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Dishwasher joy ? What have you discovered late to the party?

(57 Posts)
Mamma66 Wed 29-Dec-21 06:49:42

I am slightly embarrassed to admit this, but at the ripe old age of 55 have used a dishwasher for the first time!

We had one in our old house but never used it as there was an issue with water outlet / plug socket placement. Prior to that I had lived in a house with a tiny kitchen. We moved in April this year but didn’t use the dishwasher, not least as I didn’t know how to.

Had three get togethers over Christmas, yesterday we had 17 with a buffet and two courses. Pretty much every plate, glass, bowl etc we own was used. Two dish wash cycles and all done with minimal amount of pain and effort. I am completely converted.

I love Christmas but have always found it a lot of work. Can’t believe how happy a labour saving device has made me! ?

What have you discovered late to the party?

Mollygo Wed 29-Dec-21 09:29:49

Usually our dishwasher goes on once a day, but on Christmas Day the bliss of it washing pans and trays, mugs and mixing bowls while we ate and then washing plates, dishes, glasses and more mugs whilst we sat and chatted or played games made it well worthwhile. On Boxing Day, with 14 in the house and no dishwasher because she prefers to wash by hand, the washing up took forever.
Sago I have just sadly binned my 9 year old suede, sheepskin lined fit-flop slippers. I bought them in a factory outlet for about £15 and I loved them, but they finally died. I’ll go and look at the boots.

Mamma66 Wed 29-Dec-21 09:54:42

Maggiemaybe your post made me howl! I can just imagine the look of surprise on your face ?

Maggiemaybe Wed 29-Dec-21 10:18:47

I actually thought it was the cat joining me at first! And yes, Jackie, I’d not locked the door. grin DH and the grandsons were busy downstairs playing a game. I thought I was safe to dash in and out quickly….

Mollygo Wed 29-Dec-21 10:20:46

Maggiemaybe, I’m still laughing now! I find our dog visiting the bathroom bad enough, but at least I can tell her to get out. Did you lift your feet out of the way? grin

Coastpath Wed 29-Dec-21 11:05:55

I have just discovered the joy of having a second freezer. We bought it as we had such a glut of fruit from our trees in the summer. It's in the garage and well stocked with bread, basics and batch cooked things. I can buy things in bulk when they are in season or cheaper and it means I can shop less - it's like having my own shop out in the garage.

Visgir1 Wed 29-Dec-21 11:08:44

JackyB

Maggiemaybe were you sitting on the throne with the door open

Brilliant.. I recently read about a Robo Vac that was pre-programmed to do the "rounds" early in the morning. Apparently the pet Dog had been portly in the night and had the runs on the carpet the "Robo Vac" did its job..... Apparently poo everywhere!

Smileless2012 Wed 29-Dec-21 11:12:27

We got our first dish washer 9 years ago and I never understood why people raved about them until we did. Wouldn't be without one now.

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 11:45:05

I’m eyeing up one of those robo vacs now. Though I was a bit disconcerted the other day when DS’s zoomed into their bathroom and bustled round me as I sat on the toilet.
When I was staying at DD's I crept across the hall to go to the loo in the middle of the night and her robovac woke up and started coming towards me, lights flashing, beeping loudly - it was like an alien spacecraft coming to attack me. It woke everyone up (or perhaps that was me, yelping in fright).

MayBee70 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:10:29

Is it just me but all of the mugs on the top shelf hold water and I have to dry everything when I take it out if the dishwasher. Also, as I use a dishwasher tablet to clean certain things if something is burned on etc I can’t help but feel that the tablets are horribly corrosive and worry about what they do to the environment. So I tend to use my dishwasher as a glorified draining board most if the time. Having said that, I wouldn’t be without it. I’m on a Facebook page called extreme dishwasher loading ( or something like that ) which is quite funny if you don’t mind humour being a bit risqué.

Mapleleaf Wed 29-Dec-21 12:25:01

Isn’t it strange how we seem to be divided over the dishwasher ?. I’m in the “love it” camp. I find it a lot less trouble than continually changing bowls of dirty water to wash up different items. However, having said that, glasses and some pans (the ones not suitable for the dishwasher) get washed by hand, but as those pans are non stick, they’re a doddle to wash.
I agree with the poster who mentioned her cordless vac, too. Love mine, so much easier than continually plugging and unplugging the corded one, which I get tangled up in, too!

Mapleleaf Wed 29-Dec-21 12:27:50

I know what you mean about the mugs Maybee79 - they do hold water in their bases, so I take them out first, tipping any water into the sink, then they don’t drip over everything else. Give them a quick dry before putting on the mug tree.

