill together top - about three quarters or follow directions 2. Make sure you tighten knob properly, so hot water does not leak and spill unto your skin 3. Carpet in bathroom - mostly elderly people's homes that have not renovated. Today, it's deemed unhygienic- but back then it kept feet warm so you had Carpet everywhere 😅 Today you have Radiators in the bathroom to keep you warm or modern homes / those who have renovated recently have underfloor heating throughout the home. So come the winter period the floor is warm and nice.
Hi The combined washer / dryer machine isn't very efficient in drying in my experience, usually dry it twice, and I'm working in tourism business... It's never getting dry enough in one try Greetings from Sweden
Wsher/dryers are popular in the UK, where houses are smaller and space is confined. However, the dryer element obviously uses the same drum as the washer, and so hot air and the tumbling of clothes are limited. Not a fan of them. Robert.
@@2eleven48 I agree. I had a washer dryer and I still had to hang things up to dry them them out completely. I only really used it if I wanted something dried quickly.
I once lived in a flat that had a kitchen so small I couldn't put a washing machine in it but I had a small storage lock up down stairs that had a water point and electric point so the washing machine & tumble dryer went in there stack on top of each other
sorry to assume but i think you are not using it correctly, a housemate use to have the same issue, what you need to remember is the capacity for dry is less than to wash i.e. my one is 8kg wash 5kg dry, if you fill it to volume then there is not enough room to air properly, nowadays the wash adjust to the weight so half load your machine and it will dry in one go
You do not really need to lock the windows. Snecking the window is usually enough to make them secure & they can usually be snecked to be slightly ajar & still be secure. The lockability feature is a safety measure to ensure that small children (& crafty pets) cannot come to harm by opening the window.
Not all houses/flats have a double sink, you use the washing up bowl for the soapy water, and the sink for the rinse water before putting things on the draining rack to dry.
Egg cups can also be used for separating egg yolks from whites when cooking. Crack the egg onto a plate then put the egg cup over the yolk and pour the white into a jug. If you ever get a thing called a Belfast sink a washing up bowl is essential. A Belfast sink is a huge ceramic sink and you would use a lot of water if you didn't have a washing up bowl. For a long time in the UK most if not all houses had Belfast sinks.
cord to the shaver (and the electricity going through it) was so tiny. GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) outlets with a reset switch are now common in USA homes throughout bathroom and kitchens and anywhere else where water might be present. One thing not so common anymore is an outlet as part of the vanity light -- very problematic if the cord drops into the sink)
Key's can stay in the window, easier in fact. The whole point of it being locked is to stop young children and animals falling from heights in skyrises or just in general an extra security feature making it harder for burglary to happen.
With separate taps, the assumption seems to be that you must keep moving your hands between the two taps. What we actually do is to run the water into a bowl or into the bathroom wash basin which is fitted with a plug. In this way we obtain the temperature we want and then wash our hands, face etc. Also, another reason for fitting window locks is not just for security but it can be financially beneficial to you when taking out home insurance .
Digital scales are always useful ;) I get that "Cups" are a ratio thing, but how many cups if you're cooking for two girls? Washing up bowls are also super useful for young kids that get sick. Days off school, bottle of Lucozade, jumpers for goal posts... When she's talking about push button toilets, is she basically saying "I took a massive dump and sent a picture to my friend?" 🤣
We had carpet in the bathroom in the 80ies in Germany. I suppose it was to avoid having cold feet. But we had to be careful not to splash around in the bath too much because it would take ages to dry. So not very practical really.
Why are taps separated. Answer, the hot water system usually used a heater tank in the roof and an immersion heater to heat and hold the hot water. The cold supply comes from the main supply. This means there's a big pressure difference between the mains and the hot water pressure as defined by the height the header tank is. So, if you have a mixer tap, the cold water will push the hot water back up to the header tank - although you can put a one way valve, but the hot water pressure will never be enough to allow the hot water to open the one way valve as the cold pressure will keep it closed. In some houses, the immersion heater is removed and the hot water is heated on demand. In these situations it's possible to have mixer taps and mixer taps showers.
I remember when my parents bought a home with it having carpet in the bathroom, it's definitely an older thing, most people now would have tiled or wooden and often a rug which is easily washable. Airing cupboards are less common, because in older heating systems there was a hot water tank or immersion heater which was located in a cupboard. Nearly all modern homes use combination boilers, which instantly heat water and don't need a storage tank.
Carpet squares became popular for a while. You could literally lift and wash them in the sink, scubbing if necessary. Airing cupboards were for towel storage or fresh bedding. It was the warmest place in the house. So towels and bedding came out warm.
Some people use bowls simply because they may only have one sink and if they pick up a cup with liquid in it rather than make the water dirty they can tip down the side of the bowl to the sink!
Washing up bowl is better than filling your sink as you can throw left over tea and rinse cups/plates down the sink without getting your dish water dirty
You can lock a window and leave the key in or you can unlock them and still use the catches to open and close the windows. The windows usually have a button for the catch and the key locks so the button can’t be pushed to release the catch.
