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Housekeeping

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Original poster

should I put the freezer in the shed so I can get a dishwasher?

24 replies

MonkeyChicken · 06/06/2010 23:16

I have a silly small house that we have totally outgrown. DC2 is due in just over 9 weeks. The kitchen is absurd, with no work surfaces (we use the hob and the sink as work surfaces). We can't afford to move and are here for at least a few years so are trying to find practical solutions to our situation and are thinking about putting our freezer in the shed so we can get a dishwasher. Thought a dishwasher would make life just a bit easier. Does this seem sensible? Is there anything glaringly obvious we are not considering? Think I've talked DH round and we are talking about trying to do this before the baby arrives so just thought I'd check our sanity before we spend all our tesco vouchers on a dishwasher!!! thanks x

OP posts:

Cathycat · 06/06/2010 23:23

Yes! Always answer yes to a dishwasher!

ABitBatty · 06/06/2010 23:29

It would need to go near to the sink though, to plumb it in. Where is your freezer now?

gingerkirsty · 06/06/2010 23:34

Go for it I love my dishwasher almost as much as DH! But what Batty said about plumbing though.

BertieBotts · 06/06/2010 23:44

YES!

But on a more practical note, is there anywhere you can move the freezer to and use the top of that as a spare work surface? My fridge is not under a counter, and I sometimes use the top of it as a work surface (just have to be careful not to put anything hot on it like a cup of tea, or more likely to damage - something straight from the oven)

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 06/06/2010 23:49

yes yes yes. Our tumble drier is in an odd place (for our house) but it meant we could have a dishwasher. Might be worth checking out what else you can move there - you could put a larder type cupboard there too, or washing machine if plumbing was in place?

Lynli · 07/06/2010 00:02

Yes definitely to the dishwasher, couldn't survive without one. But I am not sure about having to go outside everytime I needed something from the freezer especially in the winter. I Would find somewhere in the house it at all possible.

scurryfunge · 07/06/2010 00:04

Yes.....freezer is in the garage...it is not such a pain to go out to get stuff....we don't use it every day though.

Original poster

MonkeyChicken · 07/06/2010 08:02

At the mo our kitchen goes - freezer (fridge on top) washing machine (with draining board of sink on top) under sink cupcupboard (with sink on top) turn corner and oven and very small half size cupboard next to that. I'd like to put the washing machine where the freezer is and the dishwasher under the sink (where the washing is at mo) otherwise I can see horrible accidents if the dishwasher is open (even briefly) and one of us walks into it as it would be immediately next to the door.(This can happen with the freezer already but not as painful as falling over an open dishwasher.) My mum got me thinking about putting freezer in shed as she has suggested we put a tumble dryer in the shed. We don't have one at the mo and if I can't get the washing on the line then we have airers all over the house, mostly balanced on the sofa so we have floor space for DD to play! It's horrible in the winter plus I use real nappies. Will get DH to check out plumbing situation when he returns from work in a couple of weeks.

OP posts:

admylin · 07/06/2010 08:11

A dishwasher will definately make your life easier. I stand cursing at the sink every time I wash up and can't wait until we move in a month when I will have a dishwasher at last.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 07/06/2010 08:14

Wow that is small! Do you have wall cabinets?

Meglet · 07/06/2010 08:17

When I lived at home we had a huge freezer in the garage. It was fine.

I only have a slimline dishwasher in my house as I don't have space for a freezer anymore, and the garage is down the road.

bran · 07/06/2010 08:47

Does it get very cold in the winter where you are? I think all or many freezers don't work properly when in a cold environment so you might end up not being able to use it when it's cold.

Lamazed · 07/06/2010 08:50

We have just removed downstairs toilet to make a utility room to house freezer and washing machine, so that I could have a dishwasher.

My life is much better as a result.

ageing5yearseachyear · 07/06/2010 12:27

i have lived in lots of houses, rented and owned. My priority has always been to have a dishwasher. In one house i had a dishwasher with a larder fridge on top. IMO if you have a small space, dishwasher makes sense because you can just bung everything in there as you use it and dont have depressing dirty plates hanging around- i am lazy and hate house work though! we have also had tumble dryer and freezer in garage as well and this has been fine. very minor pain but really in overall scheme of things not that bad.

have you thought/got space to plumb washing machine into the bathroom like they do on the continent?

