Final answer:
After tableware is cleared, cleaned, and rinsed, it should be dried to ensure no residue remains. Water alone is not effective in cleaning oily residues because it cannot mix with oil, and surfactants in detergents are needed to break down the oil.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dining room tables are reset after tableware has been cleared, cleaned, rinsed, and dried. This process often includes hand washing or using a dishwasher to ensure that all the residue and debris from previous meals are removed. It is followed by drying the tableware completely before they are set on the table again. If dishes were only rinsed with water, as highlighted by the question, they might still have an oily film because water alone is not effective in breaking down oil. This is because water and oil do not mix; the oily film repels water. Surfactants in dishwashing detergent help to emulsify and break down the oil, allowing it to be washed away. The final step in the cleaning process—drying—ensures that there are no water spots or remaining oils on the dishes before they are used again.