There are reasons for a sink basin. One is if you are going outside to wash your windows the water for the Window Brush is in the Basin. Flushing Toilets. UK and US Toilets are different for a GOOD REASON, there is a lot less water in the bottom of ours. The reason for that is whither you do a No1 or 2, when you flush the Toilet there is fine misty spray and that contains parts of what you did. In the UK when we flush the Toilet everything is OK. In America when you flush the Toilet because you have so much water in yours, you are covered in that contaminated fine misty spray.
The shaver socket in the UK is 110v it has a built in transformer reducing the voltage there are still regulations on how far away from a water source they need to be though. Bleeding a radiator means removing air from the system so the entire radiator can fill up with hot water rather than just the bottom half... The airing cupboard houses a water cylinder not a boiler...
I don't think I've ever locked my windows with the key 😂 I don't even remember where I put them! You can't really open them from the outside when the windows closed anyway.
We shave, usually in front of a mirror. Where's the mirror? Usually in the bathroom. As 240volts is quite dangerous when mixed with water, there are no electrical sockets in the bathroom. So, an isolation transformer is used to provide 110v and 240v outlets, with lower current for electrical shavers.
A washing up bowl is usually made from softer material than a ceramic or metal sink so delicate items are less likely to be damaged. Also there is usually a washer dryer in a small UK kitchen so there is not always room to install a dish washer sadly. Sigh.
I'm a bit late to this, but something that I think has not been mentioned in relation to the shaver sockets, which are the only type of power socket normally allowed in the bathroom in the UK, is that there is an isolating transformer and a thermal cutout incorporated into them as an additional safety measure. If I'm remembering correctly, the transformer is centre tapped to ground, which should mean that in the event that someone does manage to connect themselves to the supply, the maximum voltage that they will experience is half of that the socket is rated at, ie 55v in the case of a 110v socket, and the thermal cutout should disconnect the supply. A standard 3 pin 13 amp socket is not allowed to be less than 3 meters, about 10 feet, from a bath or shower, thus most British bathrooms will be too small for one to be fitted.
Most people i know don't lock there window's or leave the key in al the time. And its cold and wet here a lot of the time so having a big window open all the time is unpractical
Carpets in bathrooms from my childhood meant one’s feet didn’t get cold in the winter when brushing one’s teeth, for instance……..my current bathroom has tiles but with underfloor heating providing the same effect as carpet……😊
Henry the hoover didn't just get a face, he got a name and a bunch of friends too, Charles, George, Harry, Hetty and James Also only modern bathrooms or hotels have the electric shaver/toothbrush ports I would have to buy an adapter to plug into normal socket Washing bowl is just about hygiene or decoration, it will match the drainer you put your dishes on once washed
food disposal are illegal in europe so in uk too for safety reasons and so to avoid the sink to be block you had to thow your leftover in the bin before cleaning it
The reason for having locking windows is that young children are very inventive and if you live on any floor you don’t want your child climbing out the window especially if you live any higher than the ground floor and even then that could end up in catastrophe. We like to keep are children safe!
A washing up bowl is useful for soaking dirty clothing while you do something else with the sink. Also, if you have a big sink and you're only washing a few things, it saves water.
Kettle is a must, unless have a tap that does instant boiling water. Otherwise keep kettle, even if you don’t drink coffee or tea. Keep one by for guests and any trade people doing work on house etc
The separate taps are also for people who are visually impaired the left is for the hot right for cold and don't you use plugs that thing in the bottom of the sink is a plug hole you put a plug in it to stop the water running out of the sink
When it gets cold here in UK I have a hot water bottle under my feet and one behind my back, it keeps you lovely and warm without having to hike up the thermostat, have the same in bed. I also used to put them, although not boiling hot! in the buggy when my children were little. If you use boiling water each time you will need to get a new one every year.
There is ceramic heater that fulfils the same function. It comes with a velveteen cover. 5 minutes on charge & up to 6 hours of retained heat. very useful for people with cold feet & hands.
A washing bowl is more hygienic than a sink, things go down the sink that you may not want near your clean dishes and sod off am i cleaning the sink with Bleech every time i wash up....
Keys on windows are not really a choice, if you update your windows the new ones will have keys. Also home insurance asks you about they types of locks on your windows and doors, some ask if the locks comply with a certain British Standard. So in order to get home insurance with cheaper premiums its better to have good quality locks.
I have a double sink now so don’t use a washing up bowl but when I only had a single sink I’d wash up in a washing up bowl and use the sink to rinse them in.
UK Sinks come equipped with a plug that fits the plug hole. Put a little hot & a little cold into the bowl, wash & rinse your hands, remove the plug & dry your hand. Simples! Seriously tandem taps are used in older buildings because hot & cold were not initially separately sourced & went through the same 'tank' & some times through the earliest radiators. This is no longer the case & most people in the UK now opt for mixer taps. Another thing to worry about if living in older buildings that have not been renovated to the latest building regulations is the possibility of lead pipes. Check & get them removed A.S.A.P. if ever confronted with this situation. Cheers.
