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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:
RaininSummer · 19/03/2021 23:08

Never had one or wanted one so wouldn't be out off at all. Managed with two kids and dinners for ten at Christmas just fine.

Limeindecoconut · 19/03/2021 23:11

We've never had one and don't have a problem with that (family of five).
Having read some of the previously comments, I think once you have one you can't imagine going to none...

hellomom · 19/03/2021 23:12

I think in this day and age a dishwasher is a necessity. I reckon you will regret it later. I didn't want a dishwasher when I had just the two and they were young, soon as my third child came, I so badly wanted a dishwasher, i felt like I was constantly washing and drying dishes and lots got collected as with new baby I couldn't do it straight away. We got a dishwasher when we renovated our kitchen. What a god send it really is!! I couldn't live without one now

Strangekindofwoman · 19/03/2021 23:13

A dishwasher is essential. I wouldn't live in a house without one.

fruitytoo · 19/03/2021 23:17

3 DC here, it's essential.

On top of the time saved I also feel the dishes, kids bottles etc are far cleaner by going through the dishwasher compared with washing by hand.

oobedobe · 19/03/2021 23:17

Get one!!

We are a family of 4, (2 DC), and only need to run it every two days, or maybe every day over the weekend.

I put it on at night and in the morning I have lovely shiny clean dishes, mugs etc and it takes me less than 5 mins to put it away.

My MIL has no dishwasher and there is always stuff waiting to be put away or stuff in the sink waiting to be washed, a dishwasher is a place to put all that - so far better than a cupboard for organising a small kitchen!!!

happymummy12345 · 19/03/2021 23:19

We've never had one as never had the space.
I'd love one

TableFlowerss · 19/03/2021 23:20

I never had one until I was about 35 and oh my word how it’s changed my life. Best thing ever and if it broke tomorrow, I’d be straight on to curry’s to buy a new one!! Invaluable

IpreferInchyraBlue · 19/03/2021 23:20

I'd rather not have an oven than not have a Dishwasher

Voice0fReason · 19/03/2021 23:22

@CherryCherries

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..
Then you would be dishwashering all wrong!

You don't pre-rinse.
It takes less time to load than it does to run a sink of hot soapy water.
It doesn't have to be full.
Unloading and putting things away is quicker than drying things and putting them away.
You run it at a convenient time. Unless you are running a restaurant, there are plenty of gaps when plates aren't piling up.

I would not even consider buying a house that didn't have the room for a dishwasher.

CounsellorTroi · 19/03/2021 23:23

We managed for 25 years without a dishwasher, then when we had the kitchen and utility redone thought we might as well have one put in the utility. It's only me and DH and tbh we only use it at Christmas and when entertaining.

GreyHare · 19/03/2021 23:25

@Minniem2020

Even if I had the space for 1 I would never have a dishwasher. The smell they leave on dishes puts me off so much that I can't drink out of cups that have been washed in 1
Yes thank you, cups smell so weird and feel horrible too.

Hate dishwashers, don't have one, don't want one, takes 5 - 10 minutes to wash up rather than waiting an age to fill a full cycle and then wait whilst it does it thing and they smell rancid.

PickAChew · 19/03/2021 23:25

[quote EnglishGirlApproximately]@PickAChew yes I am aware of that thanks. When the kitchen is tidy and I've got my PJs on and a cup of tea the last thing I want is to go back into the kitchen. I don't want to wake up to the job either. I'd rather get it all done and forget it.[/quote]
What job are you thinking you need to wake up to?

Floralnomad · 19/03/2021 23:27

I wouldn’t buy a house that didn’t have space for a dishwasher , we were without one for about a week recently whilst we were moving things around in our kitchen and waiting for new appliances to arrive and it was a complete pain having to wash / dry etc .

TableFlowerss · 19/03/2021 23:27

Hate dishwashers, don't have one, don't want one, takes 5 - 10 minutes to wash up rather than waiting an age to fill a full cycle and then wait whilst it does it thing and they smell rancid

I thought like this until my DH insisted we buy one, now if not be without it

AgeLikeWine · 19/03/2021 23:29

My dishwasher is the best three hundred quid I have ever spent. Full stop.

In normal times, my time is just too valuable and important to waste washing mugs. For busy working people, are a non-negotiable essential of modern life.

Strangekindofwoman · 19/03/2021 23:29

I'd rather stick all the dirty pots in a dish washer when we cba to wash up than have them all over the kitchen. I never pre rinse them either..

Nith · 19/03/2021 23:40

Take it from me, washing up for four people after a big meal is not a break, especially if you're doing it every day. Even worse if you're entertaining so washing up for many more. And the dishwasher leaves no smell on our crockery and cutlery whatsoever.

Nith · 19/03/2021 23:43

Hate dishwashers, don't have one, don't want one, takes 5 - 10 minutes to wash up rather than waiting an age to fill a full cycle and then wait whilst it does it thing

I'd be prepared to put money on a bet that it actually takes you longer than you think, particularly after something like a Sunday roast. It's also a false comparison in terms of time. When I'm washing up by hand I'm tied to the sink and can do nothing else; whereas whilst the dishwasher is working I'm definitely not waiting, I'm off doing something much more useful and enjoyable.

JustDespair · 19/03/2021 23:45

You know you can do other stuff while it runs, right? You don't have to stand and watch it.

Grin
JustDespair · 19/03/2021 23:49

[quote EnglishGirlApproximately]@PickAChew yes I am aware of that thanks. When the kitchen is tidy and I've got my PJs on and a cup of tea the last thing I want is to go back into the kitchen. I don't want to wake up to the job either. I'd rather get it all done and forget it.[/quote]
Isn't the washing up waiting on the draining board next day?

TheBullfinch · 19/03/2021 23:51

The first thing I did when i moved to my current house was get a dishwasher installed. With a growing family you'd be mad not to. Who wants to waste hours a day chained to the kitchen sink?

montysma1 · 19/03/2021 23:52

Never had one, never wanted one.
Moved house and there was one there. Thought I would at least try it a, couple of times.
Cannot for the life of me see the point, by the time I had loaded and unloaded it I could have washed the dishes!
Plus the electric and the hot water.
I took it out and put in a cupboard!

PattyPan · 19/03/2021 23:53

I bought my house specifically to get a dishwasher! I ruled out any houses that didn’t have space for one immediately. This house has an integrated slimline one. I don’t even have DC and it’s a total essential, we can never keep on top of the washing up.

TheBullfinch · 19/03/2021 23:54

Hate dishwashers, don't have one, don't want one, takes 5 - 10 minutes to wash up rather than waiting an age to fill a full cycle and then wait whilst it does it thing

They have several settings ranging from a fast 10 minute wash to a 'long dirty pot' wash of an hour or so, either way, you can be doing something else while it runs.