abspülen

Abspülen is a German verb that means to rinse off substances with water, removing residues. In common usage it refers especially to rinsing dishes, cutlery, pots, and pans under running water, typically after they have been washed with detergent (abwaschen) or before drying. The act can be performed by hand at a sink or as part of a dishwasher’s rinse cycle. The noun das Abspülen denotes this rinsing process.

Etymology: The term is formed from the prefix ab- and the verb spülen (to rinse). It is related to ausspülen, which emphasizes flushing out an entire system, and to the broader verb spülen.

Usage and scope: Abspülen is most closely associated with kitchen hygiene, but it can also apply to rinsing fruits and vegetables or laboratory glassware to remove debris or residues. In everyday speech one can say: Ich spüle das Geschirr ab. In professional settings, a sequence may separate abspülen (removing debris) from more thorough cleaning or sanitizing.

See also: Abwaschen, Geschirrspüler, Spülen, Ausspülen, Reinigung.