Power switches - leave them on. Window locks - take all the keys out and put them in a drawer. Maybe lock them if you are leaving the house empty for a few days. Why is she making such a big deal of this? Now, the washing-up bowl. It is soft plastic, so you aren't going to break a dish if it slips out of your hand. Also, it allows you to leave the tap running outside it so you can rinse the dishes before you put them in the drying rack. Most kitchens now will have a double sink and drainer so they don't need the bowl.
All this young woman proves is how backward and how unconscious of health and safety reasons the USA actually is !! Considering their lack of basic awareness of the rest of the world, I'd advise them to read more, watch more informative TV programmes and get their heads out of their collective backsides !!!
The window thing isnt ALL windows here in the uk..the ones she likes 'sash windows' that u just turn a small latch n pull up or down to close are very common over here but they were in mostly older buildings built in the victorian & Edwardian eras - i love them 👻 but they were single payne glass and during the 50's..60's onwards more modern double glazed windows were put in and most require a small key to then open it...often a window will be unlocked and left like that whether open or closed until leaving the house and if noone will be in. Then its just a case of 'check the windows' before all leaving. The sash windows have returned to popularity but being made double glazed so condensation cant develop. The radiators again were added to older houses which wudv had fireplaces in each room. The radiators..we call 'central heating'...come in all styles & can b works of art in themselves! 'Bleeding' a radiator is when there seems to be an issue with the heat coming thru the radiators...water is used to circulate a house's central heating system via radiators linked by pipework to a boiler. To 'bleed' means checking the water pressure in each radiator & seeing if its too strong or low...then i think water is added to any radiator thats low by a small valve on the side. Hope that helps 🥳 I dont believe americans dont have weighing scales for food or egg cups...may not be AS popular but like here..we also use cups and spoon sizes with special ones just for cooking. I was surprised tho that u guys dont have shaver points in a bathroom...as for using a hairdryer...i plug mine in just outside and use it in the shower room as its got a long cord. Also one last thing..taps..or faucets...many in the uk do have one for both hot & cold..and other rooms may have single taps..i have both types..my kitchen has a single and my bathrooms have the 2 taps on the sinks but my bath has a single outlet into the bath so its a mixed bag! 🤘 Re Washing bowls...they are not common at all lol ive never seen anyone use one! Carpets also not common...some put them in a bathroom as its cozy after getting out of the bath...usually a towel is put down to step on. Cant believe u dont have electric kettles! The smaller windows are good for child safety..nothing to do with stopping mold or airing the house ...think her reasoning generally with things she hasnt seen before being attributed to its in older houses and therefore old or outdated is too simplistic...but you do a great job discussing the points 👍
Carpet in the bathroom isn’t very common at all nowadays. It is unhygienic, so this is why a toilet mat which is shaped to go around the toilet was used and usually a matching bath mat so when you step out of the bath you’re not getting the carpet wet.
Windows with keys ! Simple, to stop small kids opening them and falling out... no kids then just don't lock them.... an entire house will use the same key shape for all the windows so if u lose one from the dining room just use one from a bedroom etc..... small window, no air con here so u can go out shopping etc and leave it open without getting burgled if the bigger window is locked with the key so people can't put their arm in and open it
The tap issue: Americans dont seem to understand you only need to heat water to the point you use it, about 40°C is more than enough unless youre concerned about legionaries, in which case why store boiled water hotter than you need it. Why waste energy heating water only to cool it down on use?
I'm pretty sure shaver sockets are old school and no longer an option for new builds... they inherit the EU law of no electricity in bathrooms for obvious reasons.
The amount of times she says "only in the UK" when in reality her 'surprises' are commonplace around a large part of the world. So what she is actually attesting to is that so many health and safety issues we take for granted haven't yet reached the USA!
I think it's clear that house design in the UK is more safety conscious than in the USA. Traditionally, hot water taps/faucets were fed by a storage tank in the roof space and cold water came directly from the main supply. Therefore water from the cold tap was potable (safe to drink) and water from the hot tap was definitely not. The supply would not be combined at the tap to avoid people inadvertantly drinking unhygenic water that had laid in the hot water storage tank. Nowadays most domestic hot water is heated by "combi-boilers" which use the main supply without the need for a storage tank, so both are now safe to drink. Therefore mixer taps are much more common than previously. Despite what Americans seem to think, separate taps aren't quaint or eccentric, they're logical and were necessary to protect public health.
UK Law mandates Cold water to be Drinkable; warm/hot water breeds Bacteria......Put the plug in and draw hot/cold + Warm water to wash your hands!
In the UK, a lockable window is important for insurance purposes.
Over 400 years ago, we started using ceramic sink units called 'Butler Sink'. They were originally invented for the linen industry as they were extremely durable and scratch proof, so they caught on and were soon found in most households nationwide but had one drawback. They were so strong it was very easy to chip or break the crockery, so one had to be very careful until the softer plastic Sink liner bowl was invented and proved to be a very cheap, handy and effective solution to the problem so you see.. they are not a 'Silly thing' but a very very VERY clever solution to a nagging problem. They come in so handy for other reasons, too, like you can fill it with hot soapy water, carefully take it outside, and wash your car. If you have a sink full of crockery and you want to use the sink for something, you simply pick up the inner bowl and your sink is clear for use, no need to empty it of crockery one by one just take the bowl out. Ingenious if you ask me 😊
don't forget the old one under the sink full of cleaning products, or the one from before that in the garage full of spray cans, or the one before that you use for oil changes...
