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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the dishwasher should be run when it is full?

120 replies

CruCru · 08/10/2014 15:54

DH is taking some time off work and today has proposed that we only run the dishwasher when we go to bed, regardless of whether it is full or not.

If it fills up in the day then he wants us to leave all the dirty stuff on top, run it overnight and then fill it up again the next day.

If we forget to run it overnight, he wants us to only run it the next night.

AIBU to think this is going to be a nightmare? We'll have dirty dishes sitting around like in my old house share. It isn't as though the dishwasher is noisy.

OP posts:

Bouttimeforwine · 08/10/2014 16:56

Butter Nope don't think so unless you are 14 and upstairs supposedly doing your homework

cooki3monst3r · 08/10/2014 17:02

OMG... what is it with husbands and ideas.... why can't they just stop?!

I have to say, even thinking about having rules for the dishwasher stresses me out.

I confess to never worrying about electricity or water consumption - on the basis that I have other sh!t to worry about. Like surviving the day with everyone fed and in tact.

In our house, the dishwasher gets filled up. And then it goes on. Whatever time of day it is. (But never overnight because of the fire risk.)

This usually means last things go in after the kids are in bed, and it gets emptied before we go to bed. BUT, if it fills up before the evening, it goes on. AND, if it isn't quite full in the evening it still goes on - don't want stinky plates with dried crusty food. (Although this wouldn't apply to a few cups.)

I would suggest you smile sweetly, say "yes dear, if you like". Then do whatever you usually do.

overslept · 08/10/2014 17:05

I think its best to just use it when it's needed surely... I tend to try to fill mine so I'm not wasting electric but I'll put it on for just a couple of items if I need them. I can't hand wash anything more than doing a plate quickly though as I get a nasty rash on my hands from washing up liquid and from marigolds

Original poster

CruCru · 08/10/2014 17:41

If I smile sweetly and do whatever, he will moan that I've put it on and aren't making an effort to try out his ideas.

OP posts:

Downamongtherednecks · 08/10/2014 17:51

God, my DH does this. Has some stupid idea to change some system that isn't broken anyway. I just ignore. Never apologise, never explain. Just ignore. slightly amazed at all these tales of household appliances that seem to blow up in the night though

Nomama · 08/10/2014 17:54

Does he have 'a seat'? The space only his bum is allowed to sit on?

Put all the dirty dishes on it and reassure him that all dishes in the dishwasher are either being washed or waiting to be put away. If he wants to sit down he will need to empty the dishwasher and refill it with the dishes he can plainly see are dirty.

Ye gods! Our machine gets filled up. The second a dish comes to rest on the surface above the machine (suggesting it is full) the machine is switched on!

Original poster

CruCru · 08/10/2014 17:54

I know, I always run my washing machine and tumble dryer overnight. Never the dehumidifier though.

OP posts:

rookiemater · 08/10/2014 17:57

Why don't you agree to try it for a week and see how it goes? The earth won't come to an end surely to give it a go.
I have the opposite problem, I like to run the dishwasher at night, as DH is the one who gets the teas so he can empty the dishwasher , but he doesn't like the sound of it. We try to run it after our meal so that it finishes before we go to bed.

Bogeyface · 08/10/2014 18:00

I also know someone who had a fire from a dishwasher. They put it on, went out and 9 months later they moved back in after the house was pretty much left as 4 walls and half a roof. It was totally gutted they literally lost everything.

You would be in the house so presumably the smoke alarms would wake you but that would still be enough time to totally wreck your kitchen and cause smoke damage throughout the house.

Stupid and very dangerous idea.

Bogeyface · 08/10/2014 18:01

cru Tumble dryers are another major fire hazard, I wouldnt risk that either tbh.

Bogeyface · 08/10/2014 18:03

press.which.co.uk/whichpressreleases/faulty-household-appliances-pose-fire-risk/

Looks like washing machines are actually top of the list of appliance fires followed by dryers then dishwashers.

