Everyday debates, settled
Some arguments never die: they just come back every time someone loads the dishwasher. Here are the classics, each with the best case for both sides, the facts that actually matter, and a ruling.
Got one that isn't here? Settle it with the argument judge.
At home
- How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?Wash your sheets once a week, in hot water if the fabric allows. Two weeks is the limit for healthy adults without allergies or pets in the bed. The weekly side wins.See the ruling →
- How to Load a Dishwasher, and Should You Rinse First?Scrape, do not rinse. Pre-rinsing wastes water and energy that the machine is built to save. Scrape off big scraps, use the rinse cycle if dishes will wait, and load dirty sides toward the center with knives point down.See the ruling →
- Is Water Wet?Scientifically, water is not wet: it is the liquid that makes surfaces wet. In everyday speech, water is wet. Because the question is usually a challenge to be precise, the not wet side takes it.See the ruling →
- Toilet Paper Over or Under?Over. It is easier to see and grab, keeps your hand off the wall, and matches the 1891 patent drawing. Hang it under only if a cat or a toddler keeps unrolling it.See the ruling →
- Toilet Seat Up or Down?Lid down, for everyone. It splits the work equally, ends the night-time surprise, and keeps things out of the bowl. Leave it as you used it is cheaper in total effort, so it is a fair rule too, but only if everyone in the house agrees to it.See the ruling →
In the kitchen
- Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich?Technically yes: a hot dog meets a broad definition of a sandwich, much like a sub. In everyday life it is its own category, so call it a hot dog and enjoy it.See the ruling →
- Is Cereal a Soup?Cereal is not a soup. Soup is cooked or blended into one liquid dish, and cereal is dry grain with milk poured on at the table. The soup side gets credit for history, not for the definition.See the ruling →
- Should Eggs Be Refrigerated?In the US, yes: refrigerate eggs at 40°F or below. American eggs are washed before sale, federal rules keep them cold from 36 hours after laying, and quality drops fast at room temperature. Unwashed European eggs are a different product.See the ruling →
- Should You Wash Chicken Before Cooking?Do not wash chicken. The CDC says raw chicken is ready to cook, rinsing spreads germs around the sink, and cooking to 165°F is what makes it safe. Wash your hands and clean the sink instead.See the ruling →
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide these debates?
We give each side its strongest case, then rule on what the evidence supports. Where science or safety settles it (washing raw chicken, refrigerating eggs in the US) the ruling follows the official guidance. Where it's a matter of taste, we say so, and pick the side with the better argument.
Can I get a ruling on my own debate?
Yes. Type both sides into the free argument judge and you'll get a verdict in about 20 seconds, with the strong and weak points of each side.
Are these rulings final?
Nothing is final in a good debate. If you have a better argument than the ones here, that's exactly what the judge is for.
The ArgueResolver app · iPhone and Android
Record the argument. Get the verdict.
ArgueResolver listens while you talk it out, works out who said what, and gives an honest verdict on what was actually said, with compromises and steps to fix it.
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