Best answer yet! 👏
A washing up bowl helps stop the breaking or chipping of crockery and glassware and prevents the scratching of the metal sink with utensils. A hot water bottle is a must during colder weather. It also helps ladies when they have tummy pains. Keep warm without burning yourself but also pre-warm the sheets before going to bed.
They’re so great for period cramps like you said, also those microwaveable teddy bears too
Radiators sometimes get air trapped in them. The process of getting rid of that trapped air is called bleeding the radiator. You use a specific tool (kind of in the same vein as a spanner/wrench or allen key) to open a valve at the top of the radiator, which lets the air escape. You keep this valve open until water starts to come out, then you close it which allows the whole of the radiator to heat up as it is the water that heats the radiator and the air leaves that part of the radiator cold (or at least cooler).
When I was a kid we had carpet in the bathroom…and it was very much a necessity at the time. Our bathroom was downstairs and the whole of our ground floor had concrete floors, this was also before we had double glazing or central heating. I grew up in Scotland and like in many (if not most) parts of the UK, without double glazing and central heating the condensation on the inside of windows would freeze and you’d have to go around chipping the ice off to be able to open the windows in the morning, so that you could air the house out. Now think about how cold a tiled or vinyl floor might make the room that you get naked and wet in, the carpet at least took the edge off a little and should have been a type that had a specific bathroom/kitchen/high moisture area backing on it.
The washing-up bowl enables you to still use the sink while doing the washing-up (as double sinks are rare and even the 1.5 sinks aren’t THAT common), so if someone needs to fill up a water bottle or the kettle while the dishes are being done, you can just lift the bowl out or if you had a pan steeping, you can lift the bowl out to pour the water away and wash out the bulk of what you’d been steeping the pan to loosen up.
Hot water bottles are great for stomach cramps and backaches as well as for warming you up when you’re cold or warming the bed before you get in. You can get ones that go in the microwave to heat up but they neither get as hot nor stay hot for as long as the ones you pour boiling water into.
normal sockets in the UK are 240 volts. shaver sockets are 110 volts & are usually high up on a mirrored cabinet & away from any water.
Also seperate from the Mains Electricity via Transfomer 110v is centre tapped so Completely Safe! 110v is Centre Tapped so only shows 55V AC which isn't lethal!
@@timhannah4 yep, I was putting it in simple terms for non electrically minded people. 👍
The key in the window is also a safety feature to stop children from opening them
Every house has a kettle.
Well 😂 Yh slowly declining but kettles are amazing even better when it’s quooker tap 🚰
If you’re British check out quooker
I also have a one on stand by
The keys on window locks are an extra security feature. They'll open and close just fine when unlocked and the keys are often removed and stored in a kitchen drawer full of random junk.
Measuring cups? We use them as well as kitchen scales.
Bathroom sockets have an isolating transformer for added safety.
Hi there fella, yeh, I'm a Brit. A couple of things you may enjoy.....
First, you've never lived (or died of electrocution) if you haven't been zapped by 230 Volts. It's a big wake-up call, assuming you survive the encounter.
Next up, measurements in the kitchen. Imagine if one day you wake up and can no longer use Ounces, Pounds, real Tons, Fluid ounces, Pints, Gallons, feet, Inches etc etc etc. And if that wasn't bad enough, even you currency has gone Decimal. No Proper Pounds (They're New Pounds). No Guineys, no Shillings, no Pennies, no Happennies etc. 12 of Her Majesty's pennies were suddenly worth just 5 "New Pence." So many Companies changed their prices from 3d (old pennies) to 3p, overnight. Decimalisation was the biggest RIP-OFF Britain has ever seen.
Being a kid at the time, it hit hard. My bus fare into Town was more than doubled, and even worse, a Mars Chocolate Bar also doubled in price. The ultimate worst thing was that one day I could get 4 Fruit Salad or Black Jack or Mojo chewies for 1d (old pennies) and the next day it was 4 for 1p (new pence.) Things like this are really important when you're 10 yrs old.
Sorry this is a very long comment but I was hoping to raise a smile, or at least a sickly grin. Have a nice one......
PS. The getting zapped by 230 Volts - it's a joke. Don't do it, really it seriously bloody hurts!
In the UK we can put cold water in an electric kettle and it's boiling in 60 seconds - so maybe the USA need to upgrade their slow system??? We don't use the switch to turn electricy on for the appliances that are regularly used - like cooker, fridge, freezer, kettle, washing machine, TV, hi-fi equipment, computer etc. If you've got to use the hoover then having a Henry makes it more fun!! Just a point to mention, we have practically ZERO people who get electrocuted in our homes in the UK because companies are held responsible for ensuring people are safe, so builders are not allowed to put 'normal sockets' in bathrooms. Listening to her makes me realise how backward America really is. The UK has faster internet speed, homes made to last hundreds of years because they are made of bricks instead of wood - and that includes internal walls, and is much more aware of the differences around the world.
