The dishwasher in a classic kitchen

[PrettySquareGal]

I've never seen the point in washing dishes by hand when there's an alternative.

Why call someone when you can just send an email? Why grow vegetables when you can just buy them? Personal preferences at play.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

I grew up with a dishwasher (my chore was loading or unloading the dishwasher, depending on the night). Most of my apartments haven't had them though. I currently do not have one. There's just two of us here but we have a small sink I cook and bake a lot, so in order to avoid having a full sink with spillover onto the countertops, I do 2-3 loads of dishes per day, minimum.

I do not MIND it, I usually put music or a podcast on, but after awhile my back always starts to hurt. Does this not happen to anyone else?

 

[dhermann1]

What, somebody might injure their drummer's hands if they touched a dish?

 

[LizzieMaine]

I do not MIND it, I usually put music or a podcast on, but after awhile my back always starts to hurt. Does this not happen to anyone else?

Try a rubber cushion/pad thing on the floor where you're standing. You'll be amazed at the difference that will make.

 

[$ally]

So what did you end up doing Gearhead?
I have a dishwasher now, but have gone without to keep from spoiling the look of older kitchen. I usually do most of it by hand first anyway. Pots, pans, bakings sheets, some of my heirloom china and galssware will never see the inside of a dishwasher. The machines just seems like it's healthier, with all that hot water. I'd love to find a nicer looking one too.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

What, somebody might injure their drummer's hands if they touched a dish?

Actually, he sliced his hand quite badly (should have gotten stitches) when he was cleaning a glass that broke in his hands a year or two ago and has been far less inclined to do the dishes since.

Try a rubber cushion/pad thing on the floor where you're standing. You'll be amazed at the difference that will make.

I just put some carpet circles down, maybe I'll see about a rubber thingy.

 

[Viola]

How many people here do their dishes by hand? Why or why not?

I do mine by hand, for the simple reason that we have never had a dishwasher worth a rat's... patootie. And re-washing is more irritating after the dishwasher has BAKED IT ON. Our current one is a dead loss, and I hate it and wish it was gone to make room for another cabinet.

I don't like them, but my friends assure me they have ones that don't just add more washing time. lol

Honestly washing up for five people though - it can take a while by hand. I don't object to the THEORY of a dishwasher.

Next year when it's just two people? I don't really see the money/space of a dishwasher being appealing, though we'll probably have one wherever we rent. Once we buy a place I'm not going to go out of my way to get one, though.

 

[RebeccaDoll]

Wash em' by hand, and usually by myself! I don't mind if I made the mess, or when someone else has made a small one. What drives me batty, is the large mess at the end of the day - 2 sinks full of dishes - my brothers idea of 'doing the dishes' is dumping them in the sink where I then have to pull them all out just to fill the sink.

Washing by hand also saves my collection of cute teacups and saucers from becomming a mis-matched, mis-placed, shattered mess. Definitly worth the wrinkly hands!

 

[Paisley]

I have an older dishwasher...made around 2005. I needed to do some repairs on it, looked it up on the internet, and that's what people call a 2005 dishwasher: an older model. [huh]

 

[Mike in Seattle]

get one with a false cabinet cover, so it looks like a cabinet door when in fact it's a dishwasher. No one will know. it'll look like you have no dishwasher just like the old days.

Exactly the way to do it. None of the hassles with a 60+ year old vintage model that nobody can get parts for anymore when it does break down.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Your all lazy bums!lol

=WR=

First - should be "You're all lazy bum..." Check yer grammar, ya lazy bum, Root! (all in good fun, my friend!)

But second, and echoing what others have said, using that newfangled term that everyone hates to hear...you leave a smaller carbon footprint using a dishwasher because it uses less energy to heat the water, and uses less water than washing dishes by hand.

 

[Forgotten Man]

First - should be "You're all lazy bum..." Check yer grammar, ya lazy bum, Root!

But second, and echoing what others have said, using that newfangled term that everyone hates to hear...you leave a smaller carbon footprint using a dishwasher because it uses less energy to heat the water, and uses less water than washing dishes by hand.

Well, I like to say it like a tough guy with poor grammar from the 30s, see?

Also, using an electronic device doesn't seem like the "Greener" way to me. I have a double sink, I fill up one side with hot water, then fill the other with warm water... I wash the dishes then dip them clean in the hot water then dry them. I don't use any electricity like an automatic washer would.

But, on the same note the dangers of carbon to the environment is highly over rated.

