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28304283409234yesterday at 3:37 PM4 repliesview on HN

I'm fully convinced that dishwashers are a hoax. Doing the dishes manually is far more efficient, both in water used, energy and time spent. Things to consider: time spent determining if the item is dishwasher proof, time spent playing dishwasher tetris, time spent filling and emptying, time pre-cleaning before putting things in the dishwasher, time spent re-washing after it turns out that the dishwasher did not clean your as well as it advertised on the box.

I can do the dishes after a family meal just as fast, and with better and more consistent results en less water, than when using the dishwasher.


Replies

bgbntty2yesterday at 3:54 PM

> time spent determining if the item is dishwasher proof

It's done once per item. In my case I have just a few things I know are not dishwasher proof.

> time spent playing dishwasher tetris

Get a bigger dishwasher.

> time spent filling and emptying

The same time you'd spend putting things in the sink and taking them out after you've washed them.

> time pre-cleaning before putting things in the dishwasher

No need to that, unless you leave actual chunks of uneaten food on your plates.

> time spent re-washing after it turns out that the dishwasher did not clean your as well as it advertised on the box

Try powdered detergent. There are a few Technology Connections videos discussing dishwashers, including how capsules are inefficient - basically they're used up on the "pre-wash" cycle. There are a few other tricks to improve the efficiency of the dishwasher, too.

So you have a few things to do once and a few things to do always, which you'd do with hand washing anyway. Having a dishwasher is a game changer. If you're not happy with the results, don't give up just yet. Think of how to improve the process, because it's possible. At first I was also skeptical and disappointed in my (first) dishwasher.

show 1 reply
TRiG_Irelandtoday at 12:50 AM

Any modern dishwasher is very efficient on water (and on heating). That said, I don't have one myself. Dish washing time is thinking time or podcast time for me.

econyesterday at 10:24 PM

Someone should make a small pressure washing contraption like those for XXL restaurants.

acheronyesterday at 10:08 PM

Just to be clear, this is nonsense. Every dishwasher made for the past few decades at least will use less water than washing by hand.