Or sometimes with a lump of Sunlight soap, which was very good as you could wash dishes, wash clothes, wash your hands or even take a bath using the same product.
The little left over bits of sunlight soap were put in a "soap saver", a dish of soap bits and water where the soap turned to a mushy liquid, handy for washing up.
Later on, after the advent of TV ( I remember the TV ads ) we were introduced to the new wonder of the modern age, which was detergent. The first washing up detergent was a revolutionary product, guaranteed to ease the drudgery of dishwashing, it was called Trix.
What were joyfully told to do was to wash the dishes in hot water with Trix, stack them to rinse and dry and..wonderful..sparkling clean dishes and cups.
A new era of enjoyment in washing dishes had dawned. Well....
Now, when I go to the SuperMarket, I can still find Trix, but there are shelves of different varieties of detergents, different flavours, different for sensitive, dry skin, delicate hands etc, environmentally friendly, phosphate free etc take your pick. !!
The dishes are still the same greasy grunge and it is still a soul destroying drudge to wash and dry them and stack them on the shelves.
And I don't want an electric dishwasher, the water rates and carbon tax have cruelled that idea.
Now Neville. 
Here is a great labour saving device called a dog. 
When two people have had their meal hold the plate down and the dog will lick it clean, though it may be a little wet when he finishes it 
Now that's easy isn't it folks 
