Do you have a dishwasher?

Fosterdog

I was set against having a dishwasher, I didn't see any need for one at all, OH wanted one, I can't help thinking that he wanted one because our agreement was that I do the cooking and he does the dishes. I'm sure he used to deliberately do a bad job hoping I would either do them myself or agree to getting a DW, I would have to put things back to be rewashed on a daily basis.

A friend then offered us one free, he had only recently bought it and only used it a few times before he moved house to somewhere that had one built in. I agreed to give it a try and we have never looked back it did pack in eventually and we have since bought a new one. Although somehow it does seem to be me filling and emptying it more than OH even though I still do the most of the cooking and dishes should still be his job.

Dirty dishes go straight in there so no more worktop being taken up by dirty dishes. It tends to get used every other day unless I do a roast with all the trimmings and then it gets an extra use.

bearcat16

We have one and use it all the time. When we moved into this house (a new build) there was a space especially for it, and even a switch on the wall marked "dishwasher" next to "fridge" and "washing machine". I understood from that simple fact that dishwashers have become essential kitchen appliances like washing machines.

I hate having dirty dishes piled in the sink or on the work tops, I think it makes the kitchen look depressing, so not only does it keep things tidy, I think it cleans better than washing by hand. Someone told me that the higher temperature it cleans at kills bacteria.

Ours actually got dropped from waist-height while we were moving in and my first thought was "now I have to find an extra £200 to replace it". The idea of doing without it didn't even cross my mind! (Amazingly it was not damaged though!)

To me, life's too short to be wasting time on mundane chores like washing up when there's a machine that can do it for you.

I just don't get people who have one but don't use it. My brother in law has one, but a small part on it broke and it has taken him nearly 3 years to get around to ordering a new bit for £5 off eBay. The result is that there is ALWAYS a smelly pile of dishes in and next to the sink. If you want a drink in their house you have to first fish out a cup or glass from the pile and wash it.

I just don't get it!

greensalad

Couldn't live without one. I am not in charge of the kitchen (that's OH's job) but even so I think we'd both hate to not have one. Why not save yourself some time?

We do cook adventurously though, and probably use lots of dishes. For example with a Mexican dinner we'll have different pots/dishes for sour cream, cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, salsa, salsa verde, guac etc so it creates a whole dishwashers worth!

Having a dishwasher and not using it is like having a washing machine but handwashing all your clothes.

HighamKneeDee

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I can understand someone not wanting one so not buying one but I can't see why, if you own a piece of equipment, you wouldn't at least try it a couple of times to see how you get on with it.

Fair comment. Now there is only me and the other half washing up takes a matter of ten minutes maximum and is left to drain after being rinsed. Being domesticated from a young age I don't mind washing up, like ironing, it's quite therapeutic. Never used a dishwasher nor wanted to. It's not actually taking any wanted space and will be left for the new owners of the house. As for the dishwasher in the new house we will soon move into, it will remain untouched, call it an ornament .

Mayflower10cat

Until we had a dishwasher, I didn't feel the need for one. Then, we inherited one with the fitted kitchen and I love it. I don't use it every day (there's just the two of us) maybe twice a week, but if we have friends/family over for a meal it really comes into it's own. It's great on glasses, brings them up so shiny. And on mugs, clears those nasty brown stains. If I clear out a cupboard with kitchenware I haven't used in a while and they're a bit dusty, I bung them in the dishwasher and it makes the job so much easier than rinsing everything by hand.

If you wash your dishes by hand, I seem to remember the water needs to be at 60 oC to kill bacteria. That's hot enough to need washing up gloves. So if the water isn't hot enough to need gloves...!

barbiedoll

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

Well possibly I am, but I don't feel I'm desperately missing out - maybe I just don't mind washing up as much as some other household chores... i.e. ironing!

Yes, same here. I don't really mind doing the washing-up. I can see my garden from the kitchen window and I have asbestos hands anyway so I have the water very hot, I slather my hands with hand cream and use my rubber gloves. Then afterwards, my hands feel lovely! When I'm doing a big meal, I just wash and clear up as I go. It's no big deal. I do hate putting stuff away afterwards though, that's a job for DS and/or DH. I do have my limits.

So, no. I don't have a dishwasher. The day that they invent an ironing robot though, I'll sell my soul/granny/cat to buy one!

bright_side

I'm another 'other'. Yes, I have a dishwasher but unfortunately it has been living in my shed for 3 years since I moved house as there is no room for it in the kitchen I hate not being able to use it and often toy with the idea of getting a worktop model, however the awful reviews put me off! I just continue to sulk while I wash up by hand :rotfl:

Deep_In_Debt

My kitchen isn't big enough and it's only me living here so I'm happy to wash a plate and a few pots and pans. I tend to wash up as I go along any way.

Never had a dishwasher even as a kid. We used to enjoy washing up as a bit of family time. None of us ever enjoyed the drying and putting away though so all tried to get do the washing up!

melanzana

I have a full size one and only two here.

But I tried for a while doing the wash up at the sink. Got fed up as things just were not washed pronto. So there was a build of things waiting to go.

So back to the dishwasher - as the above was an experiment because the hot water was sitting in the tank anyway!

I absolutely HATE dishes and stuff lingering around, so that's where the D/W is brilliant. Absolutely forgetting the little experiment from now on.

Just think four things...

1. Need plenty of crockery and cutlery, no worries there
2. Need to rinse off porridge and cereal and very sticky plates etc.. no worries there either, as the d/w has a rinse cycle that does that for me.
3. Only put it on when full. See 1. above! (Honestly that is twice a week yikes)
4. There is nothing as clean as dishwasher washed things. Nothing. Sparkling OMG it is wonderful.

I would never be without one. End of story.

System

I don't in the house im currently living in but once I eventually get a place with the bf I imagine we would get one, they have one at his house at it saves on a lot of arguements

Tbh I rarely cook where I live now and if I have anything I eat off paper plates to avoid having to deal with my !!!! of a housemate moaning at me for not washing up before ive even eaten my food :mad: