revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Sorry if I'm turning this into Mumsnet, but I'm not one so I'm scared to go join them !!!


Anyway, I have a dishwasher in the new place for the first time ever. I've used them in the chalets, but that was for 10+ people and made sense; rinse crockery and fill up the dishwasher, turn on and in the morning all clean and ready for another day. (usually did the same after breakfast as well !)

Here, I'm cooking for one - and mostly still making a huge salad to last a few days. So there's not a lot of washing up. I feel I have to rinse the crockery quite well as it might sit in the machine for a few days.

Question is, is this really economical? A mate said that it would use loads less water doing it like I've said above, but I feel like I'm washing everything twice, no??

So, keep filling up the machine and turn it on every 4 ish days (some times 5 sometimes 3) or just wash up by hand unless I'm having a baking/cooking day and know I'll fill it up ??



Soooo much new stuff to learn in a 'real' home !!!

If I can join Mumsnet, so can you.

Doesn’t matter if it’s “economical” or not. None of wants to leave dishes dirty in the machine for four or more days. It’ll smell bad.

And if you’re pre-rinsing them so well that they won’t smell, you’ve got them clean.

That's kinda what I thought. I'll stick to mostly by hand then and only the machine if I have enough to fill it

As for Mumsnet - can't imagine why a forum full of women doesn't scare you but it scares the shit outta me !!!

They’re useful on subjects such as law and investments.

Enough of them are, anyway.

Now that it's just the two of us in our house,the dishwasher doesn't get as much action as it used to. Still very handy when folks come around,or at special occasions when there's more stuff to wash.

I don't think I'd bother with one if I lived alone.

They make good parts washers!

I use mine, typically takes 3-4 days to fill it before I set it going. I don’t bother rinsing before I put stuff in and only hand wash what can’t go tor I won’t put in it (chef’s knives, anything non-stick, aluminium, carbon steel, or cast iron and baking trays etc). 99%+ of stuff comes out clean first time of washing.

I’m fortunate enough to have sufficient crockery & cutlery etc to never fear running out before having to pull something out of the dishwasher and have to hand wash it to use straight away.

Taipan wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:38 pm They make good parts washers!

They also make good toffee and skittles vodka and I’m sure there are recipes for poaching whole salmon out there as well.

Skub wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:05 pm Now that it's just the two of us in our house,the dishwasher doesn't get as much action as it used to. Still very handy when folks come around,or at special occasions when there's more stuff to wash.

I don't think I'd bother with one if I lived alone.

TBF it's not something I'd ever planned to have in a kitchen - but this is a rental and it's already here !!

I suspect it will get used, from now on, only if I've had a serious cooking/Baking day or if I have friends round (although that probably won't happen too often !! Gotta get brave and invite some French round )

Silly Car wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 5:21 pm

Taipan wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:38 pm They make good parts washers!

They also make good toffee and skittles vodka and I’m sure there are recipes for poaching whole salmon out there as well.

Not tried to make Skittles Vodka but over here we have a toffee syrup that makes a WAYYYYY better Toffee Vodka than melting Werthers Originals !!! (Will try and remember to bring some over next time to post to you !!)

Nope, bleedin' hate 'em, funny smell (yes you get the same smell with a new or recently cleaned one) and squeaky crockery.

MrLongbeard wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 7:33 pm Nope, bleedin' hate 'em, funny smell (yes you get the same smell with a new or recently cleaned one) and squeaky crockery.

Personal preference is important!

I use mine everyday regardless of how much is in there, worse case every 2 days. No rinse, straight in. I cook every night, I have tea and coffee stuff, and lunch stuff if ive been working from home.

My last house I worked out the dishwasher used 7 litres of water which is less than running the tap to get hot water to wash up, and energy cost was slightly less. Once you add in the convenience its a no brainer.

The one here has sat unused since I moved in 13 years ago.

Waste of space and energy, IMHO. See also tumble driers.

Had one at the previous house and used it whenever we were feeding extra people. There was one in this place when we moved in (18 years ago). Probably used it 12 times.

We don't even waste time and water running the hot tap, just boil a kettle (and use a plastic bowl in the sink) and, pretty much, wash as we go ie don't let it all stack up during the day then have to do it all.

Just a lifestyle thing and easier to do stuff like that ^^^ when you're in 'leisure mode'.

Only two of use and it gets used once a week. Rince the plate before sticking in the dishwasher and it will not stink. Obviously you will still be washing other things daily like your pans and favourite mug but it works for us

I live mainly by myself and wouldn't be without mine.

I do give anything which looks like it might it benefit from it a quick rinse before going in.

I put almost everything in it. Pans and trays etc. I leave out an antique carving set and a few modern items which are not recommended for dishwashing, mainly fancy knives and some plastics IIRC.

FWIW my plates are mismatched and that makes stacking it less efficient as I have to leave bigger gaps.

I think I rarely leave it two days without running it.

I have a feeling I worked out what it cost to run and it was something like 35p a time. So running every two days would be about fifty quid a year.

Depends on how long it will take you to fill it up. Storing dirty washing up in a metal box in the kitchen is a great place to grow bacteria and it's going get very smelly. I've always washing up by hand as I've gone along and only used a dishwasher when all the family were at home.

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 8:46 pm, IMHO. See also tumble driers.

If it's pouring down outside, how do dry washing? [Particularly thicker stuff, like towels]

Horse wrote: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:20 am

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 8:46 pm, IMHO. See also tumble driers.

If it's pouring down outside, how do dry washing? [Particularly thicker stuff, like towels]

The chap that specced our previous house had the right idea - he put a smallish room in the middle and it doubled as his darkroom and washroom. Double sink and drainer + washing machine and one of those racks that lower from the ceiling. The place had warm air heating and the rack was over a heating register/ventilation. We never had/needed a tumble dryer.

Perfect utility room.

PS Most of our ancestors managed without tumble dryers. I remember the 'clothes horse' being a regular feature. (Wouldn't be without our TD in this house though).