Talk to me about a dishwasher, pros and cons?

[Lilacbluewaters]

Really debating a dishwasher after just making cottage pie and the pure amount of dishes it has resulted in. Are they worth it? Can you put everything in a dishwasher? I hear you have to rinse them beforehand, is this literally just run under a tap or? Feeling overwhelmed!!
we are a family of 5 and have lots of dishes to wash daily it is exhausting me having to cook for an hour and then cleaning the dishes and the rest of the kitchen for another hour!! How do people have time for this on a school night 🤯

I wouldn't be without mine. It also makes things sterile in my mind, cuts down on germs.

If you buy from John Lewis or somewhere you can pay for installation, £100 for integrated installation, half price on some models.

Have to say I was impressed with AO when they fitted my tumble dryer. Integrated so they put the door on and everything, they did a cracking job.

Having had one previously and now having to do without (space issue) I would say if you have room get a dishwasher. I just don't feel my pots are as clean when done by hand. We are due to move soon and I'm so excited that I will have room for one.

'Integration' surely depends on having a suitable 'door front' of the right size for the appliance with the handle placed for pulling down rather than opening like a cupboard.

When i got my kitchen done I kept my freestanding washing machine and dishwasher as they were fairly new and they are easier to replace if not integrated. My oven and microwave are integrated.

I actually can’t believe there are people who don’t have a dishwasher! It’s an essential kitchen appliance imo.

No cons. I've had a dishwasher since just after I got married 40 odd years ago. Wouldn't be without it.
I have friends who have a dishwasher but never use it. Madness.

Sainsbury's still sell dishwasher powder.
We have concealed/integrated, a door to match the cupboards is hung on the front. We have the handle at the top. If you want to re-use an old cupboard door the handle may have hole marks at the side?
The advantage of a visible dishwasher (e.g. stainless steel) is that guests find it easier to pitch in.
We paid a bit more for a quiet d/w as we have an open-plan layout. Consider taking your favored plates to a showroom and check they fit too.

Couldn't be without mine. It's a cupboard to stash your dirty plates in and banish them out of sight, then they come out clean.

What's not to like 🤷‍♀️

I got one in September. :)
I moved into a new house from one that didn't have one, to one that did.

Prior to this new house, I'd never had a dish washer, and had no experience of them, so didn't know what I was missing.
But, be really honest, it's probably one of my favourite things about the new house! I love, love, love it.
It's a Bosch, and only a couple of years old. I use the Finish Ultimate tabs, and apart from some very old and crusty baking pans, everything comes out sparkling every time.

There's hardly any prep. I dump crockery and everything else bar wine glasses in a basin of warm, soapy water, let it all soak, brush or rinse, and into the dishwasher it goes. I put the wine glasses straight in, and also all cups and mugs.

It's really only grated parmesan cheese, rice left sitting too long on a plate, or other dried on food that the dishwasher can't handle, but I dump it all in the basin because that's easier than identifying what's dried on and what might wash off easily.

I have a bottom of the range landlord special, and the first two times DS ran the dishwasher by scraping and loading, we've ended up with food baked on. DS tried 'best of three' because he was convinced dishwashers should wash everything off, but I knew from experience with it that it doesn't work that way with my cheap machine. He soaked everything and rewashed. He has a newer and more expensive dishwasher at his own place.

Even with the small amount of faff, I love the dishwasher. I usually run it three times on Christmas Day - Christmas and other holidays are unimaginable without it - and about three times a week the rest of the year (just two of us here).

Any specific recommendations? I need to get one.

My back is buggered so bending down isn't the easiest thing to do, so one where the salt compartment is actually accessible and not at the back under an immovable rack would be good.

And one that fits baking trays. I have a family who seem to cook everything in fecking olive oil and clingy grease and not wash it up properly. Sick of hearing about 'patinas'.

Bosch

i asked a dishwasher repair man and he said he gets called to fix them the least.

@LineRunnerOh You can put them at waist level or eye level too, they don’t need to be on the ground.
I would consider moving it up if you can change your kitchen around to do this.

There are no cons!

Everything goes in. If it is not dishwasher proof, I don't have/use it. I can't remember the last time I washed up. When I go on hols, if there is no dishwasher, I don't book that accommodation. It can be tedious to keep loading/unloading, but not as bad as washing up and drying. Just make sure you get a quiet one.

I have just thought of a con. It's when a bowl/plastic tub flips over randomly and gets filled with water. Sometimes I don't notice and tip it all over the dry bits 🙈

Not as much as a con as washing up but I was determined to think of one 😂

Oh and occasionally a large plate prevents the little door from opening and my tablet doesn't get used. I know I can just throw the tablet in anywhere but I do like to use things properly and don't like to make the little tablet cupboard redundant 😳

Ours over many washes eats Aluminium. Rivets come loose etc on pans. Some stainless knives have stained blades, but weirdly other cutlery items from the same manufacturer are fine. Do not put sharp knves in as they will blunt more quickly. Otherwise we love the thing. Our home water softener has removed the need for adding slat and the tablets we use do not need the additional rinse aid added.