AIBU not to want a dishwasher?

[ChloeCC]

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!

@montysma1 dishwashers use less energy and water than hand washing

@montysma1

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!

I first had a dishwasher over 20.years ago and that was cold water fill. Yours must be ancient.

We had a dishwasher and didn't replace it when we did the new kitchen in favour of cupboard space. Plus we worked out that it was costing us a lot more in energy to run each day than doing washing up 2-3 times a day. We probably spent more time faffing trying to get everything to fit in the dishwasher than it takes to just wash up. Don't miss it at all however, most people with dishwashers will tell you they couldn't possibly be without one 🤷‍♀️

Crikey, I couldn't live without a dishwasher. Filling it is my only best skill. I like to moan that DP never puts anything in the dishwasher, but that could be because he does it all WRONG and then I have to rearrange it.

I'm with your DH. When our landlord redid our kitchen I pushed the fitters to make space for a dishwasher, and they found a slot for a slimline. It's so much of a time saving compared to washing up.

When I move, a kitchen without space for a dishwasher is a kitchen I need to modify to make that space.

I love my dishwasher and would not buy a house that didn’t have one or space for one.

Ah yes. I remember well the time when the dishwasher gave up the ghost, we were broke after finishing the extension. It wasn’t a happy time.
As a pp said, I’d wash clothes in the river before I’d give up the dishwasher. It just makes everyday life a little bit easier.

I was amazed how much less water they used than I would washing by hand. When I first got mine it had to drain into a tub until the plumber finalised things so I got a clear visual on the amount it used.

110% essential

I moved into my first apartment in 1975 which came with a dishwasher. I was surprised how much I loved it, even if it was as noisy as hell. I've had them ever since. I just bought new one and it's the best one yet. It cleans everything squeaky clean, is silent and dries perfectly. I'm not sure if the brand is available in the UK but it's a KitchenAide.

You're mad.
Why refuse something that will make life easier now and in the future?

@CherryCherries

I use a commercial dishwasher at work and you definitely want to be pre rinsing before you load. Otherwise your dishwasher will be just clogging up with food debris, grease, general grime, meaning you'll need to be cleaning the dishwasher all the time. At work we need to drain and clean it each day, I imagine at home it would less so. We also need to salt it once a week. Cleaning your stuff in a dirty dishwasher is pointless and it won't be clean if you're chucking in dirty food items without a pre rinse everytime. More hassle than they are worth!

Ive had a dishwasher for 20 plus years. Have never pre rinsed and everything comes out sparkling. Just clean the filters and use a dishwasher cleaner once a month. No hassle at all!

It’s essential IMO.

The only people I know who boast about never needing a dishwasher are those martyr types who think that they are so much harder working because they prefer to wash it by hand. More fool you, wasting your time when you could do something better.

I've lived with one and without one. I'm not bothered either way to be honest.

I didn't wast a dishwasher at first but we got one anyway. I wouldn't be without it now. It makes life a lot easier.

I live alone and it’s non negotiable for me! But I see you’ve seen the light.

Got my first dishwasher 6 months ago (I’m in my 50’s). Wish I had got one sooner. There’s only 2 of us, so we put everything in as the day goes on and just turn it on after tea. No rinsing needed. It’s very quiet and as it is integrated it has a beam that shows how long is left on the wash.

Everything comes out sparkling and gets put away before bed.

Count it as essential and would not rent a self catering place without one. We literally put everything in it if it fits pots and pans etc. Do you take your clothes to the river to wash them?!!

When I got my dishwasher, I got an extra 2 hours a day of free time, and lots more counter space. Dirty dishes go in the dishwasher during the course of the day, I switch it on after dinner, and my 10 year old empties it in the morning.

The reason I got our dishwasher is because we had tiny kids but if you're happier washing up, go for it.

Lack of dishwasher wouldn't put me off buying a house as long as there was room for a dishwasher to be put in

I would not be without a dishwasher now. I regard it as a cupboard for storing dirty dishes. As soon as plates, pans etc are finished with, in they go, leaving the worktops clear for the next task. And washing up is a horrible job. Unless it's a minimal amount, one sinkful of hot sudsy water never seems to be enough, although I concede that the water where I live is very hard, which doesn't help.

Unloading the dishwasher is no more work than putting away stuff that has dried in a rack, and less work than drying up and putting away. And stuff comes out amazingly clean, especially glasses.

I did wonder if it would be worth using it now I'm on my own, but it is!