Washing-up

I was never really bothered about having a dishwasher, then about 10 years ago, we stayed in a holiday cottage that had one, and I loved it! Hubby did say I could have one, but there isn`t the room in our kitchen, and after 52 years I suppose I can carry on washing up in the time honoured way.
Daughter number 2 cringes if she sees me washing up, as I`ve been taking my MILs advice for many years now, and adding a little drop of bleach to my washing up water, she said it would keep my dishcloth smelling fresh, and it does, but this particular daughter frowns on the use of bleach, for anything.

We've had dishwashers since the family were small, and I wouldn't be without ours. If there is space for one, washing up by hand seems to me as logical as doing all the laundry by hand (dishwashers are also better for the environment, I believe). We did have one awful Christmas Day when the whole family was round, DH was rushed into hospital as an emergency (carried out on a stretcher over all the Christmas toys), and I nearly flipped when I then walked into the kitchen to find my DMIL and her friend had unpacked all the dirty dishes from the full dishwasher and started washing them by hand.

Coolgran65 - we used to have a wonderful local repairman who once explained to us that the wires in dishwashers tend to twist round over time. Apparently they can be untwisted up to 3 times, getting the machine working again for, in our experience, about a year each time. He used to pop round and do this for us free of charge. Unfortunately for us he's now retired and moved, and I doubt we'll find anyone as accommodating next time it happens!

Oh fiddle-de-dee. Dishywashers indeed Nope, never had one. Brought up my family without needing one, in the tiniest kitchen in Surrey, and now they've gone I'd still rather have the cupboard space. I don't mind washing up and neither does my OH.The only time there's a vast amount of washing up is at Christmas or other mass family get-togethers, but we've always managed without the need for one. I couldn't be doing with yet another machine, but I would certainly miss the washing machine - that's about all that is essential to me!

I had a dishwasher when I was married but when I left him and me and the kids were loading the van, we left him to his favourite white goods, his precious dishwasher, he was obsessed with it. Also he got custody of the ironing board, he was in love with that too! Strange man.

Since then I have been happy to have a bowl, hot water and scourer. I've had lots of people for tea but still managed and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have had a tumble dryer though which I don't have now, I wish I had but then I wish I had a cooker too.

I have had a dishwasher for the past 35 years. Now there is just me, I use it less often, probably 1x a week, the rest I do by hand. It is great for removing stains from mugs and now there is ample room I have started to chuck in pots and pans and larger items. Next week it will come in to its own again when the family arrive and will be chuntering away at least once a day. If/when I move I will definitely have a dishwasher on my list of must-haves;

We actually moved house in 1986 in order to have a kitchen big enough for a dishwasher! We knocked a hole into the garage of our old house in order to make a recess for a microwave, but installing a dishwasher was impossible. DH and three growing sons seemed to need constant topping up, I was buckling under piles of dishes. I still wouldn't be without a dishwasher, even though there are just DH and I living here now (although expecting to feed family over the weekend).

I got my first dishwasher (well electric one anyway, DH has always been a sort of mechanical version) about 4 years ago when we moved to this house. Its a small slimline type and I think I have used it about 10-12 times in 4 years. I much prefer to wash as I go along. It does come in handy at christmas and after family gatherings when there are lots of extra dishes.

We had a dishwasher when we had a big family and used it every day. Now I live alone in a one bedroom flat with a tiny kitchen. I never thought of getting a dishwasher. I wash up by hand every couple of days.

We had slimline one for around ten years, sometimes it was used a lot , but slowly family moved away , had other things to do! But in its last couple of months, it still looked brand new, both inside and out , the last three times we used it there was a smell of burning, so switched it off at plug, finally we got man in to check it- he said it was leaking badly and burnt out almost!! Unrepairable ! So sad to see this good looking machine go, but underneath it was a mess ! This one used salt - and that is possible what rotted it! So beware . we have not replaced it, as yet ?

No need to leave food encrusted plates in it, just use the rinse programme!

The dishwasher - one of the best inventions ever.

I got my first dishwasher when getting a new kitchen about 6 years ago. Only two of us but gc once a week and an extra four for Sunday dinner. Always manage to fill in daily and run it each evening.

Unfortunately it has been playing up for the last week. DH has looked at it without real success. Can get it going now and again with a lot of random button pressing and a good thump.

We are considering a new one versus a repair. It's a built in model and I've suggested we look at the cheapest basic one we can see......as long as the dishes dry at the end of cycle.

I had a similar story Tegan. I wanted a dishwasher when the kids were small, but DH said we didn't need one. Then I had a threatened miscarriage and needed to stay in bed for a week. The dishwasher was there on day two! Should have taken to my bed years earlier!

I wanted a tumble dryer when my first baby was born but my husband [ex] wouldn't let me have one. We had damp washing drying everywhere for years; nappies on radiators etc.

I managed without a tumble drier when working full time with two toddlers and a teenager. How?! I bought a tumble drier when all the children were either independent or at university. It changed my life, I love it. I don't use it when the sun shines but as everyone knows that isn't a regular occurrence here int'north. I love the dish washer and the tumble drier - life changers

Now, I couldn't be without a tumble dryer; not that I use it to dry clothes completely, just to tumble dry for a minute or so to get the creases out so I don't have to iron anything. I probably wouldn't enjoy washing dishes as much if I didn't have a telly in the kitchen as I always choose the right sort of programme to watch as I'm doing it [ie more verbal than visual so I can concentrate fully on the job in hand!]. I also bleach my mugs cause they always seem to get tea/coffee stains inside and I hate that. Again, strange for someone whose house usually looks as if it's been ransacked .

I live alone and have no need of a dishwasher. I fill a washing up bowl with soapy water when I am dishing up a meal, so that everything soaks while I eat. It is then a question of adding my plate and cutlery and giving it all a sponge over and rinse. Takes about 3 minutes max! I don't dry anything, feel draining is more hygienic. I then put it away next time I go into the kitchen.
The space in my kitchen where the previous owners had a dishwasher has been filled by my tumble dryer, which I felt was of more benefit to me.

That's sounds just like mine Bags before it blew up with a spectacular BANG ! a flash of light and a strong smell of burning

I was all set to rush out and buy a new one but put it off, and put it off and somehow just haven't really missed it - though I am using my steamer more.

I would hate to be without a dishwasher, though I don't use it for everything. Saucepans are washed by hand as are baking trays etc. In the early days I would put the pans in but was disappointed that they lost their shine over time, so when I got a new set of pans I vowed not to put them in. As for greasy roasting tins, it deals well with the grease, but not any baked on food - if I have to wash and scrub that off first I can't see the point, might just as well finish them properly by hand!
So it is mainly crockery, glassware and cutlery that go in the dishwasher, which is a godsend because we seem to create so much of this every 24 hours!

I'd miss our microwave, which is ancient, was secondhand when we got it in 1998, and is excellent.

I've never had a dishwasher and I don't yearn for one. I quite enjoy washing-up. I'm very thorough and find satisfaction in doing a chore well.

Oh no I couldn't be without the dishwasher- when we bought this house which was new I wouldn't close the deal with the builder until he installed one.

Now our microwave packed in 6 weeks ago and I haven't felt the need to replace it.

Jane I don't put 'food encrusted' plates in the dishwasher, I wash them first!

There are no launderettes in our town Kitty the last one closed about 5 years ago.

I did have a dishwasher some years ago but I gave it to my daughter as I found it took too much time to load and unload. Having said that they are very useful if you have a family as they make a huge amount of washing up.