In the UK, electrical safety is a matter of great importance. As someone who has worked as an electrician, I can attest to the stringent regulations in place.
The airing cupboard, was from early emersion boiler systems that had the water tank in the cupboard that generated a lot of heat, so was great for drying clothes and storing towels for those cold nights getting a bath before modern central heating :)
Walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night is not nice when the bathroom floor is freezing in winter so carpet has its use.
A washing up bowl uses less water than the sink and makes the sink easier to clean. It also means you can fill it with boiling water, leave dishes in it for 20 minutes and they wash themselves. If you need the dink during that time, you can lift the bowl out. Anericans seem to always double the work they have to do.
Most Americans have dish washer and older Americans use a dish washing bowl
Most chargeable items have a light that is on/changes colour when active. If the light does not turn/changes colour on then switch on the power. Also simple child proofing is available for the UK 3 pin socket in the form of a 3 pin plastic pro forma which 'plugs' into the socket to prevent small fingers from finding their way into said socket.
They exist, but they shouldn't be used - they are actually less safe than the built in safety features of the socket.
The taps thing is so weird to me. It's pretty simple. If you want to mix them to make warm water you stick the plug in the sink. Takes 1 second. No burnt hands, no cold hands. If you're only swilling your hands for a second, most people just risk the hot tap, fair enough. But it's not some great conundrum to make warm water.
I so agree with you. It’s so simple to fill up the sink with the hot and cold water. Totally submerging your hands in the water with soap is more hygienic (probably) and uses less water than a running tap.
Some of the fancier public toilets don't even have buttons to flush the toilet any more! They have light sensors! You just wave your hand in front of it and it just flushes without you even having to touch anything. Marvellous.
My dad had carpet in the bathroom and the kitchen 😂 It was a 70s/80s thing. He never changed his mindset. I live in a modern house and have separate hot/cold taps, it’s not an issue you just use the hot tap to wet your hands, rub the soap over them then turn it back on to rinse them. A washing bowl means you can empty cups dishes etc down the sink while you’re washing up.
People make me laugh with the tap thing. They get all sarcastic, acting like they burn or freeze their hands. There's a sink with a plug right there. It uses a fraction of the water too. They should force people to have separate taps. 🤣
@@drdasslerI’ve also never used a tap that has instant boiling water coming out of it.
If you're fiddling about with anything electrical in a UK bathroom, I strongly advise you to have made your legal
Will testimony beforehand, because with 240 volts coming out of your ears, you are going to fry.!!!!!
We have standard 240V sockets in our bathrooms in Australia, no problems.
@@vtbn53Ah, but you’re so much tougher over there! 🤣
@@Roz-y2d they're used to being bitten by spiders and a whole host of other nasties.!
So, electricity is way down their list of priorities!!!
The washing basin/bowls are generally used to catch food scraps or the likes of potato/carrot peelings by catching them when emptying the basin to prevent the scraps/peelings from clogging up the drain inlet.
We have a drain stopper in the US
No soft boiled egg and Buppy soldiers !you don't know what you are missing . Bleeding the radiator is using a special key and cracking a small plug in the top to bleed off any air locks , once water comes out you tighten and the system is ready for another winter. Washing up bowls are very handy , and cheap to replace they save water ,and wear on the sink you just empty it into the sink when you are done . They are also convenient if you need water around the house for cleaning windows or other jobs .
Our toilets don't overflow and bathroom carpets are water resistant.
Having a switch on the electric outlet does not save energy. The switch is to prevent a person plugging directly into a live electric current (240 volts can kill). The switch just means you have to plug into the wall outlet, then when it is safely inserted because there is a longer pin at the top that is partly covered in plastic. You can then switch on when the plug and the circuit is correctly earthed. Generally you can leave an appliance plugged into the wall with the switch off, there will be no electricity used there is no circuit.
I LOVE hot water bottles- Great in the winter with covers. Do BECAREFUL though -
1. Do not fill together top - about three quarters or follow directions
2. Make sure you tighten knob properly, so hot water does not leak and spill unto your skin
3. Carpet in bathroom - mostly elderly people's homes that have not renovated. Today, it's deemed unhygienic- but back then it kept feet warm so you had Carpet everywhere 😅
Today you have Radiators in the bathroom to keep you warm or modern homes / those who have renovated recently have underfloor heating throughout the home. So come the winter period the floor is warm and nice.
The inventor of the mixer tap was Robert Campbell. Irish imigrant. I'm 56 brit, I've had mixer taps for over 35 years.
Hi
The combined washer / dryer machine isn't very efficient in drying in my experience, usually dry it twice, and I'm working in tourism business...
It's never getting dry enough in one try
Greetings from Sweden
Wsher/dryers are popular in the UK, where houses are smaller and space is confined. However, the dryer element obviously uses the same drum as the washer, and so hot air and the tumbling of clothes are limited. Not a fan of them. Robert.
@@2eleven48 I agree. I had a washer dryer and I still had to hang things up to dry them them out completely. I only really used it if I wanted something dried quickly.
