Dishwashers -- I HATE them

[Fanatical Meat]

If anyone cares, I did find a nice scratch-and-dent one at the local Sears Outlet. $900 dishwasher for $400. Small scuff on the handle which you can't even notice.
That being said, I have to say this dishwasher kicks some serious ass. I don't know how or why, but the dishes feel/seem "cleaner" than ever before. For some reason though, the cycles are like 3hrs long. that's sort of annoying. In a house with 2 teenagers (not to mention my own eating habits), by the time 1 load is done, we have enough dishes for another load.

I have to pull it out though and reinstall. It's leaning forward quite a bit I've constantly had issues getting dishwashers level in that space.

What brand/model?

 

[Kaido]

I bought a dishwasher many years ago, an expensive one. I also took the 5 year extended warranty. I have not paid for one since. They never seem to last 5 years, doing every second to third day duty cycle. They send out a tech, he says it is toast, they cut me a credit, I buy another with a 5 year warranty. The features and style of the last one are available on a significantly less expensive newer model. Thus, I get a similar or better dishwasher for less money than the last, allowing me to invest the rest in the extended warranty. The last one from asurion through Home Depot left me with a better dishwasher+5yr warranty+$21 left to spend.

Yeah, I got a nice dishwasher from Home Depot last year with the 5-year extended warranty. I buy warranties on very few things, but dishwashers are so cheap these days (even on pricey ones) that it's worth getting.

 

[Kaido]

You must live alone. They are quite useful when you have a family and cook the vast majority of the meals you eat.

Eh, it depends. I've gotten in the habit of at least rinsing off the dishes so it doesn't clog up my dishwasher, and that's halfway to cleaning them, so I usually just end up spending the time to throw some soap on them. One of my problems with a dishwasher is that I really need two dishwashers for how I cook (Instant Pot bowl, large mixing bowls, etc.), so I end up doing the dishes manually a lot & just lay them out to dry on the counter on a large bath towel. On a tangent, we've adopted three rules in the kitchen:

1. Clean as you go
2. Clean up after yourself
3. If you see a mess, clean it up (even if you didn't make it)

I am very messy in the kitchen & it was really hard to adopt the "clean as you go" habit, but as soon as I finish using something while doing food prep, like say a mixing bowl when making pancakes, I at least rinse it out with hot water using the sprayer in the sink so the batter doesn't get caked on. Then when I'm wrapped up or have a minute between batches or whatever, I do the "clean up after yourself" rule, where I just soap it up with a sponge, rinse it off, and put it on the towel to dry. The third rule is for when somebody forgets or we have a guest, which is every time anyone walks into the kitchen & there are any kind of dishes out, they at least get put in the dishwasher immediately. Very small habits, but they really changed how approachable the kitchen was because I grew up with it constantly overflowing with dirty dishes & having unusable counters, so having a clean kitchen all the time is like a breath of fresh air & is really a night & day difference in terms of physical & mental usability.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Eh, it depends. I've gotten in the habit of at least rinsing off the dishes so it doesn't clog up my dishwasher, and that's halfway to cleaning them, so I usually just end up spending the time to throw some soap on them. One of my problems with a dishwasher is that I really need two dishwashers for how I cook (Instant Pot bowl, large mixing bowls, etc.), so I end up doing the dishes manually a lot & just lay them out to dry on the counter on a large bath towel. On a tangent, we've adopted three rules in the kitchen:

1. Clean as you go
2. Clean up after yourself
3. If you see a mess, clean it up (even if you didn't make it)

I am very messy in the kitchen & it was really hard to adopt the "clean as you go" habit, but as soon as I finish using something while doing food prep, like say a mixing bowl when making pancakes, I at least rinse it out with hot water using the sprayer in the sink so the batter doesn't get caked on. Then when I'm wrapped up or have a minute between batches or whatever, I do the "clean up after yourself" rule, where I just soap it up with a sponge, rinse it off, and put it on the towel to dry. The third rule is for when somebody forgets or we have a guest, which is every time anyone walks into the kitchen & there are any kind of dishes out, they at least get put in the dishwasher immediately. Very small habits, but they really changed how approachable the kitchen was because I grew up with it constantly overflowing with dirty dishes & having unusable counters, so having a clean kitchen all the time is like a breath of fresh air & is really a night & day difference in terms of physical & mental usability.