I do all mine; I'm rare in the fact that I really don't mind doing them. I have 30s enamelware and depression glass too... so, I don't mind doing it by hand and then drying it to avoid water spots. Takes a little time but when it's all over and the kitchen is clean, I feel good.

Also, my house is pushing 100 years old; an automatic washer wouldn't fit in my little kitchen. I lose precious cabinets!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

Smeg

"Wonderful, quality @nd @ Timeless look"

"The Refrigerators are Ripping too"

 

[Warden]

In our kitchen, under the sink, hidden by a yellow gingham curtain is a dishwasher. There I have said it, a dishwasher.

What’s more it does not even look like one of those lovely look-a-like 1950s styled dish washers. It is a big white metal box with modern world written in a big flashing neon light.

To keep our allusion it is hidden behind a curtain, but it died a few weeks ago. I did think great now I can go and buy one of those 1950s styles dish washers, but that is not really living by the ethics of our ‘make do and mend’ retro lifestyle.

So a quick search of the net says the problem could be a stuck lever thingy, solution to disconnect, pull the unit into the middle of the floor, turn the dishwasher upside down, let ½ a gallon of really yuck water pour onto the kitchen floor, turn the right way up and finally re connect.

Sounds simple, but has taken about 1 ½ hours, partly because I had a little helper, who kept wanting to lick the rancid water, (weird child). But guess what? It the dishwasher now works.

I feel really chuffed, that is the second white appliance I have managed to fix in one year, saving pennies and mother earth says thanks for not chucking that into her.

 

[matei]

I've been doing the dishes by hand for ages... I used to help my mother every now and then, and when I joined the Army I had no choice - every two weeks I'd do it on KP.

Once I got married I made a deal with my wife - she could cook as much or as little as she wanted, and I would always wash the dishes.

I used to dream of a place with a dishwasher... and last year we moved into a swanky flat in London with all the mod/cons - including a dishwasher.

What a waste of space. I was able to do more in less time than that dishwasher. We've since moved out to a house in Oxfordshire, sans dishwasher - but with an enormous sink!

I'd forgo the dishwasher, unless perhaps it was one of those high-end super ones... but that wouldn't be retro!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Seems dishwashers use less water than the sink in the scullery, but there is the electrical power to consider. Mmm"

 

[Miss Neecerie]

"Seems dishwashers use less water than the sink in the scullery, but there is the electrical power to consider. Mmm"

But handwashing does use power of one sort or another......unless you have magic faeries to heat the hot water...


So I honestly think trying to say one way or the other is 'more environmentally sound' is difficult....unless you really like equations and measuring how long your hot water heater cycles while you do dishes...etc..

I hate maths...so it's easier just to say...I envy those who have the -option- to use a dishwasher, especially after a large dinner party or baking spree.

 

[matei]

The Smeg products look great. We were *this* close to getting a Smeg fridge, however upon doing some research it seems that their build quality and reliability is not good at all.

A friend at work has a Smeg fridge and some other bits, and he tried to warn us away as well. He has had nothing but trouble.

Shame, they look the business.

We ended up going with a Bosch. Not vintage-y in the least, but we know it works and is dependable.

 

[Lindabelle]

I love my Miele dishwasher! its so efficient and quiet. I have washed up by hand on and off over my life and have loved the times I have had a dishwasher. We only recently got another dishwasher after years of washing by hand. I really love it because my hubby and I both work full time and have 2 children. I stand all day at work and love not having to wash up half the night after work.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Now, here's the thing that really bugs me. Washing dishes in an automatic washer vs hand washing has so little to do with the balance of a planet, in fact, the only reason there's such a scare about wasting water is from Southern California where here, it is a desert! We pipe our water from other sources since rain fall here isn't very often. I don't wash dishes everyday and I don't take long showers. I also wash my car only once or twice a month. But, in many other states (non desert states) have lots of rain fall! In fact, our planet is comprised mostly of water. Reason California hasn't taken advantage of the Pacific is because a desalinization plant would cost the state lots of money.

In the grand scheme of things, we're going to use recourses no matter what we do, and people will continue to preach that even farts from cows will damage our planet... Frankly, I don't buy into that because it's ridiculous. Global Warming is a multimillion dollar industry; it costs lots of green to be green.

Purely voicing my opinion, however unpopular it may be to some, no one has to take my word for it but, just take a bigger look at it and then it may come to fruition that the whole "save the planet" movement is just one man's way of making a big buck!

I respectfully urge all of us to question the media and authority.