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Original poster

If you're a family of four and have a dishwasher...

227 replies

Comedycook · 01/04/2023 22:12

How many times a day is it put on? Let's say a weekend day when you're all at home.

Because mine has been on 5 times today...and it's like this most days. Is this normal or am I going wrong somewhere?!

OP posts:
bluesky45 · 01/04/2023 23:09

Ours goes on about 5 times a week. Everything goes in, chopping boards, glasses, saucepans etc, the lot. Family of 4. No idea how you managed 5 times in a day!

TenoringBehind · 01/04/2023 23:10

Twice a day most days.

33goingon64 · 01/04/2023 23:11

Family of 4 here. Today we had pancakes for breakfast, soup, bread and cheese for lunch, baked banana bread and ate some mid afternoon, 3x hot drinks each for DH and me (new cup each time), water glasses x 4, wine glasses x 2. Dishwasher went on once and 2 lots of washing up (pans, sharp knives, mixing bowls, roasting tray etc).

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Xrays · 01/04/2023 23:11

3 of us and it’s been on 3 times today; all full loads. Lots of mugs of tea, pancakes for breakfast, then lunch and dinner stuff. We must just eat a fuck ton really. I don’t know how others manage just once a day or less!

titchy · 01/04/2023 23:11

Re-use your cups and glasses fgs - rinse them, they don't need a full dishwasher. I doubt a plate cover needs a proper dishwasher either. One medium pan for a fry up, one small frying pan for pancakes and a jug to mix them in. Four small plates and that's it - all should fit on your top rack, don't need to use bottom rack at all!

TenoringBehind · 01/04/2023 23:11

We’re mostly eating different meals at different times. I feel like I’m running a cafe at times

Wheresthebloodynurofen · 01/04/2023 23:11

Comedycook · 01/04/2023 23:09

Yes everyone eats something different. To be fair I'm a sahm and kids are both at secondary school so I do have time.

Show quote history

I understand but do you genuinely not have any thing else to do than this level of domestic servitude?

Schmutter · 01/04/2023 23:11

If we’re all here, twice a day. 5 is loads.

33goingon64 · 01/04/2023 23:12

Also, you need to be getting others to load and unload dishwasher sometimes. DS aged 12 unloads every time, it's his job.

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/04/2023 23:12

Three of us now, once every two days or so.

WhoLetTheSprogsOut · 01/04/2023 23:13

Comedycook · 01/04/2023 23:08

It's just a plastic cover which sits on the plate...like a raised lid. Ds is a teenager who tends to come down at a leisurely pace for his food so I got into the habit of putting a cover over everyone's food until they get to the table to keep their food hot. It's good in summer too as keeps the flies off.

Show quote history

I think I know what you mean - but I can't see why that would need to go in the dishwasher (or even be washed at all come to think of it!) - that must take up masses of space.

Ours goes on once a day absolute max, usually once every other day or sometimes not for 3 days depending how many bowls have been used. I use the same tea mug all day, same with all of us with glasses. Do you not have many of each thing so need them turned around before the next meal maybe? I think we start running out of certain cutlery after 3 days...

tara66 · 01/04/2023 23:14

You know they use a great deal of electricity?

Hercisback · 01/04/2023 23:14

Five times, how?!

We have a slimline and sometimes it does 2 days for 4 of us.

Even after 8 people on Christmas it had done most of the stuff in 3 loads including trays, pans etc.

You must stack so badly.

pornyshroudofturin · 01/04/2023 23:15

I'd ditch the plate covers and let DS's food go cold. He'd soon start getting himself down at a less "leisurely pace" (and yes, I have a teen DS so understand. But if he's too slow that's his problem...)

Giveaschitt · 01/04/2023 23:18

Family of three, slimline dishwasher on once a day, twice at Christmas when we have guests.

I've been away with friends before, probably around 15 of us in a house, eating all meals there, and I don't think we've ever put the (full size) dishwasher on more than twice at those either?!

Womencanlift · 01/04/2023 23:19

Sounds like a massive waste of water and electricity to me. You don’t need to use that much crockery and utensils and there are definitely items that don’t need to go through the dishwasher

user143777534 · 01/04/2023 23:20

How is there even time to have it on that often? I’m sure mine takes about 3 hours per load!

Coffeecoffeeinmytummy · 01/04/2023 23:22

So you slave away in the kitchen all day and your DCs and DH don’t even have the decency to come to the table in a timely manner? Fuck that for a game of soldiers. Plate covers my arse. Honestly! Seriously OP why are you the family skivvy.
And I agree your DC need to load and unload the dishwasher. Sounds like they’re living a life of luxury being cooked pancakes and all sorts for breakfast every day and not lifting a finger!

pavillion1 · 01/04/2023 23:23

op you must be loaded . Ours goes on at bedtime , mugs and glasses rinsed out during the day . If i baked with the kids id wash up as we went .

specialk9 · 01/04/2023 23:23

Family of 5. Mostly once. Today twice because we had a fry up at lunch so used a lot of pans/plates etc

Edinvillian · 01/04/2023 23:28

Once a day during the week, 1-2 times a day at the weekend.

FictionalCharacter · 01/04/2023 23:29

Once a day max even when we're all home. We only run it when it's full. We rinse and reuse mugs and glasses so they're used a couple of times before the dishwasher goes on. I stack meticulously!
5 times a day is using a lot of electricity and water. I'd wonder whether you're using the racks inefficiently, and putting things in that don't really need washing.

HoneyPotBee · 01/04/2023 23:33

am I going wrong somewhere?!

Yes

PinkSyCo · 01/04/2023 23:37

Comedycook · 01/04/2023 23:08

It's just a plastic cover which sits on the plate...like a raised lid. Ds is a teenager who tends to come down at a leisurely pace for his food so I got into the habit of putting a cover over everyone's food until they get to the table to keep their food hot. It's good in summer too as keeps the flies off.

Show quote history

So you go to the effort of making him his special breakfast every morning and he can’t even be bothered to come downstairs promptly when he’s called. Fuck that for a game of soldiers, I would let it get cold and if he complained he would be making his own bloody breakfast (like most other teenagers) from now on. And yes having the dishwasher on 5 days per day is a joke!

BansheeofInisherin · 01/04/2023 23:40

I had tardy teens and I didn't bother making cooked breakfast for them. Also make them empty the dishwasher.