Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
SquigglePigs · 19/03/2021 21:34

When we were looking at rental properties many years ago my DH told me in all seriousness that he'd rather have no washing machine and have to go to the laundrette once a week than have no dishwasher! I disagree, but it's pretty close.... I'm with many PP, I wouldn't buy a property with no space for a dishwasher. With toddler DD, working from home and trying to cook more from scratch we run the dishwasher at least once a day. I would not be without it. If you insist on no dishwasher you need to be willing to take 100% responsibility for washing up with no complaining.

CornishTiger · 19/03/2021 21:34

Honestly in time you’ll look back and laugh at this.

Get a dishwasher!

Parkerwhereareyou · 19/03/2021 21:34

MADNESS.

Put a dishwasher in.

I would consider a house without a dishwasher a potential disaster throughout. Because I'd think 'Who the f would have done a new kitchen and not had a dishwasher?'

Often with young kids we start out being very virtuous and idealistic.

They get older. The dishwasher becomes more and more attractive. One day you'll seriously have a moment where you start thinking the dishwasher is more useful and more attractive than your husband.

Get a bloody dishwasher and don't be an idiot. : )

dementedpixie · 19/03/2021 21:34

You dont pre rinse before putting in the dishwasher. It does its own pre rinse. It gives you a place to put dirty dishes too

TeaTimeReader · 19/03/2021 21:34

I wouldn’t buy a house without a dishwasher or space for one

HeronLanyon · 19/03/2021 21:35

Never wanted one at all. If it’s not easy to retro-plumb fit one why don’t you design with the plumbing sorted and cupboards able to accommodate one later easily. Also selling point that dishwasher can easily go in.

Shnuffles · 19/03/2021 21:36

Maybe it depends on how long you'll be in the house/how old the kids will be before you move again, but once they're old enough to be having snacks and using multiple glasses/mugs for drinks between meals, the dishes can really multiply. I'd rather have a little less storage space than no dishwasher.

nokidshere · 19/03/2021 21:36

To me a dishwasher would seem more of a hindrance than anything. The reality would be, it would need to be loaded, meaning pre rinsed and stacked properly and be full to be switched on. Then great, it cleans it for you. But then it would need to be emptied and put away. Meanwhile more piles up to be put in the dishwasher..
Much quicker to just wash up, no need to make sure it's stacked properly etc and you can do smaller amounts as you go..

You are not supposed to rinse pots before putting them in the dishwasher, just scrape off excess food/bits.

Here DH loads it before bed, DS1 empties it in the morning. Unless you are a large family once a day should be more than enough

PlanetPuddle · 19/03/2021 21:37

Id get one. Even if you don't use it everyday. Someone else told me they are better for the environment than washing by hand but I don't know how true that is.

RandomUsernameHere · 19/03/2021 21:38

I would class a dishwasher as essential and wouldn't consider buying a house without one or without space to easily install one. Even when living in a one bed flat pre kids we had one.

NormanStangerson · 19/03/2021 21:39

I would be put off by a house without a place for a dishwasher. It wouldn’t be a dealbreaker if I liked the rest of it, but it would mean I would be the owners down on price as I’d think I needed to redo the kitchen.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 21:40

I would (and did) absolutely get one. If space is an issue you can get slimline, but I would go for full size.

ViolaValentina · 19/03/2021 21:40

DH and I didn't have one when we first rented together. When we decided to buy a house it was at the very top of my list of essential items, I'd have considered sacrificing a bedroom before sacrificing a dishwasher!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 21:41

I rinse because I still have few things I hand wash. Just couple
Even if I wouldn't I rinse rice off. Bastarding thing

KindergartenKop · 19/03/2021 21:43

Get two. One for clean plates, one for dirty ;)

monkeysox · 19/03/2021 21:43

Essential. Ours is on once or twice each day.

heckwarrior · 19/03/2021 21:43

Never had one and can't see the fasciation with them - would not put me off buying a house OP.

CharityDingle · 19/03/2021 21:44

I enjoy sitting back, watching tv, reading or just relaxing in the sitting room, while the gentle sound of the dishwasher, from the kitchen, plays in the background!

Didn't have one until remodelling kitchen, some years ago, wouldn't be without it now.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 21:45

@heckwarrior

Never had one and can't see the fasciation with them - would not put me off buying a house OP.
You don't know what you are missing until you had it and then don't have it🙈
Original poster
ChloeCC · 19/03/2021 21:46

@Snowpaw

I’m surprised you find it easy with tiny kids and no dishwasher. I didn’t used to have one but when my child turned about 12 months I couldn’t face washing up any more - my evenings was my time to watch my programmes or read my book, or just go to bed early and catch up on sleep etc. I didn’t want to be spending my precious free time washing up. I gave up a cupboard for a dishwasher and it’s changed my life - it has given me so much more of my time back!
Ha! Did I say 'easy'? Nothing is easy, to be honest!! Not even writing a coherent, accurate aibu, it seems!
OP posts:
Roseability18 · 19/03/2021 21:46

Our small flat had a dishwasher when we moved - I’d never really seen the need for one and we talked about removing it to make more cupboard space. So glad we didn’t!! Would never be without one now. I particularly like that it hides all the dirty dishes rather than then stacking up by the sink during the day.

blissfulllife · 19/03/2021 21:46

I couldn't be without mine. When my original dishwasher left home to live with his fiancé I was devastated lol. So I got myself a wonderful Bosch dishwasher!

BoomBoomsCousin · 19/03/2021 21:46

I have lived most of my life without a dishwasher and before I had kids I liked them but didn't think they were essential. However, since I had kids I wouldn't buy a house with no dishwasher/obvious place for one to go unless the kitchen was on its last legs and we'd be replacing it anyway (which I'd also be reluctant to do since we've had kids!).

As the kids get older the dishwasher has become more and more of a blessing. It broke last year and we spent two weeks making the best of it with family wash up time - which was fun but we were all relieved when the thing got fixed and we could spend our fun communal time playing games instead. It's also, apparently, more eco-friendly than hand washing dishes.

4Mongrels · 19/03/2021 21:47

YABVU!

KNain · 19/03/2021 21:47

I love my dishwasher and definitely wouldn't buy a house without one/space for one.

We have a fairly small kitchen and it's so useful not to have dirty pots cluttering up the sides.

I still wash up every day, so you could still get a break. But I only wash up cups, glasses and saucepans. I could get away with not washing the cups and glasses if I just bought normal ones and wasn't so fussy about the ones I use (not dishwasher safe).

Years ago my grandparents got a new kitchen. My grandmother wanted a dishwasher, my grandfather didn't. From that day until my grandfather went into hospital my grandmother never washed up. I remember the day after he died she joked 'guess I'm going to have to start washing up again now'.