Do you have 2 dishwashers? Or regret not having 2 dishwashers? Come and talk to me!

[GappyValley]

First world problem alert 🚨

We are currently doing a once-in-a-lifetime kitchen extension and redesign.
This is the last part of the refurb of our forever family home which we bought as a bit of a wreck so very keen to get it right so I never have to have builders set foot in the house again..!

We have seen quite a few kitchen companies, and half of them have suggested getting 2 dishwashers, suggesting it’s up there with a boiling water tap as a family essential.

The company we’ve ended up going with for the kitchen was Team OneDishwasherOnly but I am now having buyers remorse and wondering if I should ask them to incorporate a second one into the design.
It would mean sacrificing some cupboard space, but I’m wondering if that’s worth it?

We are a family of 4, and love cooking, having people over, doing big roasts, so can envisage times when we would need both
But can also see that for the majority of the time, we wouldn’t

Arghhhh

We got a second fridge instead of a dishwasher and we keep all our drinks in it. We are a family of 3 so no need for a dishwasher

My sister has a snazzy one that has drawers instead of a pull down door and you can put each drawer on to wash on its own if the other one isn't full. Is that what they mean? Or do they mean 2 full size ones?

Or do they mean 2 full size ones?

This is exactly what they mean.

No.. I'd have 2 washing machines though if I could!

I’m so envious. I just don’t have the organisational skills to keep track of which one is clean and which is dirty at a given time so I’d be constantly re-washing dishes. And dh sensibly over ruled a boiling water tap for my own safety.

I lost counter space raising all my appliances to middle height, so we definitely wouldn’t have the space for duplicate machines, but my back is all the better for less bending. I don’t mind emptying gather dishwasher as much when I’m not bending over. Toe-kick deep drawers along the bottom are an essential too.

We have 2. When we bought our house it only had one in the (attached) garage. When we did the kitchen it was the plan to get rid of the garage one but honestly it has come in so handy when we have guests or during holidays and lockdown when the whole family is at home. we will be keeping two as long as we have more than just the two of us living here. If you are in a position to do it then why not?

I would actually do one full size one and then two drawers. Or gives you the ultimate flexibility to deal with everything from just you working from home to a big family gathering.

https://www.discountappliancecentre.com/p/fisher-and-paykel-dd60dchx9-double-dishdrawer-dishwasher-stainless-steel/?gclid=CjwKCAjwhMmEBhBwEiwAXwFoEYooU5TkcCC6QhzVTFw4Klb0GeFYwPveBj2sgJK9RIxooe853tkEBoCrsIQAvDBwE

I've held on to our original dishwasher in the pantry, and the new dishwasher in the new kitchen area.

It turns out I just needed one dishwasher, just bigger. This new one is a 15 place settings, and that's made a huge difference.

Oh, and I spent days wondering where a certain mug and a bowl had gone, and found dh had started using the old dishwasher, and there was a whole clean load in there waiting to be unpacked

I do not have anything in the kitchen that can't go in the dishwasher. Can't stand odds and sods left around for washing up. I also put in washing up bowls, IKEA mini step, vases, trying to think but generally everything possible.

Meanwhile I have a 14kg washing machine which over the last few years has at least paid for the premium on a normal machine. I can wash duvets, curtains, all sorts in there, and all the dog beds etc.

As a result the house is cleaner, now streamlined, and everything feels a little simpler. Even in the most difficult weeks I can get the essentials done in 2 loads of washing, and 2 loads of dishwashing.

We have had 2 dishwashers in higher-end holiday let self catering places and greatly appreciated the convenience of being able to keep one available for stacking whilst the other is running.

However I don't regret not having 2 in my own kitchen redesign. So long as you have the work surface space above the dishwasher clear of toasters, kettles etc so that the next load can be neatly stacked up and waiting for the current dishwasher load to finish it isn't a problem. Certainly sometimes on special occasions the dishwasher is doing back to back runs fo keep up.

My biggest regret is not getting a proving drawer like they all have og GBBO.

I have a dishwasher that came with the house I bought and I've not used it once. I can't believe so many people think they're an essential!

We are a smaller family though, one adult one child.

@isthismylifenow

Are two washing machines a thing too, as I have never heard of two dishwashers until now. Or two ovens. Except if you are a caterer of course. When else would you need two ovens?

Two washing machines is not a new thing. 20 years ago I knew of someone with 4 children (all boys and all into sport) who had 2 washing machines. She said it was the only way to keep up with the washing.

I don't live in the UK, but from previous posts I have always been impressed by how those in first world countries live so environmentally conscious. Here we don't even have kerbside recycling collection, diesel suv vehicles are common place and we wouldn't think twice about firing up a log burner. I really have learned a lot from being here about living more sustainably.

So this post is quite surprising, as running 6 appliances per day instead of 3 for eg, is hardly eco friendly. One bowl of hot water to wash up the excess dishes that don't fit into the dishwasher has a lot less impact on the environment that running a full load of dishes in a machine.

So its ok to use excess energy, more water etc than use a log burner for a few months of the year? I do have to wonder where the posters are who feel quite strongly about these issues in previous posts.

All the stuff I've read says that dishwashers are more environmental friendly in use (don't know about if you include the manufacture in that) than hand washing.
Just because you have 2 doesn't mean you'd use them twice as much, just that you wouldn't have dirty dishes sitting on the worktop.

I hate unloading one dishwasher, can’t imagine unloading two of the buggers 😂😂

I haven't read the whole thread.
We have two dishwashers. It happened by accident because we got a fitted one with a new kitchen and kept the old one in the utility room. In our case we hardly ever use the second one. It is occasionally useful but I certainly won't replace it if it goes wrong. We're a family of four, do lots of cooking and a bit of entertaining and hosting in normal times.

Two dishwashers? Whatever for? You have already answered your question by saying you don’t think you’ll use it often. We have one and I hate loading and emptying it, prefer to wash up. You do realise kitchen companies want you to spend more money so will suggest anything is a necessity? A boiling water tap? My friends have one and it’s nothing but a nuisance, sputtering out scalding water all over you when you try and use it. Super dangerous especially with kids.

I would prefer cupboard room any day but love my single dishwasher.

What? No! That is madness / one bizarre status symbol.

On the rare occasions you need to do two rounds at once just stack and wait. Unless you literally had 6 kids a nanny and a live in granny that is nuts.

Two Dishwashers sounds a little excessive for a family of four! We are a family of 4, DH loves to cook we have always been fine with one Dishwasher. But entirely your choice OP, if you think it will help you then why not. Enjoy your new kitchen.

People still not getting the point of 2 dishwashers

@isthismylifenow newer dishwashers are far more environmentally friendly and use water and energy conservately. It takes more effort to heat the water to wash by hand than it does to heat the water for a dishwasher. Its also far more hygienic to use a dishwasher. Also you should never rinse your plates to put in the dishwasher you should alswys scrape the plates if they need to in the bin . you are only wasting water. However unless you are feeding 20 people a day i still dont see the need for two dishwashers

@Poorlykitten if you friends boiling tap is sputtering out boiling water, its faulty and needs to be fixed. I have one for 7 years and it is never like this. I would take a boiling tap over a second dishwasher any day

One is plenty but for goodness sake get two full size ovens!

We have 2 ovens which does seem excessive as we don't really like cooking but it's very handy when we're all having different meals.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I have a dishwasher that came with the house I bought and I've not used it once. I can't believe so many people think they're an essential!

We are a smaller family though, one adult one child.

I had a dishwasher as a single person, the kitchen fitter was trying to talk me out of it! Wouldn't be without it.