Dishwasher verses Washing-up

FTB83

Hi - just a quick query... (I did a quick search and couldn't see a duplicate, but apologies if I've missed it).

We are looking at moving into a house soon which has a dishwasher. I've never had one before, but my partner has and switches it on probably once a day. We will have to budget, and I wondered how the water usage differs between a dishwasher and manual washing up? If we were to use the dishwasher, I would insist that it is only switched on when full, but would this save water compared to one or two sessions of manual washing up a day? I use water to rinse the the suds off too, so I guess this means slightly more water that just a washing up bowl full, but just wondered what people's experience was, especially as a dishwasher also uses electricity.

Hope this query doesn't sound too daft - I just want to be prepared! There are only two of us, and we both work all day, so there'd just be breakfast and dinner stuff.

p.s. I just wanted to thank you all for such useful tips on this forum aswell, it's a fantastic site. I've read about things such as the water-displacement bags for the cistern, ways to manage food and so many more handy tips.

Linda32

Hi, we don't have a dishwasher so its sink for use.

A couple of questions, will you have a water meter, I imagine a dishwasher takes more than washing up, even if you do wash the sudds off. Or are you as concerned about the amount of water used as well?

Also will you have economy7 ?

This might sound daft but will you have enough plates to not switch it on until its full? I know that might sound odd, and as we havn't got one I don't really know how many plates / dishes you can fit it. Hope this makes sense

chinagirl

I would also like to know the answer to this question. There are 5 of us in our house, and I wash up about 3 times each day. Would having a dishwasher and using it just 1 time a day (or 2 if needed) be any cheaper, taking into account water consumption, electricity, dishwasher tablets/paraphenalia etc?

If it works out cheaper or the same, I would reshuffle my kitchen to incorporate one, as I do get fed up washing up all the time. I have already gone down the road of the children/hubby doing it, but I can't abide looking at a sink full of dirty dishes, and waiting for them to do it. Also, when my m.in law had one years ago, I seem to remember each morning somebody having to empty to dishwasher, which seems like another chore, and at least when you wash up and dry at the sink, everything is done.

MATH

My dishwasher uses much less water than washing up by hand. I know this because when it broke I had to empty it and handwash. I had to change the water three times as it got dirty and then needed a sink full to rinse.

lister

MATH wrote:

My dishwasher uses much less water than washing up by hand. I know this because when it broke I had to empty it and handwash. I had to change the water three times as it got dirty and then needed a sink full to rinse.

Why rinse? Just drain after washing and dry. Even glassware will look perfect as long as you dry while it is still warm. I would like to see the dishwasher that could use less water than I do by hand (particularly if you take into account any pre-cleaning you do of casserole dishes and the like). On a normal day I would do all of the washing up for two people in between 3-5 litres of water (about half a washing up bowl of water, depending on the bowl).

Never seen the point of dishwashers myself - I did live somewhere with one a few years ago, but after trying it once never bothered again. I clean better by hand, save money, and barely take much longer than stacking and unstacking a dishwasher. The small amount of time saved just seems a bit of a poor return for the extra money spent on energy and cleaning products.

comping_cat

I was watching the Richard Hammond 5 o clock show a month or so ago, and they had one of those energy saving experts on, going around a dolls house explaining where people could save energy and money. In the kitchen she recommended using a dishwasher (at which Richard got very excited!!!) as it saves energy and water. I dont know what the ratios are, but it came from an expert, so i now feel ok about using the dishwasher!!!!

Mr_Proctalgia

Modern Dishwashers use less water than hand washing, also they do clever tricks like saving the wash water to pre heat the rinse water, in some respects they can also use less water than hand washing because they are cold fill so you do not have hot water going cold in your pipes either. For best effect run them only when full and on economy 7 if you have it. They can wash much hotter than you would be able to hand wash but also they can send your pans, glasses, cutlery funny colours (Thye also wash the dots off Global Knives too :mad: )

HTH

Petal_3

Mr Proctalgia - *cough cough* - you put your Global knives in the dishwasher??!! :eek: :eek:

Only the most gentle handwashing for ours.....

~x~

cal1978

I love my dishwasher, don't think I could live without it. I did have to buy more plates and glasses etc as I only turn it on when it is full. Also from a hygiene point of view it is better than washing by hand apparently!! Thats my excuse anyway. :j

Pooky

Mine died last month, although it may have been more economical than washing by hand I've really noticed how much easier washing it myself is.

I wash - kids wipe - we have a chat about their day and they "earn" some of their pocket money.

There's no more - loading and unloading which took for ever sometimes.

Everything is clean, dry and put away after each meal before I leave the kitchen.....rather than turn the dial and walk away hoping the unloading fairy will do her stuff (she never did - how inconsiderate)

I won't be buying another one, the money I've saved in powder and salt in the last 4 weeks will go towards the extra bit of gas to heat the water to wash by hand.

Mr_Proctalgia

Petal wrote:

Mr Proctalgia - *cough cough* - you put your Global knives in the dishwasher??!! :eek: :eek:

Only the most gentle handwashing for ours.....

~x~

Erm No - My Ex did! :eek: That is part of the reason she is my EX

(I did make her paint the dots on again too :rotfl:)

P.S It also sends them rusty where the blades are welded to the handles.