Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Dishwasher: Luxury or Essential?

40 replies

peggy0062 · 28/04/2011 17:48

We don't have a dishwasher so I've always washed all the dishes (family of 4).
Considering getting one.

Can you do without one? Or do you think it's unnecessary?
Is it costly to run?

Do you run yours everyday?
Are you concerned about its impact of the environment - Does it use much water/energy?

OP posts:
RuthChan · 28/04/2011 18:47

I have a dishwasher in our (rented) house. It's the first one I have ever owned.
I rarely use it though as the four of us fail to fill it in one day.
When we have guests it is really nice to be able to throw everything in, but the rest of the time it stands idle.
I can see why people who are in the habit of using it would rely on one completely.

Old dishwashers used more electricity and water than washing by hand, but apparently modern ones are better. They do use less water, but not if you rinse the dishes first.

eggyminniewhingesagain · 28/04/2011 19:42

I manage without, mostly because there isn't room for one! But used to have one elsewhere, I found we needed a lot more plates/cups etc to account for them all being in the dishwasher rather than in the cupboard, IYKWIM

GrimmaTheNome · 28/04/2011 19:50

Its not necessary, but having had one when I lived in the US I really missed it when we returned, and didn't have room in our previous house.

They are reckoned to be more environmentally friendly than handwashing (providing you don't keep running it half-empty, of course). You probably do need more mugs....although there's nothing to stop you handwashing bits in between, of course if you run out.

mousesma · 28/04/2011 19:52

We have a dishwasher and it's run at least once everyday because its a slimline one so has less space than a full size one.
I find it very handy and it saves time and space because the dirty dishes go straight into the washer instead of piling up.
However it is a luxury and not a necessity, we managed for years without one and could manage without one again if need be.

No idea how much it costs to run unfortunately.

Bonsoir · 28/04/2011 19:54

Absolutely essential; much more economical and much more hygienic than any other form of washing dishes.

KeepCalmAndCarryOnMNing · 28/04/2011 19:56

I'd love to have one. We only get home at 6.30 - 6.45pm, so by the time dinner is done, dishes/kitchen cleared and DS is in bed we're ready for bed ourselves. Throwing everything in the dishwater would save us some time. We have shedloads of plates and cutlery so even if we didn't fill one in a day (unlikely) we could manage for a couple of days until it was full enough to put on.

We're hoping to move in the next year and a dishwasher (or space for one) is on the must have list for a new house!

cat64 · 28/04/2011 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/04/2011 22:32

It's essential. I use the basics dishwasher tabs. Newer models use less water than washing up.

kerrymumbles · 28/04/2011 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hester · 28/04/2011 22:37

I'd love to have one. But have survived my whole life without.

kerrymumbles · 28/04/2011 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpangledPandemonium · 28/04/2011 22:40

I think you get used to them but can easily get unused to them again.

Mine broke down ages ago and I have never bothered getting it fixed.

kd73 · 28/04/2011 22:44

I would say essential if planning a new kitchen, new buyers always want to see a dishwasher in situ and prevented my parents from selling alot sooner.

Have had a dishwasher myself and use it very rarely only when entertaining.

bibbitybobbityhat · 28/04/2011 22:47

Essential but yet, strangely, a right royal pita, ime.

moosemama · 28/04/2011 22:49

I've never owned one, but these days with three dcs, I seem to spend half my life up to my elbows in washing up water and would seriously love one.

Unfortunately, our kitchen, although not small, has no less than 5 doorways in it, which makes planning the space a nightmare - hence, no room for a dishwasher.

We are hoping to have a small extension and redesign next year and a dishwasher is top of my list, along with a full height larder fridge.

BehindLockNumberNine · 28/04/2011 22:49

Never had one until we moved house and had a complete kitchen refurb done last October.
I love it. We bung everything in throughout the day and then I run it after dinner. We easily fill it in one day (family of 4)

So for me, now, it is an essential Smile

truthisinthewine · 28/04/2011 22:51

I have had mine a year now and wouldn't want to be without it. If my washing machine and dishwasher broke at the same time and I could only afford to replace one immediately it would be the dishwasher.

Use it Once a day, uses less water than handwashing and I have Tesco value tablets (which work just as well as the finish ones I've tried) which are really cheap.

Not essential really but now I've got one I would hate to be without it.

AngelDog · 28/04/2011 22:56

For years we only used ours (a slimline one) when we had guests, then it broke and we managed without for ages. We got a new one in anticipation of DS being born and I'd struggle without now, but I'm a very slow washer-upper. I reckon it saves me at least an hour a day - even though I still handwash DS's high chair tray and saucepans.

One of the best things has been having somewhere to put the dirty crockery rather than having it standing next to the sink. We run it most days, whenever it's full (2 adults and a toddler here).

Icoulddoitbetter · 28/04/2011 23:08

I'd wanted one for years and when we did the kitchen up a couple of years ago I insisted that we make room for one. I'm soooooooooooo glad we've got it now. I admit I'm a lazy bint who hates washing up, as does DS, so there were always dishes in the kitchen before we had it.

Once we started to wean DS we suddenly had shed loads of washing up so we have it on pretty much every day. They are supposed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than washing up, which makes me feel a bit better about it!

When we bought new crockery at the same time as getting the dishwasher, we bought two sets so wouldn't run out.

sausagerolemodel · 28/04/2011 23:11

Its essential for hiding dirty dishes. :-)

EdwardorEricCantDecide · 28/04/2011 23:19

I'd love one but v.v. Tiny kitchen so not possible Sad

If we ever manage to move I'd make sure there was space for one

TheSecondComing · 28/04/2011 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thornelius · 29/04/2011 22:46

I think it's a necessity, I have eczema which aggravated by washing up liquid so not having to wash up by hand is lovely! Also with a family of 4 there's always washing up that need doing and being able to put in the washer as we go along is helpful and keeps worktops clear,
Its pretty cheap to run, Its on 1-3 times a day depending on what I've cooked and I haven't noticed the electric bill shoot up the only costly thing is the powder/tabs etc but they are normally on offer! And apparently modern dishwashers use less water than washing up by hand!! win win I say :-)

Meglet · 29/04/2011 22:48

Essential (once you've had one for a bit). I have a slimline one. Would fall to pieces withouth it.

Very good for getting whisks clean too.

LaWeaselIsOupaLaDouffe · 29/04/2011 22:56

I think it's a luxury.

We have one in our current (rented) house, and wouldn't insist on one wherever we move next.

However, if I had the money. Hell yes I'd have one.