What is more useful for family w/kids, dishwasher or tumble drier?

Gigglepig

We are trying to fit appliances into our new apartment, whilst planning ahead for hopefully having kids soon. At the moment there is only 1 washing machine. I'm not so keen on washer-driers, they seem less efficient, so I think we may end up with remodelling kitchen to have space for 1 washing machine plus 1 dishwasher.

Those of you who have kids, what is more useful to you:
- a dishwasher
- a tumble drier

If both are a "must" - would you still use the tumble drier occasionally if it was in the garage?

Is it enough to have a slimline (45cm) dishwasher for a family, or does it really help to have a full size one?

Thanks :-)

pigpen

I insisted on a DW when I had number 4 (number 10 due in a couple of months). The TD was vital though with no radiators to dry stuff.

If you have radiators go for the DW.. if you have no radiators go for the DW and one of the small sized TD's which can sit on the work top! .. Hoover are by far the best and DON'T under any circumstances get a condenser dryer they are absolute rubbish, cost twice as much to run, leak and have twice as many parts to break. White knight ones are pretty crappy as well.

DW has to be Bosch.
TD has to be Hoover & vented

I should be on commission lol

daisydukes79

I would say tumble drier - handy for things like uniform, etc which need dried in a hurry or for general drying when you have no outside drying area.

I would say you only 'need' a dishwasher if you have a big family or if you really hate washing up

escortg3

I personally found i needed both for a easier life. i had Dishwasher in kitchen and tumble drier in garage. Problem solved.

Kandboys

I would say tumble drier. I really appreciate mine when my kids are ill and need constant bed changes! Or for a new baby when they go through lots of changes of clothes.

skylight

I have neither at present. A lovely big newbuild property with space for a washer and thats it!

I hate washing up, so I want a diswasher back - I will have to cut a cupboard out to fit one in though. And a dishwasher would be better for my family as it suits me (our) lifestyle better.

At the moment I am washing and drying using the line outside. This is great and keeping on top of the washing. BUT when the kids all came down with a sickness bug, I had to drag the tumble dryer in from the shed to use it to catch up; every sheet and towel was used. So - I really need a tumble dryer!!

Winter time is when I will really notice it. On bad weather days I can put an airer up in the kitchen but I cannot do this all the time over winter; not with 5 kids worth of bedding and clothes etc. I may see if I can get a cable put into the shed and leave the dryer out there to use.

ARGH! If I had a choice I would have both. But I am also managing well with neither!


Washer/Dryers have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Technology has made them much better to use, so perhaps don't dismiss them completely until you have looked into it a bit more.

mummyroysof3

i have both but have managed for a while without a dishwasher, i hate using the tumble dryer but would rather run it than the house get damp from wet clothes around.

Bloomin_Freezing2

I have 2 kids and have always managed without either. Doesn't take that long to wash up or get clothes and bedding dry - even in cold or wet weather.

kafkathecat

I have neither, sorry, that isn't much help, but I did have a washer drier when ds was in washable nappies. If you don't have access to a garen to dry your washing I would say probably a tumble drier is more important.

Gigglepig

doing dishes is not my favourite :-)

sounds like we may need to have washing machine & dish washer in the kitchen, and a (vented) tumble drier in the garage....

Do people prefer vented tumble driers to condenser ones in general? I don't think we could fit a vented one into the house, even if we remodelled a small storage cupboard to fit it. I'm also not keen on the tumbler occupying the storage space, but on the other hand it may be a bit of a pain to have it in the garage.

Do you have large DWs or slimline ones?

sparkleworld

I have had a vented tumble drier for 20 years - absolitely HATE the thing- I can't stand the rumbling noise . Its only one of the small load ones and does dry the clothes efficiently enough but I am so loathe to use it that its now in the attic! If I am absolutely desperate I haul it down and use it.
I finally purchased a Dishwasher last year - had it installed on New Years Eve 2009. Oh the joy! I have found I bake and cook from scratch much more because I don't have to worry about the washing up. I also noticed a difference in how much cleaner everything appeared/felt that came out of the dishwasher. Never really rated them until I had one, but if both appliances broke down tomorrow I would choose to replace the dishwasher. After all theirs always the launderette if I was abolutely desperate.
Good luck in your choice.

Regards
*Sparkle*