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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that having a dishwasher is more effort than washing up?

94 replies

Piggyleroux · 25/03/2011 14:09

Because you have to load it and unload it and then put the dishes away.

Before we had one, I would wash up after each meal, dry then put away. Done and dusted.

Dh thinks iabu to not use it.

OP posts:
hatwoman · 25/03/2011 18:33

I don;t prefer washing up on my own - but when our dishwasher went on the blink I found myself enjoying washing up after dinner with dh. it was a nice time to chat whilst doing something constructive but relatively effortless. it reminded us both of mucking about as kids with our respective siblings. made us both quite nostalgic. I'm not sure I'd like it long-term but I think every dishwasher should break down, one or two days a month. Couples can relive their youth and our kids can learn just how priveleged they are

schroeder · 25/03/2011 18:37

I did a calculation before we got our dishwasher 1 hr per day x my hourly rate it soon got to the £200 the thing cost Grin

We have very limited work surfaces in the kitchen too, so it really makes a difference keeping them clear.

And who drys dishes? It's unhygienic you know!

LouMacca · 25/03/2011 18:40

YABU - I love my dishwasher! After the washing machine it's the most essential thing in the kitchen. I also absolutely hate washing up by hand.

The tablets can be expensive but you can often find really good deals and bulk buy. They sell Fairy tablets at the poundshop (for £2!!)

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 25/03/2011 18:43

MissJanuary - it depends whether you have dishwasher safe crockery. All mine is and therefore doesn't suffer.

Glasses come out spotless and mine have no dullness or scratches on them after many trips through.

AnnoyingOrange · 25/03/2011 18:49

in answer to the op

you are obviously not doing it right then

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 25/03/2011 19:47

Oh ok fair enough. I don't have a dishwasher so have never bought them, maybe if they are that cheap I might look into one when I get a bigger kitchen one day :)

BakeliteBelle · 25/03/2011 19:49

My dishwasher broke recently. It is much harder work to wash up by hand

BluddyMoFo · 25/03/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zookeeper · 25/03/2011 20:19

I wish I had two side by side - I'd never have to put the dishes away.

IslaValargeone · 25/03/2011 20:39

At the risk of sounding like some kind of obsessive dishwasher fetishist, I've just remembered I have two spare ones :o .....Long story.

BluddyMoFo · 25/03/2011 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ratspeaker · 25/03/2011 20:50

Oh zookeeper brilliant idea
If the numbers come up tonight I'll do that in my dream home
or have 3
or employ a maid to empty them

Our dishwasher is loaded as we go and sometimes even emptied by other mambers of the family
I buy the tablets on special offer or store own brand value ones

Sleepwhenidie · 25/03/2011 20:56

I am getting a new kitchen soon and even though DH thinks I am slightly insane, I am insisting on two dishwashers, exactly as zookeeper says, you just take clean stuff out as you need it, put it in the other dishwasher when dirty...and repeat, we use the same stuff almost every day. Effectively an extra cupboard - I am so pitifully excited about this prospect Grin

KenDoddsDadsDog · 25/03/2011 20:59

I have been known to put dirty dishes in amongst clean dishes. And switch it back on.

Bearcat · 25/03/2011 21:03

We had our first dishwasher 23 years ago this August when DS1 was 8 months old.
I had an NCT group of mates just about all of whom were wealthier than us and had dishwashers in their houses (we had a flat). My first major purchase was the dishwasher when we moved into our house. It was wonderful.
But, when we went to the in laws I always ended up doing the washing up with usually DH's dad-deceased for last 19 years- but which only the other day DH was having a laugh about me and his dad taking the best part of an hour to do the washing up!
The one tip one of my NCT friends said was to have enough tea spoons, and that was the only thing I ever bought extra of.
I adore my now third dishwasher.

PS DS1 has now graduated from university and had a dishwasher and washing machine in his house for the 2nd and 3rd years and DS2 will be moving into a student house in September with dishwasher and washing machine.
Bit different from my day where I had to go to the laundrette right up to the age of 25 before DH and I bought the above mentioned flat!

WereOffToSeeTheWizard · 25/03/2011 21:32

Sorry op that is bollocks.
Do you wash your clothes in the sink/stream or let a machine do it for you?
Letting a machine wash your dishes is quicker than doing it by hand FACT.

I had a dishwasher even when I was single, a full size one, just have loads of crockery so I never run out of stuff.
Just me and ds and I despair when it breaks down.

cerealqueen · 25/03/2011 22:09

I'd like to have two dishwashers, you'd never have to put away, just use the clean items out of one and transfer them to the other as and when.
This will never happen as we only have room for a slimline dishwasher anyway. Maybe one day, when I live in my dream house....

Anyway, YANBU, I hate unloading the dishwasher, but am more than happy to load it.

cerealqueen · 25/03/2011 22:10

Ah, just read the earlier posts, great minds think alike!!!!!

ChristinedePizan · 25/03/2011 22:14

My dishwasher claims it's more ecologically friendly than washing up. I don't know about that but it's a lot quicker as far as I'm concerned - bung things in, press the button, come on MN do other chores

hatwoman · 25/03/2011 22:14

there's no more depressing sight than a full - clean - dishwasher. it makes my heart sink when I open it to pop a couple of plates and mugs in it to be thwarted by the sight of gleaming crocks yelling "put me away". You are all right 2 dishwashers is the way to go. and, if you think about it, we've all got the space - because you'd need less cupboard space. in fact why bother with cupboards at all? why not just have rows of dishwashers.

ChristinedePizan · 25/03/2011 22:15

You are genius hatwoman. I could swap my pans cupboard for another dishwasher. :o

cheesesarnie · 25/03/2011 22:18

i use mine as a dirty cupboard!
if i have to wash up now-if were away etc,i dont feel things are as clean.same with elctric toothbrush v normal.

fit2drop · 25/03/2011 22:43

When I moved in with DH before we got married. He had a dishwasher, something I had neer had. At the time of me moving in the dishwasher was broken and DH said he would get it fixed asap. I told him not to be silly, I had washed up by hand fr 30 years and I didnt need a machine to do it for me.
He still had it mended and I fell in love with it. Grin I got somesort of strange satisfaction from emptying it whilst the pots were still hot (dried but still hot) It didnt feel so nice putting them away cold[yes im strange]
After being with DH for about 4 years the dishwasher died and I was mortified, I looked at DH and said "what the hell am I gonna do now" in a tone that made it sound like this was the end of the world.....
He gave me a very strange questiong confused look and said

"ermmm wash up at thye sink"

"Oh yeah" said me .

I had actually forgotten about hand washing up.Hmm

I love my dishwasher muchly Grin

fit2drop · 25/03/2011 22:45

neer= never

thye = the Blush

LaWeasel · 25/03/2011 22:48

I feel like I should clarify why I think the dishwasher is rubbish.

I can wash a full day's dishes and pans in 7 minutes.

The dishwasher takes an hour and half, is really loud, and doesn't wash everything properly so I end up handwashing stuff anyway.

OTOH. I really hate the washing up, and have delegated dishwasher duty to DH, so maybe it's for the best anyway...