dishwasher vs. the old fashioned way

**Hannahs mom** · 02-05-2008, 11:36 AM

Anyone know which one is more frugal???

**stinkbug** · 02-05-2008, 12:04 PM

I think it depends on your DW and your water rates. My DW (Bosch) only uses 3-6 gallons of water and gets my dishes spotless and sanitized. Frugal enough for me! Since it's only dh and me, I only run it every other day or so.....having to wash small amounts of dishes constantly would be more wasteful, and no way would I leave two days worth of dirty dishes in my sink to do all at once.

**PrairieRose** · 02-05-2008, 12:05 PM

I've read on numerous sights that it's more frugal to run a full dishwasher than to wash by hand. Convinced me

**StaceyS** · 02-05-2008, 12:07 PM

Starting on my next billing cycle, I am going to hand wash and then use my dw's "rinse only" cycle for the month and see what that does. I don't have to pay for water, just the gas & elect to use the dw. I don't know if it will do any good, but I'm curious.

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-05-2008, 12:16 PM

Most sites say it's more efficient to use a dishwasher, but it really depends on your machine and your electric/water rates - also those comparisons assume that you don't rinse anything before putting in the dishwasher, and that you have a relatively new machine.

I have an old machine that does not work in the energy saving setting. I don't have high water rates, my hot water is heated by gas. It is cheaper for me to do dishes by hand.

**sweetlittle** · 02-05-2008, 04:01 PM

We use so many dishes per day that a dishwasher wouldn't be able to keep up. Dumb question maybe, but don't you still have to wash the pots and pans by hand???

**StaceyS** · 02-05-2008, 04:07 PM

sweetlittle - I was always taught to wash the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. At DBF's house they don't even rinse them and when DBF's 16 y.o. DD puts the dishes away she doesn't "see" that the dishes are still caked with crud! Ugh! I think there are dishwashers out there (that have garbage disposals hooked to them) that will wash your dishes enough, but I've never had one.

**Neeley** · 02-05-2008, 04:26 PM

We wash every dish, pot, pan, glass, etc... in the dishwasher. We *may* lightly rinse off most dishes before loading them up and they always come out perfectly clean.

We run two to three full loads per day so doing them by hand would be way too time consuming. To me, time is money so I see my dishwasher as a time and money saver.

**Hannahs mom** · 02-05-2008, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by StaceyS

sweetlittle - I was always taught to wash the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. At DBF's house they don't even rinse them and when DBF's 16 y.o. DD puts the dishes away she doesn't "see" that the dishes are still caked with crud! Ugh! I think there are dishwashers out there (that have garbage disposals hooked to them) that will wash your dishes enough, but I've never had one.

I NEVER rinse my dishes and 99% of the time don't need to re-wash (maybe a crock pot or skillet) so I must have a great DW

It's a Whirlpool portable.

For time's sake, I think I'm going to continue to use it and then start handwashing on spring and summer breaks.

**Hannahs mom** · 02-05-2008, 06:16 PM

Hey - how did that smiley get there???!!! I swear I didn't add it! Wow . . . I'm talented!!!

**ladykemma2** · 02-05-2008, 07:04 PM

i rarely use the dishwasher but when i do i scrape the plates and throw 'em in. it has a disposer in the bottom of it. rarely get a reject.

i have never understood the concept of washing the dishes twice. Weren't they clean after the handwash?

**annymoll** · 02-05-2008, 07:18 PM

We do not use many dishes in a regular day. It would take several days before the dishwasher is full enough to run. I will not let dishes sit in there and build up. I just do them by hand.I do not know what is cheaper.( Dishwasher is handy for the holidays or when we have company though.)

**momtoadiva** · 02-05-2008, 08:24 PM

I loooove my dw it's a Whirlpool and I will swear by the brand. I think you ladies are on target about how effecient and how well your dw does it's job. Only when dbf is in do we run it everyday other wise it's just me and the kiddo's even with cooking everyday I still only run it every other day to every third day. I get the big stuff off and put in in the dw let it do the work. One feature I love about my dw is it has a delay so that I may run it at anytime, either while I'm a work or in the middle of the night when supposably the enery rates are the cheapest.

**PrairieRose** · 02-07-2008, 09:24 AM

Gripey and I don't use that many dishes in a week either. We load them daily in the dw, don't rinse except for eggs (which is the only thing that won't come off in the washer) and then run it at night while we're sleeping. We never hear the thing (it's a new KA that we just put in not long ago). Doesn't bother me a bit for the dishes to sit in the dw b/c I have loads of plates, cups, glasses and silver ware. I never run it until it's full and use 1/2 homemade dw soap (there's a recipe on here somewhere you can do a search for it) and 1/2 liquid Cascade, plus some vinegar in the rinse agent dispenser.