Dishwasher verses Washing-up

FTB83

Thanks for your replies and advice. :beer:

The new house (if all goes through ok!) is on a water meter, and it is the water use and the added electricity use I wonder about. Plus, as someone mentioned, the cost of dishwasher tablets against washing up liquid (I did see someone post that you can halve the dishwasher tablets to save on cost though).

I'm not sure about economy 7. The dishwasher is a Smeg and about three years old, so I am hoping that as it is reasonably young, it might have such a setting.

I've just read some more of the responses, it's a bit of mixed bag on which method is best though! I think I might do handwashing for small loads (Linda 32's query about the number of plates is not daft at all, if there's only two of us and not enough to start the washer after a couple of meals, we would run out!), and perhaps if we have friends over and lots of items to wash, the dishwasher will be more economical? (I appreciate the comment about the time to load and unload compared to the washing up time though, that's one of the reasons my mum never bothered with a dishwasher!). I'll also wash glasses by hand - I know there have probably been advances in technology, but so many friends I see who use dishwashers have cloudy scratched glasses!

frumpyknickers

My original dishwasher was bought for me instead of an engagement ring - I get terrible dermatitis if I do too much washing up (honest!!!) so hubby to be (as he was then) got me a d.w. so he could buy me an extra special wedding ring that I could show off on reasonably o.k. looking hands! He has had to buy be a replacement d.w. - I've told him that it is an ongoing arrangement - unless ofcourse he fancies doing the washing-up! It not only saves my skin, it also sterilise my crocks - (in USA they use their d.w's to sterilise baby's bottles & teats instead of fancy steamers / Milton soaking etc.). Be careful what you put in, knives, wooden/bone handle cutlery may suffer, and some non-stick coatings may not like being washed in this way.

Grumpysally

I don't know if this is of any help to you but these are the figures from my dw hand book. I assume models will differ and that old machines will be less ecconomic. Also these figures are under laboratory conditions.

Intensive, 70 Degree wash ; duration 1.52 hrs, energy consumption kWh 1.60, water comsumption, 21lt.

Quick wash, 30mins. energy, 0.70kwh. water consumption 14lt.

There are a couple of other programmes , plus a pre rinse, but I tend not to use any of them.

I generally use the quick programme unles things are very mucky. You do need to rinse of the heavy gunge off the plates first before you put them in. ( don't believe the Aisley Harriot ad when he puts that lasagne dish in in that state. It would bung up the filters) But I find I can get away with a few inches of soapy water in a bowl to sufficiently clean most things.
The only problem with the quick wash is that it doesnt dry so well because it doesn't have enough residual hot air, so it's best if you're on hand to open the dish washer at the end of the cycle to let out the steam, before it condenses onto every thing.

You could work out how much water you use a day / week and compare the figures. I know I would use a lot more by hand washing, but there are five of us, including 2 teenagers who are always eating, so when I was washing up by hand there was always something else to wash as soon as I'd finished. ( not got them trained properly I know)
Also I hate washing up with a vengence so tended to fill a bowl leave the pots in till it had gone cold, fill it again etc....

I haven't factored in the powder and stuff. We live in a soft water area so have only filled the salt compartment when it was new. I find that its best to use seperate powder and rinse aid. Theres a setting on our machine that you can alter the amount of rinse aid needed. Some people just use white vinegar.
I read a Which? report that didn't recomend all in one dishwasher products at all. And apparently some DW manufacturers say that use of them will invalidate your machines waranty.
Sorry to go on at some length, hope this has helped you.

I suppose the quick answer to your question is 'it depends'

Alison

Mr_Proctalgia

"it doesnt dry so well because it doesn't have enough residual hot air"

There is plenty of that on this board!!!

"so it's best if you're on hand to open the dish washer at the end of the cycle to let out the steam"

Thats the reason they put holes in the top of chefs hats too!!!


Seriously that level of water usage is good when you consider that you could be (should be) washing a 12 place setting and all the bits and bob that go with it.

mirakl

I love my dishwasher almost as much as I love my cat and it's broken at the moment (dishwasher not the cat) and I'm heartbroken. My nails are ruined from washing up and it's definitely working out more expensive.

Liz19

My dishwasher is broken at the moment too and I am currently waiting very impatiently for a new door switch to arrive so that my husband can fix it. I hate washing up by hand!

MATH

Whether you need/use a DW will depend on your circumstanced and time available. If like Lister we were a family of two I wouldn't bother with a DW either but we are a family of five who love HM cooked from scratch food, coupled with the amount of entertaining we do there is no way I would spent three hours a day at the sink and yes when my dishwasher was out of action it really did take three hours every day for two weeks and I hated it.
I loath piles of dirty, smelly dishes piled up waiting to be washed and with a DW the kitchen is always clean and tidy because your waiting to wash is out of sight.
Leaving them to drain without a rinse is ok but nowhare near as clear and sparkly as when you do a hot water rinse and it is almost impossible to hand wash some items (racks especially) as well as the DW can.

jeetster

as always it's about balancing the cost against convienice. My wife cooks and I wash-up so the DW saves me loads of time, of course there are exceptions like wooden spoons, non-stick pans etc...

Heth_2

There are just two of us and we have a (second hand) dishwasher. We didn't buy it, the in laws planted it in our kitchen without asking us while we were on our honeymoon. We use it when we have loads of washing up, and when we entertain. Also use it when we use the juicer, I find it does a much better job than me with the juicer parts, the cheese grater and the metal steamer colander (the sort you stick in your pan).
We put our everyday water glasses (really cheap, taken from pubs etc..) in the dishwasher but all other glasses and silver cutlery gets done by hand. I tend to use lots of water when washing up and always rinse. To heat our water we have an immersion and a big tank, so I don't think washing up is that cost effective.

BlondeHeadOn

I must admit, I insisted on having a dishwasher when I started working from home - it's great as a 'cupboard' for storing all those mucky dishes out of site until there are enough to wash them! I hate washing up, and can't stand dirty pots sitting around the kitchen, so it worked out much more expensive BDW (Before Dish Washer) as I was forever washing up tiny amounts in the sink.

We tend to fill it up as we go along, and then put it on at night when it's full - and it's on Economy 7.

Look out for special offeres on DW powders etc. as well - our local supermarkets often have BOGOF offers for the latest powders/tablets so I stock up then, in true MSE style!