Bogeyface · 08/10/2014 18:04

www.cambsfire.gov.uk/firesafety/4960.php

PiperIsOrange · 08/10/2014 18:06

I run my appliances in the evening.

The dishwasher gets emptied in the morning and filled up as the day goes on, once full gets put on.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 08/10/2014 18:09

After years of running our washing machine of dryer overnight I won't put anything on unless it's finished before bedtime following an electrical fault and flood from our washing machine (just as I was about to go to bed).

Run the dishwasher when it's full.

Elliptic5 · 08/10/2014 18:10

Please don't run your dishwasher overnight - I have had one overheat and the plug caught fire and another that went with a huge bang - FIRE HAZARD!

MaryWestmacott · 08/10/2014 18:11

so he wants to leave it when full until the evening, then run it so he doesn't have to hear it? I would say ok on the understanding he does all washing up that doesn't fit in the dishwasher, as if your house is anything like mine, we need to run it 3 times over 2 days a. idewe produce about 1.5 loads a day, so every other day it's run twice.

If he wants to volunteer to do a half load every day to take your dishwasher usage need down to only 1 load a day, then he can do it and you'll go along with his idea.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 08/10/2014 18:13

Down my dishwasher didn't set alight at night, my point was it set alight when my DH was in the kitchen, and we were lucky it did, as he spotted it and was able to stop the fire from spreading.
Had that fire occurred when we were in bed the first we would have known would have been when the smoke alarm went off. By then I am guessing the damage would have been a heck of a lot worse than just the dishwasher. Our lives could have been in danger, we were lucky. It is not a risk we will take again.

Our dishwasher was a Hotpoint, which was featured on Watchdog reports for this fault. So I am guessing it is a pretty common story for them to have investigated it.

crazykat · 08/10/2014 18:45

Our dryer nearly set alight during the day fortunately, my cousins dishwasher caught fire in the day as well. The point is that we were lucky that it was during the day when we were in. If we'd gone out and left the dryer on we could have lost everything. If it had been overnight we may not be here, people die in house fires even with working smoke alarms. Why take the risk?

Elliptic5 · 08/10/2014 18:48

Ours was the same Littleprincess both day time failures - I also dread to think what could have happened if it had been during the night.
I never run any appliances at night or when I am out of the house.

Spindarella · 08/10/2014 18:49

itiswhatitiswhatitis
^God I hate when men take a bit of time off work and suddenly start having brilliant ideas that make no sense and actually cause more hassle.

Topseyt · 08/10/2014 19:20

I totally relate to what you are saying, OP. My husband too comes up with ideas and "system" for this, that and the other. Most of them make no sense, and he is just about the most disorganised one in the family. Never puts anything down in the same place twice. When he comes out with some shit ideas I nod, smile and then just get on with the way I have always done things.

I am in charge of the dishwasher though. It goes on when it is full, usually in the evening, but is finished before we go to bed. If I can't be arsed to unload it when it finishes then it waits until the next morning and woe betide anyone who tries to shove dirty stuff in on top of clean.

I do not run major appliances either overnight or when we are out. All are known fire hazards, and it just isn't worth the risk.

cooki3monst3r · 08/10/2014 19:26

itiswhatitiswhatitis Please tell us about your DH's flask system. Surely he doesn't keep a flask of hot water to make drinks with.... surely???

Downamongtherednecks · 08/10/2014 20:13

Someone should start a thread on "bleeding useless and insane 'new systems' my DH has tried to implement for no good reason".

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 08/10/2014 21:26

Pretty much cooki3. Seriously why boil a full kettle to fill a flask to make tepid tea with 4 hours later. Just boil the water you need at the time. Honestly the look of disappointment when he comes home and realises no one has used water from his precious flask is enough to make me want to choke him

WookieCookiee · 08/10/2014 21:32

thank you pinky for Schrodinger's dishwasher

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