Washing dishes is a part of our everyday life, we constantly use various dishes and tools during cooking, as well as when consuming food and drinks.
If you’ve ever faced an overcrowded sink, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s a good idea to invest in a dishwasher. This question was also a big dilemma for me, so I want to help those considering buying a dishwasher with this article.
In short, yes, it is worth to buy a dishwasher, for the following reasons: • You save time by using a dishwasher, since less time is needed to load the dishes into the machine and take out the clean ones than you would spend washing them by hand. This is especially important if you have a family and cook every day. • The availability of a dishwasher can motivate you to cook more often, as you don't have to worry about dishes piling up. • Since dishwashers save water, the money you invest in the purchase pays off in the long run. Modern dishwashers are environmentally friendly and can also reduce your water bill. • The dishwasher uses water at a high temperature, which your hands cannot handle when washing dishes by hand. It effectively washes and disinfects dishes with hot water and disinfectant detergent.
What are the advantages of a dishwasher?
The preparation and consumption of food and beverages is a part of everyday life, and with this, dishwashing becomes necessary. A dishwasher makes cleaning our dishes much easier and faster.
1. Using a dishwasher helps you save precious time
For all of us who work and are busy, it is important to do the housework as quickly and simply as possible and spend more time on the things that are important to us.
Time is a very important factor in our lives. It is therefore very important to spend as much of it as possible with the people and things that matter in our lives. As long as you are single, it may not take much time to wash the dishes. Especially if you rarely cook and prefer to eat out.
However, if you cook every day or take care of a large family, washing dishes takes too much time. My family has five members and the dishwasher has become a great time saver for me, it makes a difference.
You may also wish to read how often people wash dishes on average.
With modern dishwashers, it is no longer necessary to pre-wash the dishes, as was the case with some old models. It is enough to scrape off the chunks to prevent clogging of the machine.
2. The dishwasher makes the process of food preparation easier
Cooking inevitably involves washing the utensils and dishes used during cooking. This can be a lot of extra work if you prepare several courses or cook for many people.
The fact that washing the dishes is no longer an extra chore makes me much more motivated to cook. Homemade food made from quality ingredients is also the healthiest choice.
Freed from the problem of an overcrowded sink, cooking goes much more smoothly and I enjoy it much more. The kitchen, especially around the sink, has been tidier since I switched to the dishwasher.
3. Using a dishwasher saves water, electricity, and thus money
Many people decide not to buy a dishwasher because they think it is too expensive. However, if you think about it and do the math, you will see that the cost invested in a high-quality dishwasher pays off during use.
Most of the newer dishwashers are water-saving, especially the Energy Star class. Low water use is important to me not only because it lowers my bill, but also because water is an important and valuable part of our environment and I believe that we are responsible for its reasonable use.
If we wash the dishes by hand, we still use some energy source to heat the water. This is mostly electricity or gas. The dishwasher heats the water with electricity or can be hooked up to the hot water line.
The energy consumption of dishwashers varies depending on the model and selected washing cycle. According to finish.co.uk, a dishwasher uses between 1,2 and 2,4 kW of electricity, with an average of 1,8 kW per cycle.
4. The high-temperature water used by the dishwasher cleans and disinfects more thoroughly
The water temperature used by dishwashers is higher than what our skin can tolerate when washing dishes by hand. The high temperature is necessary for proper degreasing, but it is also effective against microorganisms.
In addition to high-temperature water, the cleaning of dishes is also affected by the quality of the detergent used and the hardness of the water.
Recommended dishwashers for home use
You can choose from full-size or countertop dishwashers, depending on how much space you have and how much capacity you need.
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1. Freestanding, full-size dishwashers
Russell Hobbs RHDW3B-M Freestanding Full-Size Dishwasher
Great value for a great price.
- The advantage of this Russell Hobbs dishwasher is that it has a large capacity. At the end of the cycle, its door automatically opens slightly, which helps the dishes to dry and cool down perfectly.
- With A++ energy efficiency, it consumes 82 kilowatt hours per 100 cycles.
- Available colors: black or stainless steel.
- The noise level of the machine is 49 decibels, which makes it one of the quieter types.
- If you register the product, you will receive a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Electrolux Freestanding Dishwasher – A-FS5534low (Energy Class A++)
- Energy Class A++, with an annual energy consumption of 262 Kilowatt Hours.
- With 47 decibels, it is not too noisy.
2. Countertop (portable) dishwashers
Ideal for small apartments, campers, and trailers.
Bosch Freestanding Compact Dishwasher with 6 place settings
This space-saving, countertop dishwasher cleans just as effectively as full-size machines.
COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher
- This countertop dishwasher may be small in size, but it can do everything the big ones do.
- Since it doesn’t need to be connected to a plumbing system, it can be placed anywhere. It is equipped with a manually refillable 6-liter water tank, but you can also connect it to the water tap.
- It uses 174 kWh of energy per year.
- With 47 decibels this machine is not too noisy.
What are the most common concerns when it comes to buying a dishwasher?
Lack of space
If your kitchen is small, you may be reluctant to sacrifice valuable space, mostly used for storage, to install a dishwasher. Fortunately, there are also space-saving, slim, or countertop dishwashers.
I decided to install the dishwasher, which meant the loss of a kitchen cabinet element, which I was able to solve with some reasonable reorganization.
A small, portable dishwasher can also be a good solution for you if you rent the apartment because you simply take it with you when you move.
The need for kitchen reconstruction
Another concern you may have regarding the installation of the dishwasher is that the existing plumbing will have to be modified, which also means costs.
A kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, on the other hand, will increase the value of your house or apartment if you ever decide to sell it. In the meantime, it will make food preparation easier for you.
The items are not shiny after machine washing
Dishes are not always nice and shiny after machine washing, sometimes they turn out cloudy.
Using less detergent or trying a new one may help with this.
I have dishes that are not dishwasher-safe
What about kitchen equipment that is not dishwasher safe, such as silverware, thin plastics, aluminum, cast iron, or non-stick pans? Those items still need to be washed manually.
Final thoughts
So, a dishwasher is of great help in doing housework, for the following reasons:
- you save valuable time, which you can spend with really important people and activities,
- you use less water and electricity and thus save money,
- the dishwasher works at a high temperature, which cleans and disinfects the dishes more thoroughly than washing by hand.
These are all good reasons to get a dishwasher. The dishwasher, which was once considered a luxury, has now become basic equipment, and it is hard to imagine everyday kitchen work without it.