I once lived in a flat that had a kitchen so small I couldn't put a washing machine in it but I had a small storage lock up down stairs that had a water point and electric point so the washing machine & tumble dryer went in there stack on top of each other
sorry to assume but i think you are not using it correctly, a housemate use to have the same issue, what you need to remember is the capacity for dry is less than to wash i.e. my one is 8kg wash 5kg dry, if you fill it to volume then there is not enough room to air properly, nowadays the wash adjust to the weight so half load your machine and it will dry in one go
You do not really need to lock the windows. Snecking the window is usually enough to make them secure & they can usually be snecked to be slightly ajar & still be secure. The lockability feature is a safety measure to ensure that small children (& crafty pets) cannot come to harm by opening the window.
Not all houses/flats have a double sink, you use the washing up bowl for the soapy water, and the sink for the rinse water before putting things on the draining rack to dry.
I leave the keys in the windows so that I don't mislay it.
Egg cups can also be used for separating egg yolks from whites when cooking. Crack the egg onto a plate then put the egg cup over the yolk and pour the white into a jug.
If you ever get a thing called a Belfast sink a washing up bowl is essential. A Belfast sink is a huge ceramic sink and you would use a lot of water if you didn't have a washing up bowl. For a long time in the UK most if not all houses had Belfast sinks.
the box type shower only has a cold feed to it, the box contains an instant water heater that you set the temperature too.
cord to the shaver (and the electricity going through it) was so
tiny. GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) outlets with a reset switch are now common in USA homes throughout bathroom and kitchens
and anywhere else where water might be present. One thing not so common anymore is an outlet as part of the vanity light -- very
problematic if the cord drops into the sink)
Key's can stay in the window, easier in fact. The whole point of it being locked is to stop young children and animals falling from heights in skyrises or just in general an extra security feature making it harder for burglary to happen.
The airing cupboard is for things like towels, bedding, blankets and such
With separate taps, the assumption seems to be that you must keep moving your hands between the two taps. What we actually do is to run the water into a bowl or into the bathroom wash basin which is fitted with a plug. In this way we obtain the temperature we want and then wash our hands, face etc. Also, another reason for fitting window locks is not just for security but it can be financially beneficial to you when taking out home insurance .
Digital scales are always useful ;)
I get that "Cups" are a ratio thing, but how many cups if you're cooking for two girls?
Washing up bowls are also super useful for young kids that get sick. Days off school, bottle of Lucozade, jumpers for goal posts...
When she's talking about push button toilets, is she basically saying "I took a massive dump and sent a picture to my friend?" 🤣
We had carpet in the bathroom in the 80ies in Germany. I suppose it was to avoid having cold feet. But we had to be careful not to splash around in the bath too much because it would take ages to dry. So not very practical really.
Why are taps separated. Answer, the hot water system usually used a heater tank in the roof and an immersion heater to heat and hold the hot water. The cold supply comes from the main supply. This means there's a big pressure difference between the mains and the hot water pressure as defined by the height the header tank is. So, if you have a mixer tap, the cold water will push the hot water back up to the header tank - although you can put a one way valve, but the hot water pressure will never be enough to allow the hot water to open the one way valve as the cold pressure will keep it closed. In some houses, the immersion heater is removed and the hot water is heated on demand. In these situations it's possible to have mixer taps and mixer taps showers.
I remember when my parents bought a home with it having carpet in the bathroom, it's definitely an older thing, most people now would have tiled or wooden and often a rug which is easily washable. Airing cupboards are less common, because in older heating systems there was a hot water tank or immersion heater which was located in a cupboard. Nearly all modern homes use combination boilers, which instantly heat water and don't need a storage tank.
Carpet squares became popular for a while. You could literally lift and wash them in the sink, scubbing if necessary.
Airing cupboards were for towel storage or fresh bedding. It was the warmest place in the house. So towels and bedding came out warm.
The reason you use the electric shower box,is down to lack of water pressure in the area,I don’t have one in my house as I have good water pressure.
I also thought it was cheaper to run, only heat the water you are going to use.
Bleeding a radiator, a valve on top allows you to let out excess Air out of the system, you usually use a Key
I thought that was sweating & bleeding was emptying the liquid. 🤔
@@drdassler no its definitely called bleeding.
Or in more modern rads it's a flathead screwdriver instead of a rad key
A washing up bowl makes a lot of sense. If you have to dump out some liquid, you can tip it down the side.
Some people use bowls simply because they may only have one sink and if they pick up a cup with liquid in it rather than make the water dirty they can tip down the side of the bowl to the sink!
Washing up bowls are to save water and also from the days when you needed to boil a kettle/pan for hot water
Bleeding a radiator is just a screw that is turned to let air out and water fill up to make it hotter and gets rid of the air
Washing up bowl is better than filling your sink as you can throw left over tea and rinse cups/plates down the sink without getting your dish water dirty
You can lock a window and leave the key in or you can unlock them and still use the catches to open and close the windows. The windows usually have a button for the catch and the key locks so the button can’t be pushed to release the catch.
There are reasons for a sink basin. One is if you are going outside to wash your windows the water for the Window Brush is in the Basin. Flushing Toilets. UK and US Toilets are different for a GOOD REASON, there is a lot less water in the bottom of ours. The reason for that is whither you do a No1 or 2, when you flush the Toilet there is fine misty spray and that contains parts of what you did. In the UK when we flush the Toilet everything is OK. In America when you flush the Toilet because you have so much water in yours, you are covered in that contaminated fine misty spray.