Maybe a dish sanitizer would fit you better. The few I have seen you can load a crap ton of stuff in them. They only do light cleaning but it sounds like what you put in you washer is pretty clean. The run time on sanitizers is pretty quick.

 

[Kaido]

Maybe a dish sanitizer would fit you better. The few I have seen you can load a crap ton of stuff in them. They only do light cleaning but it sounds like what you put in you washer is pretty clean. The run time on sanitizers is pretty quick.

Yeah I used to use one at the pizza shop, that thing was a beast haha. So quick too! They make ventless commercial dishwashers now too, if you have the bucks: (~$18k)

 

[mizzou]

whats the hate with dishwashers? It will clean, sanitize, and dry a variety of objects not just including dishes. Just don't put crap in it that will clog the filter like bits of carrot.

 

[Ichinisan]

whats the hate with dishwashers? It will clean, sanitize, and dry a variety of objects not just including dishes. Just don't put crap in it that will clog the filter like bits of carrot.

Jump to 2 minutes 12 seconds.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-okl6e_Suk#t=2m12s

 

[dank69]

I live with 3 other people. 2 of them keep leaving dishes in the sink that are covered with food or full of liquid (milky coffee, etc). They don't seem to realize how much easier it would be to deal with those later if you immediately pour-out the liquids and rinse-off the solids before you leave them in the sink for hours.

Nope. Wait for everything to get slimy or rock hard. Thoroughly soil everything else that goes in the sink after. Ugh!

You know what? Even though they make it so much more work than necessary, they know dishwasher machines are a waste of time. They just don't get stuff clean.

What kind of ancient dishwasher are you using? Modern dishwashers will get just about anything off and sanitize as well...

 

[dank69]

Jump to 2 minutes 12 seconds.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-okl6e_Suk#t=2m12s

I skipped to 2 minutes...again, get a modern dishwasher. I watched a few more after that. The guy is a moron. Those airblade dryers are fast. While I don't own a selfie stick, I'd rather use one of those than rely on some retarded stranger to take a picture of us. The guy is ranting for the sake of ranting.

 

[mizzou]

lol Ill admit i wont put pots &pansin a dishwasher....but just the sake of loading it with used cups and plates saves me a ton of time

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I skipped to 2 minutes...again, get a modern dishwasher. I watched a few more after that. The guy is a moron. Those airblade dryers are fast. While I don't own a selfie stick, if rather use one of those than rely on some retarded stranger to take a picture of us. The guy is ranting for the sake of ranting.

How to tell it's a millennial: Defends selfie sticks.

 

[dank69]

How to tell it's a millennial: Defends selfie sticks.

How to tell it's a retard: likes blurry pictures of his family.

 

[NutBucket]

What ever happened to tripods?

 

[Ichinisan]

I skipped to 2 minutes...again, get a modern dishwasher. I watched a few more after that. The guy is a moron. Those airblade dryers are fast. While I don't own a selfie stick, I'd rather use one of those than rely on some retarded stranger to take a picture of us. The guy is ranting for the sake of ranting.

Those air blade dryers are meant for people with tiny hands. My fingertips touch the bottom before the air gets past my palms. Sooooo stupid!

 

[Ichinisan]

... The guy is ranting for the sake of ranting.

Yeah. It's Maddox.

 

[snoopy7548]

Jump to 2 minutes 12 seconds.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-okl6e_Suk#t=2m12s

If you need to scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, you're doing it wrong. Let them soak in the sink, or give them a quick rinse before food gets stuck to it. And you should be finishing your meal, not leaving crap on the plate.

 

[Ichinisan]

If you need to scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, you're doing it wrong. Let them soak in the sink, or give them a quick rinse before food gets stuck to it. And you should be finishing your meal, not leaving crap on the plate.

If the sprayers are below the bottom rack and the bottom rack is loaded, how do the items on the top rack get sprayed? They don't. Ignorance is bliss...

 

[Pick2]

I love My Dishwasher ! She Also cooks and cleans up around the house !

 

[mindless1]

If the sprayers are below the bottom rack and the bottom rack is loaded, how do the items on the top rack get sprayed? They don't. Ignorance is bliss...

