Do you use your dishwasher?

[butterfly 17]

I have never used my dishwasher until yesterday. I just never did. Growing up at home, we always had a dishwasher, but we just never used it except to put already washed dishes into, sort of like an expensive dishrack.

So, I started talking to my friend and complaining to her about washing the dishes and she asked me why I don''t use my DW and I was like, I don''t know, why would I?

Then she told me that she always uses it, like 2 times a day or something and it just makes her life so much easier.

She even told me as kids, they used to get yelled at if they put their dirty cups in the sink. They would get scolded for not putting them into the dishwasher right away. I was flabbergasted when she told me this.


Which now makes me think. Does everyone use their dishwasher or do most people wash by hand.

 

[dani13]

I use my d/w almost every other day....I cant believe you have one and you never use it!! They''re wonderful!!!! Crazy woman!!!

 

[luckystar112]

My FI is my dishwasher.

But yes, he uses that machine thing.
hahaha

On a more serious note, I love dishwashers! I just loaded mine! I''ts unloading that I hate.

 

[sumbride]

My DH insists that everything go in the dishwasher. He does not trust handwashing. Doesn''t think anything actually gets clean that way. After he ruined a set of knives, I convinced him to let me handwash knives and I''ve threatened his life if he puts my cast iron skillet in the dishwasher, but almost everything else gets "sanitized". I hate to burst his bubble by saying it may not actually be that clean, but whatever... he does the dishes, I do the specialty items.

We run ours maybe once every other day, sometimes every couple of days, and we usually set it to run when we aren''t home because it is loud. We have a delayed start for up to 6 hours. I did read once that it''s cheaper to run it in the middle of the night because there is less demand for water at that time, but I don''t really believe that.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Yes I do. I do it for all the pioneer women who came before me and washed theirs in the stream. Or for the women who had to carry water to the cabin. Or for those who had to hand pump the water.

I do it for them! It is the only honorable respectful thing to do. You disrespect them every time you pass the opportunity to push that button. So I say, here''s a toast to the new you! A dish washing woman you are no longer. Automated and pampered! Cheers! To the new you!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

We don''t have one in our current appartment but when we did, it was all we used. My FI swears we will not live in another place without one.
Growing up, we did get in trouble if we just left the dishes in the sink, it just made the sink dirty for no reason and left more work for the person running the dishwasher.

 

[Independent Gal]

I would die without my dishwasher. I looooove my dishwasher.

My idea of hell is a kitchen WITHOUT a dishwasher.

So, uh, yeah. I use it.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I use it almost everyday too. I love it plus it is great to sanitize bottles and stuff in.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes and run it almost every day.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 2/5/2008 7:45:14 PM
Author: door knob solitaire
Yes I do. I do it for all the pioneer women who came before me and washed theirs in the stream. Or for the women who had to carry water to the cabin. Or for those who had to hand pump the water.


I do it for them! It is the only honorable respectful thing to do. You disrespect them every time you pass the opportunity to push that button. So I say, here''s a toast to the new you! A dish washing woman you are no longer. Automated and pampered! Cheers! To the new you!

LMAO!! Door Knob Solitaire for President!!!!

 

[FireGoddess]

There are only 2 of us, and DH works so much that most of the time it''s just me, and it would take FOREVER to fill up the dishwasher so usually I don''t bother and just handwash. However, when we have people over, I definitely use the dishwasher instead of washing all that stuff!!

 

[joflier]

I always use mine! I absolutely abhor washing dishes, so if I didn''t have one, I think we''d be using paper plates every night!

 

[ladypirate]

Now that I live in a house that actually HAS a dishwasher, yes I use it. There are exceptions, though--I wash knives by hand, obviously, and cast iron, and anything that''s really big (like the pasta pot) because it takes up so much space. Also, if the dishwasher is already going, I''ll usually wash stuff by hand in the meantime so that I don''t leave dirty dishes in the sink.

 

[laine]

I use mine for everything but pots and pans and the good knives. With only two of us, it takes forever to fill up--we probably only run it once a week. Still, beats handwashing--it uses less water, too!