With the boiler room we put bed sheets and blanket covers in them so it keep them warm though the winter time
The shaver socket in the UK is 110v it has a built in transformer reducing the voltage there are still regulations on how far away from a water source they need to be though. Bleeding a radiator means removing air from the system so the entire radiator can fill up with hot water rather than just the bottom half... The airing cupboard houses a water cylinder not a boiler...
I don't think I've ever locked my windows with the key 😂 I don't even remember where I put them! You can't really open them from the outside when the windows closed anyway.
We shave, usually in front of a mirror. Where's the mirror? Usually in the bathroom. As 240volts is quite dangerous when mixed with water, there are no electrical sockets in the bathroom. So, an isolation transformer is used to provide 110v and 240v outlets, with lower current for electrical shavers.
There are a couple of videos that explain about uk sockets/plugs.
A washing up bowl is usually made from softer material than a ceramic or metal sink so delicate items are less likely to be damaged. Also there is usually a washer dryer in a small UK kitchen so there is not always room to install a dish washer sadly. Sigh.
I'm a bit late to this, but something that I think has not been mentioned in relation to the shaver sockets, which are the only type of power socket normally allowed in the bathroom in the UK, is that there is an isolating transformer and a thermal cutout incorporated into them as an additional safety measure. If I'm remembering correctly, the transformer is centre tapped to ground, which should mean that in the event that someone does manage to connect themselves to the supply, the maximum voltage that they will experience is half of that the socket is rated at, ie 55v in the case of a 110v socket, and the thermal cutout should disconnect the supply. A standard 3 pin 13 amp socket is not allowed to be less than 3 meters, about 10 feet, from a bath or shower, thus most British bathrooms will be too small for one to be fitted.
Most people i know don't lock there window's or leave the key in al the time. And its cold and wet here a lot of the time so having a big window open all the time is unpractical
Carpets in bathrooms from my childhood meant one’s feet didn’t get cold in the winter when brushing one’s teeth, for instance……..my current bathroom has tiles but with underfloor heating providing the same effect as carpet……😊
The box on the wall shower is used for electric showers whereas we also use the type of showers you use in the US but these are run on gas!
Henry the hoover didn't just get a face, he got a name and a bunch of friends too, Charles, George, Harry, Hetty and James
Also only modern bathrooms or hotels have the electric shaver/toothbrush ports
I would have to buy an adapter to plug into normal socket
Washing bowl is just about hygiene or decoration, it will match the drainer you put your dishes on once washed
food disposal are illegal in europe so in uk too for safety reasons and so to avoid the sink to be block you had to thow your leftover in the bin before cleaning it
The reason for having locking windows is that young children are very inventive and if you live on any floor you don’t want your child climbing out the window especially if you live any higher than the ground floor and even then that could end up in catastrophe. We like to keep are children safe!
The pull cord lights are in Home Alone 2 New York, which Kevin riggs up to burn Joe Pesci's hair off 😅
A washing up bowl is useful for soaking dirty clothing while you do something else with the sink. Also, if you have a big sink and you're only washing a few things, it saves water.
Kettle is a must, unless have a tap that does instant boiling water. Otherwise keep kettle, even if you don’t drink coffee or tea. Keep one by for guests and any trade people doing work on house etc
The separate taps are also for people who are visually impaired the left is for the hot right for cold and don't you use plugs that thing in the bottom of the sink is a plug hole you put a plug in it to stop the water running out of the sink
The key windows are more about safety than security. To stop children opening the windows.
in LIVERPOOL we call an egg cup with a BOILED EGG in it and toast cut into small slices .. “CHUCKY EGG n SOLDIERS ..😂
Because sometimes the plug goes miss hence the bowl for washing the dishes
When it gets cold here in UK I have a hot water bottle under my feet and one behind my back, it keeps you lovely and warm without having to hike up the thermostat, have the same in bed. I also used to put them, although not boiling hot! in the buggy when my children were little. If you use boiling water each time you will need to get a new one every year.
There is ceramic heater that fulfils the same function. It comes with a velveteen cover. 5 minutes on charge & up to 6 hours of retained heat. very useful for people with cold feet & hands.
Leaving the key in the window is common practice, same with leaving a specific outlet on lol
We have sockets now with USB ports which is extremely useful
A washing bowl is more hygienic than a sink, things go down the sink that you may not want near your clean dishes and sod off am i cleaning the sink with Bleech every time i wash up....
The window locks are handy when you have kids to stop them opening Windows and maybe falling out.
Keys on windows are not really a choice, if you update your windows the new ones will have keys. Also home insurance asks you about they types of locks on your windows and doors, some ask if the locks comply with a certain British Standard. So in order to get home insurance with cheaper premiums its better to have good quality locks.