Huh? How many dishwashers have you looked at? The ancient one I replaced had a top spinner arm/sprayer as does my newer, now aging one. Neither were premium models, bottom and top sprayer is a fairly common feature or at least was the last time I checked.

Granted, yes a little bit of thought goes into how you load a dishwasher for best results. Pots and pans I wash by hand, so bottom dishwasher rack gets filled with plates and large bowls at the ends of each row if I have any to wash.

Part of the reason I wash pots and pans by hand is that I often use multiples of them per meal, have favorites I use often, and don't run the dishwasher every day. Besides I'm already going to be drawing a tub of soapy water to wash things not dishwasher safe or that come out degraded like knife edges or bare aluminum.

 

[mizzou]

the airblade dryers are the worst invention known to man. I absolutely refuse to put my hands in there.

 

[CZroe]

... The guy is ranting for the sake of ranting.

He’s still right.

If you need to scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, you're doing it wrong. Let them soak in the sink, or give them a quick rinse before food gets stuck to it. And you should be finishing your meal, not leaving crap on the plate.

LOL! If you do that you might as well wisk a soapy washrag over it while you’re at it and be done with it. FAR less effort and faster than loading the dishwasher, adding cleaners, waiting for it to finish, and unloading it... and MUCH cheaper to boot. I don’t just mean in detergents and such: Using heat to dry your dishes is obscenely inefficient and your time spent in he process should be more valuable. Damp dishes left in the dish rack can be used right out of the dish rack without waiting for them to dry and it saves you the trouble of even having to put it away.

So many reasons not to lock your dishes away inside an appliance for an hour. It really is I’ll-conceived.

 

[snoopy7548]

LOL! If you do that you might as well wisk a soapy washrag over it while you’re at it and be done with it. FAR less effort and faster than loading the dishwasher, adding cleaners, waiting for it to finish, and unloading it... and MUCH cheaper to boot. I don’t just mean in detergents and such: Using heat to dry your dishes is obscenely inefficient and your time spent in he process should be more valuable. Damp dishes left in the dish rack can be used right out of the dish rack without waiting for them to dry and it saves you the trouble of even having to put it away.

So many reasons not to lock your dishes away inside an appliance for an hour. It really is I’ll-conceived.

Idk man, you just have to get the dishes "clean enough" before putting them in the dishwasher, which is less effort than actually washing them by hand with a sponge and soap. I also get really dry hands in the winter so being able to skip hand washing is a definite plus for me; I just rinse dishes with the sprayer thing next to my faucet for a few seconds and throw them in the dishwasher.

I always load up the dishwasher throughout the week (I'm a single guy) and start it around 11p.m. on Saturday, and they're nice and dry by the time I wake up Sunday morning.

 

[CZroe]

Idk man, you just have to get the dishes "clean enough" before putting them in the dishwasher, which is less effort than actually washing them by hand with a sponge and soap. I also get really dry hands in the winter so being able to skip hand washing is a definite plus for me; I just rinse dishes with the sprayer thing next to my faucet for a few seconds and throw them in the dishwasher.

I always load up the dishwasher throughout the week (I'm a single guy) and start it around 11p.m. on Saturday, and they're nice and dry by the time I wake up Sunday morning.

When the difference in effort between “clean” and “clean enough” for the dishwasher is that small then it makes the time and resources spent on the dishwasher even more disproportionate. Also, you’ll end up needing to wash your hands almost anytime you handle dirty dishes anyway. Washing your hands once for a sink full of dishes isn’t really a deal-breaker.

Dishes are typically considered sanitary after removing bacterial food sources then going through a wet and dry cycle with heat. Though they also make antibacterial detergents, most detergents simply cut grease so that it can be rinsed away. For dishes soiled with water-soluble food/drink, rinsing with hot water and drying is all that is really necessary (a cup of soda, for example). This means that many of your dishes can safely go straight to the dish rack after you rinse, saving you even more effort. Used that knife to open a bag of flour? Rinse it with hot water and drop it right in the dish rack. Used that spoon to measure vinegar? You know what to do. Diced up a green pepper on that cutting board? Same deal.

Unless you run a restaurant, dishwashers are a scam.

 

[NetWareHead]

When the difference in effort between “clean” and “clean enough” for the dishwasher is that small then it makes the time and resources spent on the dishwasher even more disproportionate. Also, you’ll end up needing to wash your hands almost anytime you handle dirty dishes anyway. Washing your hands once for a sink full of dishes isn’t really a deal-breaker.

