A 30-year-old couple was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer, shocking their doctors when both cases were traced back to the same daily habit — the way they washed their dishes.

According to physicians, the couple had a long-standing practice of rinsing dishes quickly and incompletely, often leaving behind traces of detergent. Over time, the leftover chemicals mixed with food residues created harmful compounds that can irritate the stomach lining, trigger chronic inflammation, and increase the risk of cancer.

Doctors warn that this is a common mistake many households make, especially those who wash dishes in a hurry, use too much detergent, or skip rinsing thoroughly to save time or water.

Experts emphasize three key points to lower the risk:

• Use a small amount of dishwashing liquid — more foam doesn't mean cleaner dishes.

• Rinse under running water until no slippery residue remains.

• Replace old, moldy sponges that can harbor bacteria and harmful substances.

The couple is now undergoing treatment and hopes their case will remind others to take simple daily habits more seriously. “Something as ordinary as washing dishes can become dangerous if done incorrectly,” their doctor noted.