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Original poster

Dishwasher or washing machine in holiday let?

702 replies

dontdillydallytoolong · 21/02/2021 23:42

Hi. We are in the process of converting our annexe into a holiday let. There is one double bedroom and a smaller bedroom with bunk beds. There is space in the kitchen for either a washing machine or a dishwasher. Which would you prefer if you were staying? My husband is saying washing machine, but I am thinking dishwasher. Would like help to decide. Thanks.

YABU - washing machine
YANBU - dishwasher

OP posts:
daised · 22/02/2021 07:59

If it's an annex on your house I'd go dishwasher and offer a laundry service yourself for additional charge.

We usually take enough clothes and bring laundry home, but no way would I consider hand washing dishes on holiday! We're a family with young kids.

pictish · 22/02/2021 08:00

Yes...bunk beds but no washing machine. Mmm. Seems illogical really.

pictish · 22/02/2021 08:01

Heron I agree with you.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/02/2021 08:01

@GameSetMatch

I wouldn’t stay anywhere without a dishwasher. It’s a must! Who wants to go on holiday and hand wash for a week.
Our dc are now adults so dh and I go on holiday and its just the two of us. Every sc cottage we've stayed at has had a dishwasher. We have rarely used it. Unlike at home, we are out all day so there are only the breakfast things and then evening meal if we eat in, but often we don't. So there's rarely enough dirty crockery to justify using the dishwasher
Sparkletastic · 22/02/2021 08:01

Dishwasher. I don't do laundry on holiday.

Chanandlerbong01 · 22/02/2021 08:02

Washing machine but with a built in drier! We take the dogs with us though and like to wash the throes/blankets half way through the week. We like to go places we can go on long walks so I like being able to shove my clothes in if they get muddy.

We always strip the beds and put them on aw well as towels as we leave to save the owners a job.

elizaco · 22/02/2021 08:03

Definitely a washing machine. It's something I look for specifically in a holiday cottage now (sad, I know!) Wet weather holidays, walking etc.. We've often had to do a few loads of washing throughout the week.

RaspberryCoulis · 22/02/2021 08:03

Both. Wouldn't book a let without both. My rule of thumb is that any holiday let has to be as nice at least as home.

I am not spending my holiday washing dishes in the sink, or coming home to piles of washing. Or going to find a launderette.

seven201 · 22/02/2021 08:06

@FinallyFluid

I wouldn't even consider it, if it didn't have both.
Me too. Can you squeeze in a slimline dishwasher? We used to have one and it worked fine.
farnworth · 22/02/2021 08:11

Have 4 self catering breaks in UK a year, two for long weekends, two for a week. Only once have I booked accommodation with no access to washing machine, as consider it sth I really want - agree with PP who said can you allow access, or put it in outbuilding (often had this).
If you are in good walking countryside or near beaches or allowing dogs, then even more likely to be needed.

Often get a half size dishwasher which is fine.

Your annexe sleeps 2 adults max so you will either get family with 2 kids or couple - so unlikely huge meals being prepared.
A couple might eat out more if you are near pubs/ restaurants/ takeaways so need a dishwasher less.

TH22 · 22/02/2021 08:11

Dishwasher for me!
You don't have to wash clothes on a holiday if you pack enough, but you can avoid washing dishes.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 22/02/2021 08:12

OP, I think if you really can’t fit both, what this thread shows is that whichever you choose , you will have a market.

If it is small overall, that will be reflected in the letting price, as opposed to somewhere with a vast open plan kitchen with island, breakfast bar, dining room, massive oven and range of built in appliances. The people who want that won’t look at your cottage anyway.

Some people want a washing machine for dog throws, I don’t book anywhere that accepts pets.

And I choose modestly priced, simpler places as that is our budget.

One rental cannot please all.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/02/2021 08:15

Washer/dryer. We have kids and sometimes they spill stuff or play in mud.

Back when I didnt have a tumble dryer in my last house I'd spend some time on the last full day on holiday washing and drying all our holiday clothes so all I had to do was put them away when we got home. Now we have a tumble dryer so I take my laundry home to do - but we still end up needing to do a wash midweek due to swimwear/spills/mud.

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/02/2021 08:16

I think it depends on how long people are likely to stay. If you focus on short breaks go for the dishwasher. Longer breaks go for the washing machine. Is there no room to stack the appliances?

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2021 08:17

I always tick ‘no pets’. Don’t want to be washing my delicates in a machine that’s had dog blankets in it!

I also don’t like owners on site or adjoining. And certainly wouldn’t want to be asking to use their washing machine.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/02/2021 08:19

Bear in mind the cleaning needed in between guests. A dishwasher would be more use to you (assume you would rent linen from a provider or have spare seats at your own home).

Imagine arriving to do a clean and the previous guests have used every dish and not washed them?

AuntieMarys · 22/02/2021 08:20

I would expect both

Maray1967 · 22/02/2021 08:21

After a sickness bug our DC once had on holiday I wouldn’t book anywhere without a washing machine, ideally a washer dryer. It’s also very useful for freshening up swimming towels especially if your guests might be using a chlorinated pool nearby. When I had a temporary kitchen fitted up while our extension was built the builder asked which appliance I could do without as one had to go - the dishwasher went, there was no way I would sacrifice my dryer or washer even though we have a laundrette not far away. If you can squeeze a slimline dishwasher on, then great, but if you’re aiming it at families then IMO a washing machine is essential.

Astraturf · 22/02/2021 08:21

Definitely dishwasher even if it's a mini one under the kitchen sink

RaspberryCoulis · 22/02/2021 08:23

@Sparklingbrook

Who the hell does washing on holiday??

Me! Putting it into the machine and pressing 'on' does not really equate to doing washing. I am not dragging it down to the river bank for a scrub on a rock and squeezing it through the mangle. Grin

Exactly, me too. I hate coming home with piles and piles of dirty washing. As others have said I will bung a load in when we're leaving for the day - it's hardly "doing laundry". I don't iron anything apart from work shirts and that's not the sort of clothes you take on holiday.
MaggieFS · 22/02/2021 08:23

Both or I wouldn't stay.

Now I have children a washing machine is essential for anything longer than a weekend. And I do NOT want to spend my holiday washing up.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/02/2021 08:24

Could you sacrifice another cupboard and squeeze both in? You dont need as much cupboard space in SC as you do at home - add some open shelving somewhere for the glassware etc

RedcurrantPuff · 22/02/2021 08:26

@rosiejaune

I did not realise there had been such a cultural shift to people not washing up by hand. I have never had a dishwasher, and I never will.

Seems like more hassle than it's worth (loading, adding products to it, unloading, washing things by hand that don't fit/aren't suitable, rewashing things that didn't get clean etc); what is so awful about washing up in a bowl?!

I can't see myself needing a washing machine on holiday either, but if there was one of them, I'd rather it was that.

I don’t find having a dishwasher a hassle at all. Washing up by hand is tedious and the dishes get.much cleaner in a dishwasher.
tulippa · 22/02/2021 08:26

I'd prefer a dishwasher. No point installing a washing machine unless you include a tumble dryer as well.

MenaiMna · 22/02/2021 08:29

Washing machine and countertop dishwasher. Can you do both?