Are dishwashers worth it?

[yourdaysa]

We are moving to a new house soon and there seems to be space for a dishwasher

Would you bother? Are they really any good? I've heard you have to pretty much wash up what's there anyway before you put it in

Thanks! I've never had one before, I have heard they're life changing

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MNHQ

@LatteLoverLovesLattes

Are any of you Uber fussy/precious about your stuff?

I am & that's what puts me off getting a DW. It's not the cost of replacing stuff it's that I'm either sentimentally attached or practically attached to the vast majority of stuff on my kitchen - think like bone China bowls my mum bought me (they just plain white dishes, but they remind me of my mum & the day we had out when she bought them) I live my glasses, they're not terribly expensive but they are just the perfect size & shape and you can no longer buy them, my mugs I love & they're special to me & no longer available.

Dishwashers in the past have ruined glasses/mugs/other stuff & I'm wary.

I'd rather keep washing up by hand if it's going to ruin my stuff, but if it won't then a DW would be handy.

Delicate stuff should be fine on the top shelf, I can see why you'd be hesitant though if they're precious, it's probably not worth the risk! I've found the dishwasher usually takes the pattern off of DS' cups etc which is annoying, but they're super cheap and although say they can be used in the dishwasher I should stop being lazy though and hand wash!

You can use wedgewood safe dishwasher liquids, Waitrose, Morrison’s & M&S do them @LatteLoverLovesLattes

I haven’t had a glass damaged in the dw for years.

It’s best to let everything cool down before unloading, it’s less likely to chip if you do that.

No I just have stuff for day to day that can go in. The good stuff I hand wash but in reality I never use it.

When it comes down to it, they're just things and I value my time more. Most things will be fine - the dishwasher won't damage them, it's loading and emptying the machine which could, but then you could drop something when you are washing up just as easily.

If we had to choose between the WM or the DW then the WM would be in the skip without a second thought. Clothes can go to the launderette. Washing-up would have to be done in the sink.

@LST Fingers crossed. My Dc were always very keen to help when they were little, but they seem to have had their brains removed and replaced by alien brains in the meantime.

@LatteLoverLovesLattes I do know what you mean about precious stuff. However, I have overcome it to an extent, by knowing that these tokens of loved ones are just that - tokens or totems. The real love for these people is inside us: objects are an externalisation of something that can't be wrecked by any dishwasher.

There was a thread recently about the Bosch dishwashers with cutlery trays at the top and some didn't like them because tall glasses didn't fit easily, I have one of these and love it but I don't have very large plates or tall glasses. I find that Fairy Platinum plus, not the lemon one is best but quite hard to find so I usually try to get in on offer at Amazon which it is occasionally if not I use Fairy platinum not the lemon one, I find the lemon ones a bit strong smelling.

Good god I'd rather lose the washing machine than the dishwasher. At least you can take clothes to a laundrette.
I cook loads abd the dishwasher is essential as I loathe washing up. It's been on 3 times today. You'll never look back

@MurielSpriggs

If we had to choose between the WM or the DW then the WM would be in the skip without a second thought. Clothes can go to the launderette. Washing-up would have to be done in the sink.

Great minds

Dishwashers are fantastic. You absolutely don’t have to wash things before putting them in - you should ideally scrape any foodscraps into the bin first to avoid clogging up the filter too fast but that’s it.

When I bought my house it came with a dishwasher. My mum always said hand washing is best, doesn't scratch up glasses etc. Anyway first year in the house I thought ah heck lets give it a try, never looked back ever since.

Huge time saver! So great when I have people over, just bung it all in and turn it on after they have left.

Yes really good

No washing up pre use

We did spend a bit more than the one already there in old place though, as the old one was a bit rubbish

I never understood the dishwasher love and I spent decades constantly washing up (I cannot bear stuff not being clean and put away). But oh my I've only had one for 7 months and it has changed my life. When we move I'm definitely getting one!

Can you imagine the lockdown without a DW!

Adults working from home, kids being homeschooled, and everybody being there all day, and having meals, drinks, snacks...

And no take-away to start the first lockdown! No, just no.

Yes. If mine broke it would be replaced the same day.

Absolutely! It's a no brainer

Thank you
@Floralcoral in the past (long, long ago past) in rental properties & at friends houses, the dishwashers ruined stuff like kids cups & made glasses cloudy from the abrasiveness of the tablets.

@Fluffycloudland77. I wonder how good those liquids are? Do you know?

It's more about the gradual damage DW do than chips etc

@Datingandnoideahowto. My friend is like that, her lovely stuff never come out because either it doesn't fit in the DW or because it needs hand washing.

@WeAreTheHeroes. Yes, I know they're 'just things' & I do understand that ,but for various reasons (too much to go into here) I value the 'things' I have. Maybe too much, but I do.

@TheCupboardOfChaos. I try to feel like that, but unfortunately due to memory issues, I rely on 'things' to remind me of events/occasions/feelings. Added to my upbringing and emotional trauma since then 'things' are important to me in a way they aren't often to other people. I do like to use them though, not have them stored away, so I supposed I'm probably destined to be a hand washer!!

But my washing machine, couldn't be without it!! Laundrette gets old, fast!!!

If their approved by Wedgewood they must be quite good. I’ve got the Waitrose one on order as I’ve got new cups coming and I’ve deviated from my usual palette of pure white. It gets good reviews from people saying their dishes haven’t faded.

YES ! definitely worth it.

You can tidy up dishes throughout the day, so less stuff on the worktop and no flies. Put it on before you go to bed - it takes less time to unload in the morning than it takes for the kettle to boil.

scrape off large lumps of food before loading; always use salt and rinse aid as well as a dishwasher tab for best results; clear the filter regularly.

I put in saucepans, fry pans, oven dishes, everything goes in so long as it fits and the water sprayer still rotates.

I don't understand how people are managing not to wash up with a dishwasher.

We've had several dishwashers and we still end up washing some stuff up. Saucepans, roasting dishes etc. Sometimes they need to soak because stuff has stuck on.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

I don't understand how people are managing not to wash up with a dishwasher.

We've had several dishwashers and we still end up washing some stuff up. Saucepans, roasting dishes etc. Sometimes they need to soak because stuff has stuck on.

Most of my stuff is dishwasher safe. The odd bits that aren't i rarely use anyway.

Soaking isn't washing up. I soak stuff and then chuck it in the dishwasher.

But basically I hate washing up more than I hate replacing things that get ruined by the dishwasher.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

I don't understand how people are managing not to wash up with a dishwasher.

We've had several dishwashers and we still end up washing some stuff up. Saucepans, roasting dishes etc. Sometimes they need to soak because stuff has stuck on.

I just run a hotter wash and use Aldi tablets.

No need to soak.

The house I bought last year came with a dishwasher and I haven't ever used it. We are a family of 2 so it only takes me 10 minutes to wash up anyway.

YES YES YES