Not a health question

[hka]

Just curious how many of you don't have a dishwasher? I don't have one and hope to have one sometime this year as we're going to look into remodeling our kitchen a bit. My husband does the dishes since I cook. Anyhow, I was just curious if I was the only one or if there were others that also didn't have one. Luckily it's just the two of us. However, sometimes when I make some of the recipes from CL, I have to use A LOT of dishes!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif He's always gracious about it which I very much love about him. I think that's because he appreciates my cooking for him. He's a sweetie! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[lindrusso]

hka - Here's a thread from last year that might help out...
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000002/HTML/20010301-1-001246.html

[KValley]

hka-

I could have written this post!! In 9 yrs of marriage My DH and I have lived in 8 houses, and only 1 had a dishwasher. I do most of the cooking, so he does the majority of dishwashing, but it has become a treasured routine for us- a way to spend quality time together. Entertaining does make this a challenge, but he is terrific about cleaning as I cook and we will stay up until 1 in the morning to wash dinner dishes so we can wake up to a clean kitchen. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I am also an "exuberant" cook and tend to leave quite a wake of dishes/utensils in my meal preparation, but he's patient!

My sentimentality for romantic evenings with our hands in warm, sudsy water goes only so far http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif THe next home we buy, I will insist on a dishwasher, in anticipation of a family and other demands on our time!

Thanks for making me appreciate the finer, less hurried things in life!

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 04-06-2001).]

[hka]

Thanks for your replys lindrusso and KValley. I guess I should check those old threads before posting. I seem to have a knack of asking questions that have already been asked. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by hka:
Thanks for your replys lindrusso and KValley. I guess I should check those old threads before posting. I seem to have a knack of asking questions that have already been asked. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Hey, no problem. Actually, we have so many new members, that asking repeat questions allows them to give their input as well! I like to post the old links so that no one wonders why so many people are not responding (because they already responded to a similar question in the past) and so that you can get even more input. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[funnybone]

I would not be without a DH, but my MIL does not have one. She wouldn't even use mine when she came down to watch the kids while we were away. I had left a few dishes in there (a few cups, glasses), thinking she would add to them and then turn the thing on. Well, she actually took them out and hand washed them. What a psycho!!! LOL

[aggie94]

Originally posted by funnybone:
I would not be without a DH, but my MIL does not have one.

Is DH also short for dishwasher? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[hlao23]

We've lived in an apartment with a dishwasher for a year now. It's sooo much more convinient (sp?). Not very environmentally friendly tho' - we plan on starting to use it as a drying rack only.

(Warning: Rant)
I have not been able to find a dishwashing detergent that has no phosphates - tablets, liqued or powder. Then someone recently referred me to this piece of info: Dishwashers: The biggest source of indoor air pollution may be the dishwasher. US tap water is laced with traces of toxic chemicals, including by-products of water-treatment with chlorine and fluoride. Environmental Science & Technology reports that the hot spray of a dishwasher liberates 96 to 100 percent of the toluene, ethylbenzene, and cyclohexane in the water within minutes and releases it into the surrounding air. Washing machines, showerheads and faucet taps also release toxins in lesser amounts. (The hotter the water, the more toxins are freed.) Chlorine cleansers compound the problem University of Texas researchers warn. Listed in Earth Island Journal Winter 1999-2000 Page 3, Earth Island Journal is published quarterly by the non-profit Earth Island Institute www.earthisland.org (http://www.earthisland.org)

They're just not very earth friendly - not to mention all the water and electricity they use.

[JulieM]

Couldn't you put a water filter in-line to your dishwasher and solve that problem? I live on a boat, so I AM the dishwasher, but we filter our water going into our water tanks. I am especially glad of this because I have read that taking a shower in chlorinated water is really bad, because you not only absorb the chlorine through your open pores but you inhale it in the steam! YUCK!

[funnybone]

Originally posted by aggie94:
Is DH also short for dishwasher? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif


LOL http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I guess he was on the brain when I thought of her. I obviously meant DW! Thanks - you made me laugh.

[Grace]

I just went back and re-read that whole thread. I have since gotten a dishwasher (I didn't know at the time I originally posted that I would be getting a whole new kitchen remodel!) - HURRAY!!! Anyhow, I got a really nice KitchenAid that is as quiet as a mouse. I run it all the time (sometimes 2x a day!) The tag that came with it said it only costs like $48 a YEAR to run, and uses only 5 gals of water (I used to use more than that when I washed them all by hand, cuz I used to wash them under a running faucet instead of filling up the sink with water), so I don't feel badly about running it often.

BUT, my question is, when I re-read the thread, almost everyone said they didn't put their silverware or pots and pans in there. Why not?? I put EVERYTHING in there. And I mean everything. The Gladware, pots and pans, big bowls, even my good knives (there is a special slot for big knives so that don't bang into anything else. I can't imagine what hot water will do to ruin the blade on my knife. I use them to cut chicken, too, so I figured the really hot water would probably sanitize them better than I could do at the sink. Anyway, tell me where I am going wrong! I have to say that my pots and pans come out beautiful (they are non-stick), and don't seem to have been harmed one bit.

Lastly, I LOVE my dishwaser, and I don't think I could ever do without it anymore.

[Beth]

I posted too much about dishwashers already, but I will simply add that one thing I like about the new Kitchenaid dishwasher is that it seems to use a lot less detergent than the old one it replaced, and it uses the same detergent just fine.

[Gina O]

Most places I have lived have had a dishwasher, including my current house. But, we rarely use it since my SO always does the dishes. He prefers to wash them by hand, and I do the drying.

I am glad I have it, it is very convenient for entertaining. Gina

[MPHenderson]

Funny dishwasher-related anecdote...

I was reading with my 6-year-old nephew recently. The story included a scene in which the main character did his chores, including putting dishes in the dishwasher.

My nephew turned to me and asked, "What's a dishwasher?" I was perplexed for a minute when I realized that this child grew up without a dishwasher in his house. Plus the kids watch very little television.

I tried to explain it to him which was kind of difficult (it's a big machine that you put dishes in...).

My nephew spends a lot of time at my house and my folks' house, both of which have dishwashers. But I don't think we've actually run them while he's there. He must have thought these were just odd looking cabinets!

Made me think about cultural expectations and standardized testing...but that's for another bbs! <grin>

[SusanMac]

Julie -- I've always dreamed of living on a boat one day. This might be worth another thread, but I'd love to hear about it (pros/cons/costs/etc) But, mainly...I *cannot* believe you live on a boat *and* subscribe to CL!! I just can't imagine doing all of that chopping, sauteeing and baking on a boat.