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 2/5/2008 7:45:14 PM
Author: door knob solitaire
Yes I do. I do it for all the pioneer women who came before me and washed theirs in the stream. Or for the women who had to carry water to the cabin. Or for those who had to hand pump the water.

I do it for them! It is the only honorable respectful thing to do. You disrespect them every time you pass the opportunity to push that button. So I say, here''s a toast to the new you! A dish washing woman you are no longer. Automated and pampered! Cheers! To the new you!

Ha. ha. ha. Thank you, thank you , thank you.

Your posts always crack me up!!

 

[butterfly 17]

Okay, it seems like most everyone uses them if they have them. Gee, where have I been?

So, here are a few more questions. Which detergent do you prefer? Do you rinse the dishes out first, like if you eat spaghetti and know you won''t run the DW for a few hours or even that day, do you still rinse out the dish or just put it in dirty?

I noticed when I ran mine the other day, it went on for 91 minutes. Isn''t that too long for it to be running? How long should it run on average? Should I sanitize or not bother? People with kids, do you use heat dry when you put the nipples in the DW?

What does the setting cookware mean? Is that for pots?

 

[Linda W]

Yes, we use it everyday.

 

[KimberlyH]

My dishes don''t seem clean unless they''ve been run through the dishwasher. I lived in an apt. without a dishwasher before moving to SD and it drove me crazy.

We handwash certain knives and our Calaphon pots, everything else (including our fab dishes from the 1950''s that we inherited from DHs aunt): into the dishwasher they go. We cook most things from scratch, so even though it''s just the two of us we run it every other night, sometimes every night.

Ours runs for 90-101 minutes (DH likes to push the "sanatize" button, it makes him feel better about germs), that time depends on how long it takes to heat up the water.

I rinse the dishes before I put them in, get all the major gunk off.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Date: 2/5/2008 10:21:11 PM
Author: butterfly 17
Okay, it seems like most everyone uses them if they have them. Gee, where have I been?

So, here are a few more questions. Which detergent do you prefer? Do you rinse the dishes out first, like if you eat spaghetti and know you won''t run the DW for a few hours or even that day, do you still rinse out the dish or just put it in dirty?

I noticed when I ran mine the other day, it went on for 91 minutes. Isn''t that too long for it to be running? How long should it run on average? Should I sanitize or not bother? People with kids, do you use heat dry when you put the nipples in the DW?

What does the setting cookware mean? Is that for pots?

All you questions depend on the dishwasher you have.
The one in our old apratment was not very powerful so we always had to rinse dishes first. My parent''s washer could sandblast the finish of cheap dishes on the other hand.
I don''t know how long it usually takes, but I believe older dishwashers do take longer. As for the nipples, it depends on the washer. My parents put one in theres on heat dry when they were taking care of a friend''s little one and the heat actually deformed the nipple.

I don''t know anything about a cookware setting, sorry.

 

[gailrmv]

We do pots and pans and knives by hand, everything else in the DW. I only run it when it''s really full (because we are in a drought) so that''s maybe every 2-3 days. I don''t even pre-rinse, just scrape off things into the trash. I love the dishwasher!

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 2/5/2008 10:21:11 PM
Author: butterfly 17
Okay, it seems like most everyone uses them if they have them. Gee, where have I been?


So, here are a few more questions. Which detergent do you prefer? Do you rinse the dishes out first, like if you eat spaghetti and know you won''t run the DW for a few hours or even that day, do you still rinse out the dish or just put it in dirty?


I noticed when I ran mine the other day, it went on for 91 minutes. Isn''t that too long for it to be running? How long should it run on average? Should I sanitize or not bother? People with kids, do you use heat dry when you put the nipples in the DW?


What does the setting cookware mean? Is that for pots?

We use ours every day/every other day. I hand wash anything metal, except regular flatware. Everything is pre-rinsed, just cause I don''t want the build-up in my DW. My DW runs for just over an hour (with the dry cycle). Mine is old and it''s sanitary function does not work so I can''t tell you anything about that. I always hand wash bottles and nipples. That is to say, I always USED to hand wash. Then I found this little contraption made my Munchkin that has little nipple holders and sets in the top rack. Then I used that occasionally. I still preferred hand washing, though. I know how hot and how much soap and scrubbing is cleaning those things if I''m the one doing it. My cookware setting is labeled Pots and Pans. I don''t know much about it because I don''t put my metal in the DW.

