Dishwashers - only for big families or not???

[Dawnyann]

Hi,

I am toying with the idea of having a dishwasher but as there is only 3 of us and from what i know you need to fill them up to make using them more cost efficient i'm not sure if I would use it???

Like, if I use a few pots & pans to make a meal then we only have three plates knives & forks etc, which won't fill it, when I come to cook the next meal I will prob need those pans that haven't been washed from the last time IYKWIM???

Hope i've explained it clearly, I just wonder if i'll find my self just washing up normally cos I need something out of there that hasn't been washed yet?

Ta :)

There are 3 of us (1 adult, 8yo, 5yo) and I use ours all the time.
All plates, cutlery, glasses, beakers, mugs go in it.
I tend to wash pans that have just been used for boiling water (veg, poached eggs etc), other pans might or might not go in - depending on whether it is nearly full (put them in and put it on) or newly emptied (wash them as will need again before it goes on).
I also have a few more pans than I might otherwise have if I did't use the dishwasher.

I tend to put it on once every 2 days on average.

We have one and I wouldnt be without it now!

There's only me and dh and ds (2yo). We fill it with a whole days washing up and put everything in that'll fit. We usually only use the quick cycle too which is about 4 times shorter than normal one.

If you have a dc with bottles then it's essential as you can go made washing bottles by hand!

you can get slimline dishwashers....

we had one in the flat and it was perfect for dp, me and baby

thanks for your advice, i will look into them before we have the kitchen fitted. Guess there's not many new kitchens without them nowadays and if we do come to sell in a few years time (no immediate plans but you never know) then people might expect one in a new kitchen.

Buy lots of crockery, cultery and pans so that you have enough to use until the dishwasher is full.

Thats what we did

4 of us here (2 adults, 2 small children), we have a tabletop one and wouldn*t want to be without one. it is on nearly every evening.

Theres only 2 of us - me and 2/8 yo DS and we have a slimline one. I put it on every other day - when you add in breakfast dishes, cups, dinner plates, extras... it adds up.

Also, the slimline one makes me feel less decdent in having a dishwasher for two people!

There's only me and my DS and I wouldn't be without it

OMG there was only me for a while and I wouldn't have been without it, what a horrendous thought!

I sometimes have to physically restrain my mother from manually washing the dishes at my house...

The longer you wait to get one, the more you will appreciate it when you do!

We picked up a slimline one for a few pounds at a second hand shop the other week and I love it! Just DP, baby and me but felt like I was always at the sink!

Depends on how many meals you eat at home as well as how many of you there are. SAHM and SAH toddler will fill up a dishwasher quicker than a family that has coffee for breakfast and lunch at school or Pret.
But I think it's well worth it for a family of 3 - also makes the house more resaleable and saves energy and water (unless you're a hugely efficient or unhygienic washer-upper).

There are only two of us and put it on every day or second day on average. Buy lots of mugs and teaspoons. I agree with washing pans in the sink.

I run it overnight, unstack in the morning and refill during the day. Wouldn't be without it, and it uses less water than washing up at the sink does.