Because you are living in UK when the winters are not as cold as they used to be hence the carpet in bathroom protect your feet from cold😊
Water and electricity don’t mix …. hence no ordinary plugs allowed in the bathroom…
Put the plug in the sink and run both taps. Mix wash no burnt hands
I have a double sink now so don’t use a washing up bowl but when I only had a single sink I’d wash up in a washing up bowl and use the sink to rinse them in.
UK Sinks come equipped with a plug that fits the plug hole. Put a little hot & a little cold into the bowl, wash & rinse your hands, remove the plug & dry your hand. Simples! Seriously tandem taps are used in older buildings because hot & cold were not initially separately sourced & went through the same 'tank' & some times through the earliest radiators. This is no longer the case & most people in the UK now opt for mixer taps. Another thing to worry about if living in older buildings that have not been renovated to the latest building regulations is the possibility of lead pipes. Check & get them removed A.S.A.P. if ever confronted with this situation. Cheers.
Power switches - leave them on. Window locks - take all the keys out and put them in a drawer. Maybe lock them if you are leaving the house empty for a few days. Why is she making such a big deal of this? Now, the washing-up bowl. It is soft plastic, so you aren't going to break a dish if it slips out of your hand. Also, it allows you to leave the tap running outside it so you can rinse the dishes before you put them in the drying rack. Most kitchens now will have a double sink and drainer so they don't need the bowl.
I love your reaction to the hot water bottle.
There are now a family of Henry Hoovers, it's not just Henry anymore 😂
I have a mini Henry for my computer keyboard. So cute!
@@Fallopia5150 I've seen those and wondered if they really worked?! 🤔
British plugs are safety plus …. Designed to stop accidents.
Laundry places have virtually died out over in Britain
Bleeding a radiator just means u need to let the air escape n generally just as water comes out u close it up with a radiator key
All this young woman proves is how backward and how unconscious of health and safety reasons the USA actually is !! Considering their lack of basic awareness of the rest of the world, I'd advise them to read more, watch more informative TV programmes and get their heads out of their collective backsides !!!
Washing up bowl is less likely to break the glass or dishes
The window thing isnt ALL windows here in the uk..the ones she likes 'sash windows' that u just turn a small latch n pull up or down to close are very common over here but they were in mostly older buildings built in the victorian & Edwardian eras - i love them 👻 but they were single payne glass and during the 50's..60's onwards more modern double glazed windows were put in and most require a small key to then open it...often a window will be unlocked and left like that whether open or closed until leaving the house and if noone will be in. Then its just a case of 'check the windows' before all leaving. The sash windows have returned to popularity but being made double glazed so condensation cant develop. The radiators again were added to older houses which wudv had fireplaces in each room. The radiators..we call 'central heating'...come in all styles & can b works of art in themselves!
'Bleeding' a radiator is when there seems to be an issue with the heat coming thru the radiators...water is used to circulate a house's central heating system via radiators linked by pipework to a boiler. To 'bleed' means checking the water pressure in each radiator & seeing if its too strong or low...then i think water is added to any radiator thats low by a small valve on the side. Hope that helps 🥳 I dont believe americans dont have weighing scales for food or egg cups...may not be AS popular but like here..we also use cups and spoon sizes with special ones just for cooking.
I was surprised tho that u guys dont have shaver points in a bathroom...as for using a hairdryer...i plug mine in just outside and use it in the shower room as its got a long cord.
Also one last thing..taps..or faucets...many in the uk do have one for both hot & cold..and other rooms may have single taps..i have both types..my kitchen has a single and my bathrooms have the 2 taps on the sinks but my bath has a single outlet into the bath so its a mixed bag!
🤘
Re Washing bowls...they are not common at all lol ive never seen anyone use one! Carpets also not common...some put them in a bathroom as its cozy after getting out of the bath...usually a towel is put down to step on. Cant believe u dont have electric kettles!
The smaller windows are good for child safety..nothing to do with stopping mold or airing the house ...think her reasoning generally with things she hasnt seen before being attributed to its in older houses and therefore old or outdated is too simplistic...but you do a great job discussing the points 👍
Henry and hettie hoovers, and their is a carpet wash vacuum. i believe he is called harold
Of course you can just leave the key in....if you want to invalidate your household insurance!
Carpet in the bathroom isn’t very common at all nowadays. It is unhygienic, so this is why a toilet mat which is shaped to go around the toilet was used and usually a matching bath mat so when you step out of the bath you’re not getting the carpet wet.
Windows with keys ! Simple, to stop small kids opening them and falling out... no kids then just don't lock them.... an entire house will use the same key shape for all the windows so if u lose one from the dining room just use one from a bedroom etc..... small window, no air con here so u can go out shopping etc and leave it open without getting burgled if the bigger window is locked with the key so people can't put their arm in and open it
Henry the Hoover actually has a sister, she’s Pink and known as Henrietta the Hoover!
Key windows are being upgraded now we have the ones that you have to just press and push to open
The tap issue: Americans dont seem to understand you only need to heat water to the point you use it, about 40°C is more than enough unless youre concerned about legionaries, in which case why store boiled water hotter than you need it. Why waste energy heating water only to cool it down on use?
I'm pretty sure shaver sockets are old school and no longer an option for new builds... they inherit the EU law of no electricity in bathrooms for obvious reasons.