The DW has cut down tremendously on DH and my fights. This was one thing we used to fight about constantly. We both despise washing dishes. He hates it because he never had to growing up, I hate it because I had to every day growing up. We used to take turns. But, then he would let his turn go on and on for a couple days and then throw a fit because I cooked a big meal. The worst was the 3 week stand-off of 2004. It was his turn. period. I ate cereal out of a big cup so I didn''t have to wash any dish. I quit cooking because I had nothing to cook in. Finally, DH did the d*mn dishes. Then, he tried getting his "turn" to mean any time he picked up a wash cloth. Two dishes from breakfast that are both his..."I did my turn!" However, now with the DW, we''re both happy.

Oh, and I like the little Cascade packs. They are a little more expensive that the straight detergeant, but DH has no idea how to put in the proper amount so there''s actually less waste this way.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The gel detergent is much better than powder for your glasses and nonstick pans. Yes, I rinse before putting things in there. Number one, I don't want a bunch of gunk swishing around in there when it is washing, and also, we don't run ours until it is full, which might be every two days. I wouldn't want food to get hardened on there that long.

Glad you finally discovered your DW!!!

(Oh, and I try to avoid the hot drying cycle just to save energy and to avoid cooking plasticware!)

 

[pennquaker09]

OMG, I''d die without a dishwasher. Even though it''s just the two of us most of the time, I probably load one of ours every other day or so. We have Dish Drawers so it''s more efficient for us.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

My dishwasher gets used every day (family of 4). Ususally I handwash pots & pans, but all else ends up in the D/W. I read that hand washing dishes uses more water than the DW.

ETA - I use Trader Joes or other natural detergents like Seventh Generation. All dishes are rinsed then put in the machine. I also turn it off when it hits the dry cycle so the dishes can air dry.

 

[monarch64]

Butterfly, like you I grew up in a household with a dishwasher that was never used. My mother just didn''t think it got the dishes as clean as her handwashing did, plus she always had me dry the dishes as she was washing, which was definitely not my favorite chore. She got a brand new dishwasher a few years ago and still doesn''t use it, she says it makes a funny noise. So instead of getting it fixed or getting another new one, she still washes everything by hand. Since I moved out when I was 18, every apartment I''ve ever lived in (minus freshman year in the dorms) has had a dishwasher and I refuse to live without one.

 

[doxielover]

We handwash everything...and then run it through the dishwasher

 

[matildawong]

I''m a little late, but I have to say... I just love you Door Knob Solitaire.

I also loved Something Shiny''s depiction of the great stand-off of 2004.


We have a dishwasher and I love it. My bf will actually unload it on occasion. Way more often than he would say, hand wash a dish.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Heres a kiss back at you fleur-de lis, butterfly and Matilda...

are you all button pushers too?

And I agree...somethingshiny...you are a stubborn one! Was there any conversation between the two of you during the great standoff? Just curious what was your plan...how much longer were you willing to support your point? (yeah that bottom dish has been there since 2004...well grandkids...you must know that this year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the great dish washing standoff...insert music from the good the bad and the ugly ~ da da da da na...wa wa wa.

)

I like your strategy...he knows you mean business! I will file that one for future reference.

 

[asscherisme]

Oh... I love my dishwasher!

Its just me and my 4 kids at home now and its BROKEN. Sears can''t come until next week and its torture not having it. one adult and 4 kids can create a LOT of dishes!

 

[appletini]

Butterfly...where have you been?

I pre-risne everything before it goes in, so it looks clean, but larger items I like to actually hand wash so they dont take up so much space. DH just puts everything in there and he doesn''t rinse as well as I do so sometimes I have to wash stuff twice.

However our dishwasher is so quiet, I have to press my ear to it to hear if it is running. I use cascade gel, I used a powder forever but my glasses were always so spotty so I did a little research and saw that gel is better, and I add some jet dry. Also try to avoid ones with citrus/lemon scents because they can spot your stainless.