AMumInScotland · 07/06/2010 12:39

What bran said - freezers don't guarantee to work in cold environments, so if the temperature in your shed drops a lot it may have problems and not keep food properly frozen.

bran · 07/06/2010 13:01

How big is your bathroom? Could you plumb your washing machine into the bathroom instead and use the washing machine space for the dishwasher?

Original poster

MonkeyChicken · 07/06/2010 13:44

Hmmm. No room in the bathroom (unless we took the bath out!!!). Our garden is quite sheltered and rarely gets a frost. I guess the temperature is just a risk I could take and make sure we get a good barometre and keep an eye on the temperature in the shed. It's only a little shed. If I had a tumble dryer as well maybe that would warm it up!

PfftTheMagicDragon - I sort of have 2 wall caninets. 1 regular and 2 half sized. It is very small, but before I had children it was manageable. Used to have people round for dinner etc, but now I'm at home with children it is quite challenging!

OP posts:

mrsbabookaloo · 07/06/2010 13:51

Don't want to be snarky at all or unsupportive, but I can't resist, having seen your thread title, coming on here and saying, as someone who doesn't have a freezer, a dishwasher or a shed (or a garden to put a shed in), that you will be fine when dc2 arrives whatever you decide to do.
We've got 2 dds in a 2 bed flat and manage without any of the above or a microwave.

Lack of space IS a problem...don't I know it, and of course you're just looking at your situation and trying to improve it, so I will go away now and leave you to people who can offer real advice.

GreenAndSilverStars · 07/06/2010 14:13

Freezers used to work well in cold sheds and garages but nowadays they don't (they changed how they work, something to do with CFCs) so watch out for that.

tibni · 07/06/2010 20:34

We are just looking to replace our chest freezer in the garage (19 yrs old). New freezers state the temperature range they work at; a lot are still fine in garages.

whomovedmychocolate · 07/06/2010 20:38

Yes, we have a fecking huge house with a teeny tiny kitchen - so tiny in fact the washing machine, tumble drier AND fridge are outside in a conservatory off another building

The only problem with it is, you have to go out in the cold and the rain if you want ice cream.

pippop1 · 07/06/2010 20:46

How about changing your washing machine for a washer-dryer? I have one (a Miele) and it's marvellous. I try not to use the drying bit unless I have to though.

One of my sons said that each bedroom should have their own little washing machine/dryer and everyone could do their own clothes. Seems like a good idea to me!

At least you could get rid of some of the airers. Could the freezer go elsewhere in the house. A friend has one in her porch or perhaps there is somewhere upstairs?

Original poster

MonkeyChicken · 07/06/2010 21:38

I'd rather have a dishwasher than a tumble dryer anyday of the week. At the moment I can only imagine using the tumble dryer for sheets and towels in the winter. Don't want to replace the washing machine before I have to and washing/dryers scare me. I just remember stories of fires probably about 20 years ago I'm sure they've come on since then! The only other place in the house I can think of at all to put the freezer would be behind the TV! That would be weird. Actually that would be more diffficult to get to than the shed I think. Hmmm. I'm very excited by the potential of a dishwaher. Lots of my friends don't have and indeed don't want them even though they could. I know one couple who have a dishwasher and useit for storage. They would get rid of it but it would cost them as they live in a top floor flat! I have another set of friends who are like Mr and Mrs Gadget, they have a second fridge and freezer in their garage and have lots of kitchen gadety things, but don't see the point of a dish washer... whenever I've had one I've loved it. I don't just use it for dishes but do the top of the bin, the shelves in the fridge, toys etc in it. I've not actually owned one for over a decade. It would make me very happy. As we naff all money I'm going to have to do this with tesco points so I'm off to investigate their range of dishwashers. (I wish we had the cash to go to John Lewis, I am rather scared about the service I'll get from Tesco's but hay!)

OP posts:

RustyBear · 07/06/2010 21:43

When we redid our kitchen I put my old fridge/freezer in the shed so we'd have extra freezer space.

A mouse ate the cable.....

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