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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not to want a dishwasher?

450 replies

ChloeCC · 19/03/2021 21:22

My DP and I are currently planning our kitchen. We don't have dishwasher in our current kitchen and I'm not too bothered. He thinks it's an essential, and it'll become more essential as our kids grow - they're tiny atm. The new kitchen doesn't have a huge amount of cupboard space so I think we should save the space and go without. What do people with slightly older kids think? Is it something that would put you off buying a place if there wasn't a dishwasher? We might sell the house in a few years. I'm a bit torn - I don't mind washing up - sometimes it feels like a break!

OP posts:
dementedma · 20/03/2021 13:36

I've never had a dishwasher and still don't. Have raised 3 dcs to adulthood without it being a big issue

exLtEveDallas · 20/03/2021 13:47

I love my dishwasher and my dryer more than I love my husband! Our old Bosch died just after Xmas and it was the longest 3 days of my life before we got the new one!

Oodilallygolly · 20/03/2021 13:49

Oh Yabu

SempreSuiGeneris · 20/03/2021 13:51

YANBU
My dishwasher is way more effort than just washing the dishes in the sink. I seldom do one without the other as there are nearly always non-dishwasher items and surfaces to clean with hot soapy water.

Borogroves · 20/03/2021 13:57

I wouldn't buy a house without room for a dishwasher unless I was planning on putting in a new kitchen immediately.

Abraxan · 20/03/2021 14:22

I wouldn't buy a house if there wasn't room for a dishwasher to be put in. It'd put me off buying it the space wasn't already there, over another similar house which did have the space for a dishwasher already in the kitchen.

I don't like washing dishes. I don't like drying them either, and definitely don't like having them sat in the side drying naturally if you don't dry them straight away.

I'm used to having a dishwasher - have had one since we DD was born (she's nearly 19) so wouldn't return to not having one.

Biker47 · 20/03/2021 14:54

Yeah, I'm never not having a dishwasher ever again.

balzamico · 20/03/2021 15:11

O won't even rent a holiday property with no dishwasher.
As the kids get older it is great for getting them to clear away after themselves and load/ unload it too

PinkiOcelot · 20/03/2021 15:22

I must admit when I didn’t have one, I wasn’t bothered. I didn’t mind washing dishes with a sink of lovely hot soapy water. Now I’ve got one though, I wouldn’t be without.

Definitely a necessity.

Okbussitout · 20/03/2021 15:23

It would put me off buying
But I hate washing up.

ShiningGonnaShine · 20/03/2021 15:29

I haven't read the thread so I wouldn't be surprised if my point has already been made several times already... But I didn't think I wanted a dishwasher - I was pretty happy doing the washing up, really. And then I got one and I realised what a life changer it was. We had a slimline first and it was a great size for our family of 4. We rinse everything before it goes in and we mainly use it for crockery, cutlery, cups and glasses... Pots and pans usually still get handwashed. Really wouldn't want to be without one now.

RMRM · 20/03/2021 15:32

You'll spend your life washing up if you don't get one when you have children. Absolutely non negotiable here.

Marble2302 · 20/03/2021 15:53

I don't like them. I don't understand all the comments about forever washing up with kids either.

I imagine the people with dishwashers are the ones who don't iron either 🤣

VanGoghsDog · 20/03/2021 15:56

I imagine the people with dishwashers are the ones who don't iron either 🤣

Yeah, I have a dishwasher and I don't iron. Not sure what the relevance is, except that I have better things to do with my time than wash up or iron.

RMRM · 20/03/2021 16:01

I don't mind ironing too much, but it is one of the biggest wastes of life force and energy going. Absolutely pointless drudge work.

frazzledasarock · 20/03/2021 16:02

I didn't have a dishwasher for years, and I don’t iron.

DH has always had a dishwasher and irons everything. He used to spend his Sunday evenings ironing his work clothes

HarkAVagrant · 20/03/2021 16:05

We don’t have one, never have had, kids are 11 and 13. Don’t have a microwave either. Can’t see the point, they just take up space in the kitchen, and you spend just as much time loading, unloading, tending to its needs, and washing up the things that can’t go in, as you do washing up by hand in my experience.

PembrokeshireDreaming · 20/03/2021 16:12

I would really miss my dishwasher. It's so handy to just be able to put the dishes in it out of the way.........and I love putting the superclean shiny glasses back in the cupboard.

Boiledeggandtoast · 20/03/2021 16:13

I'm another one with no dishwasher or microwave, and have happily raised three boys to adulthood. They are also very good at washing up when they're at home!

Bythemillpond · 20/03/2021 16:15

A dishwasher is an essential item. Think of the time you save each day instead of standing at a kitchen sink washing up.
I have a small kitchen and have traded cupboard space for a dishwasher.
Even if we stay in a holiday let it has to have a dishwasher.

Especially as children get older and they start getting their own food and drinks it is so easy to put cups and plates into the machine and it doesn’t leave a mess on the side

skippy67 · 20/03/2021 16:15

@HarkAVagrant

We don’t have one, never have had, kids are 11 and 13. Don’t have a microwave either. Can’t see the point, they just take up space in the kitchen, and you spend just as much time loading, unloading, tending to its needs, and washing up the things that can’t go in, as you do washing up by hand in my experience.
If you've never had one, then your "experience" isn't much to go by, is it?
Whineandwine · 20/03/2021 16:17

@ChloeCC we’re in a similar situation: planning new kitchen and short on cupboard space. I’ve decided (I think) to not have a tumble dryer for the sake of extra storage but am definitely having a dishwasher. More than anything I think a dishwasher helps a small kitchen be less cluttered as dirty dishes waiting to be washed or clean dishes waiting to be put away are hidden rather than on the side/ on the drainer....

MintyMabel · 20/03/2021 16:17

We're getting one.

Good call. You’ll love it.

Bythemillpond · 20/03/2021 16:17

Wondering what needs my dishwasher had that I am neglecting and what stuff doesn’t go in the dishwasher.
I stuff everything in.

Branleuse · 20/03/2021 16:19

i think it depends if everyone is going to do dishes or not.
I had a dishwasher in previous house. The house ive lived in for last few years has plumbing for either washing machine OR dishwasher (and its rented house, so i cant change this)
It wasnt too bad when kids were tiny, but theyre big now and I feel like im constantly doing dishes or shouting at others to do dishes and then still constantly doing dishes anyway, and I REALLY miss having a dishwasher like you wouldnt believe

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