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:35:28

I got a new dishwasher just before xmas, and then could not use it 2days as -A) didnt understand the complicated booklet, and B) had no dishwasher salt left. So rang up someone whose got same make per instructions, and then sent sent son out to find the salt when he collected food shop as none left instore.I was determined not to be washing up longer than the 2days, and definitely not at xmas! If i had a Mielle make id certainly use it often, they are very expensive, and, i think are reckoned to be very good to use ☺

MissAdventure Wed 29-Dec-21 12:36:40

My little mini dishwasher.
Kindly bought by me for my grandsons, to save them from the horrors of my washing up attempts.
3 litres of water per wash, and I can fit a lot in there!
Got it as an absolute bargain! smile

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:38:17

No dishwasher salt left at asda, online or instore and not any available for ages on amazon- a lot of folk must have got a dishwasher this xmas!?

Redhead56 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:41:59

I gave a perfectly good dishwasher away my son fitted it when restyling our kitchen. It's was too much faffing for me it's easier to just wash up in the kitchen bowl.

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:42:03

I will ask my DD about the facebook page maybee70- im not on FB- but maybe itll give me some tips?

mrswoo Wed 29-Dec-21 12:47:58

I live in a hard water area but I've not bought dishwasher salt for years - you don't need to if you use all-in-one tablets.

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:50:01

I got a small 4place one about 12 yrs ago- then a bigger one about 5yrs ago, gave first one to eldest son& DinL- she loved it so they got a new bigger one this year. This year id ordered a new one- kept putting off delivery- but offered middle son old one but he refused saying he "didn't like them"- so his loss- new one i got has a fan inside to help with drying so im very happy with mine.I sent older one to be recycled.

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:52:13

Yes mrs woo, but youve got to use it for first use- so still had to get some.i am in a hard water area though so probably best to do so.

Nannan2 Wed 29-Dec-21 12:58:20

And as a complete coincidance- i found out DinLaw had already bought her new one in same make as mine but almost identical model.so son talked me through the more complicated parts of booklet.

Teacheranne Wed 29-Dec-21 13:02:00

MayBee70

Is it just me but all of the mugs on the top shelf hold water and I have to dry everything when I take it out if the dishwasher. Also, as I use a dishwasher tablet to clean certain things if something is burned on etc I can’t help but feel that the tablets are horribly corrosive and worry about what they do to the environment. So I tend to use my dishwasher as a glorified draining board most if the time. Having said that, I wouldn’t be without it. I’m on a Facebook page called extreme dishwasher loading ( or something like that ) which is quite funny if you don’t mind humour being a bit risqué.

The base of mugs do hold a bit of water but I just use a piece of paper towel to wipe them before taking them out. Not all the cycles end with a drying time, especially the eco ones, so I tend to opt for a longer cycle with extra drying time.

The only items that needs a shake out and wipe are plastic storage containers, I shake them out over the sink and leave on the draining board.

I sometimes go three days between washes so use a hot wash as I don’t rinse the dishes - yes, the inside gets a bit whiffy but I don’t leave the door open for long! My dishes are sparking clean when they come out even after three days.

crazyH Wed 29-Dec-21 13:12:39

If I had the space, I’d have 2 dishwashers, so that one holds the clean dishes, which I will take out, as needed, use them and put them straight into the other dishwasher.

Maggiemaybe Wed 29-Dec-21 13:27:39

Mollygo

Maggiemaybe, I’m still laughing now! I find our dog visiting the bathroom bad enough, but at least I can tell her to get out. Did you lift your feet out of the way? grin

Well, Molly, it sort of scuttled past my feet and started sweeping backwards and forwards by the far wall. I must say it was very thorough. But it had searching lights that looked like beady eyes. I’m not surprised that night time encounter made Calistemon yelp!

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 15:50:12

Mapleleaf

I know what you mean about the mugs Maybee79 - they do hold water in their bases, so I take them out first, tipping any water into the sink, then they don’t drip over everything else. Give them a quick dry before putting on the mug tree.

I've noticed DH and I unload the dishwasher in a different order.
I start from the bottom and work upwards to the cutlery rack, leaving those annoying mugs until the very last.
He starts at the top and works down so any drips drip down and wet things underneath.

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 15:51:53

Maggiemaybe

Mollygo

Maggiemaybe, I’m still laughing now! I find our dog visiting the bathroom bad enough, but at least I can tell her to get out. Did you lift your feet out of the way? grin

Well, Molly, it sort of scuttled past my feet and started sweeping backwards and forwards by the far wall. I must say it was very thorough. But it had searching lights that looked like beady eyes. I’m not surprised that night time encounter made Calistemon yelp!

The dogs woke up and barked too so the whole household was awake!