I disagree. If I were to put dishes in the dw immediately after eating, they would not come out clean. Or I would have to use 2 soap servings or run the extended cleaning cycle where it washes dishes for 4.5 hours. Thats a huge waste of hot water and energy. I also subscribe to the "clean enough" theory. I typically will fill the sink with an inch of hot water and use a sponge to knock off the dried bits and any remnant food. No soap, just some hot water. 5 seconds per plate is a minimal chore afaic and I load up the dw as I go. I pre-wash all the dishes this way. The dishes are still greasy but will be successfully washed by the dw. Then I use the minimal amount of soap and run the economy cycle. Thats a 29 minute cycle and they are done and clean. I also dont use the drying option. There is enough residual heat in the DW where they are dry by the next morning.

Dishes are typically considered sanitary after removing bacterial food sources then going through a wet and dry cycle with heat. Though they also make antibacterial detergents, most detergents simply cut grease so that it can be rinsed away. For dishes soiled with water-soluble food/drink, rinsing with hot water and drying is all that is really necessary (a cup of soda, for example). This means that many of your dishes can safely go straight to the dish rack after you rinse, saving you even more effort. Used that knife to open a bag of flour? Rinse it with hot water and drop it right in the dish rack. Used that spoon to measure vinegar? You know what to do. Diced up a green pepper on that cutting board? Same deal.

Unless you run a restaurant, dishwashers are a scam.

I also do what you do and most items that are not greasy just get a rinse and placed on the dish rack to dry. You're right though. How would a knife used to cut open a bag of flour get dirty? Rinse and put away. Vinegar is practically a soap in of itself and can be rinsed off too.

 

[CZroe]

I disagree. If I were to put dishes in the dw immediately after eating, they would not come out clean. Or I would have to use 2 soap servings or run the extended cleaning cycle where it washes dishes for 4.5 hours. Thats a huge waste of hot water and energy. I also subscribe to the "clean enough" theory. I typically will fill the sink with an inch of hot water and use a sponge to knock off the dried bits and any remnant food. No soap, just some hot water. 5 seconds per plate is a minimal chore afaic and I load up the dw as I go. I pre-wash all the dishes this way. The dishes are still greasy but will be successfully washed by the dw. Then I use the minimal amount of soap and run the economy cycle. Thats a 29 minute cycle and they are done and clean. I also dont use the drying option. There is enough residual heat in the DW where they are dry by the next morning.



I also do what you do and most items that are not greasy just get a rinse and placed on the dish rack to dry. You're right though. How would a knife used to cut open a bag of flour get dirty? Rinse and put away. Vinegar is practically a soap in of itself and can be rinsed off too.

You say that you disagreed but then you go on to make the same point I do: You can’t just put the dishes directly in the dishwasher and you are going to have to do nine-tenths of the work it takes to hand wash anyway.

Sponges are actually considered very unsanitary because they don’t dry completely between uses and they harbor fungi and bacteria with the food and water they need. A dish that was safe to use for a second serving becomes unsafe as soon as you touch it with a sponge... unless you just opened a fresh one or something.

Yes, you can spend 5 seconds per plate... and then several minutes of loading, unloading, and resupplying the dishwasher (adding detergent, adding JetDry or whatever, making mode selections, plus cumulative time for adding dishes, etc). Alternatively, you can spend 6 or 7 seconds per plate and put them straight into the dish rack. No contest: Dish rack wins. Using a soapy washcloth instead of a sponge adds no significant time. Heck, use running water as opposed to standing water to save even more time. If you’re fast and control the flow it shouldn’t waste more water for a typical sink-full of dishes.

Another concern: Putting greasy dishes in the water together with other dishes without soap gets grease on both sides (as does stacking them). Grease floats and the surface film will contaminate all sides of anything that goes into the water. Dishwashers rely on heat even more to sterilize and cannot clean all sides of a dish. That’s why it’s even more important to hand-wash a stack of greasy pots, pans, and dishes. If you degrease/soap all sides then there’s no reason to put it in the dishwasher: just spend a couple more seconds to finish rinsing with hot water and put it in the dish rack to dry. Even the most rushed job will be more thorough than the dishwasher.