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View Full Version : Washing the Dishes. Better to Do It by Hand or Using an Automatic Dishwasher?


Clough
Mar 29, 2010, 10:08 PM
Hi, All!

Well, what do you think, please? I know that some people live by using the automatic dishwasher. My own preference is to do it by hand. Of course I live by myself and occasionally have others over for parties. But, it just seems to me that the dishes get a lot cleaner if they're washed by hand.

I also find that doing it by hand is very much a therapeutic experience.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Clough
Mar 30, 2010, 04:06 PM
No takers yet? :confused:

Stringer
Mar 30, 2010, 10:32 PM
Dishwasher, but you still have to rinse...

Clough
Mar 30, 2010, 10:34 PM
Now, it's finally starting to get interesting here!

Are you feeling any better, Stringer?

kp2171
Mar 30, 2010, 10:40 PM
Night and day difference between our old dishwasher and new one... supposedly how hot it can get the water is one factor.

We live by the dishwasher. Hand wash all cutting knives, stemware and other knick knacks.

I don't mind washing a few dishes by hand.

I do a lot of cooking, much from scratch, and often for bigger groups... so by the time its time to wash dishes, I might have been in the kitchen for 2-3 hours and I just want to be done.

Also, I suppose I have an attitude about hand washing from all the lab glassware I've washed over the years. Enough is enough.

Stringer
Mar 30, 2010, 10:44 PM
Now, it's finally starting to get interesting here!

Are you feeling any better, Stringer?

Not really Clough, hanging in there. Going to try to get some sleep I have staff meetings all day tomorrow.

Clough
Mar 30, 2010, 10:50 PM
Not really Clough, hanging in there. Going to try to get some sleep I have staff meetings all day tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear that you're still not feeling well! Please hang in there and get better! I'm fighting my own battles here, as you well know...

Thursday night... I hope that Marta will be there!

Dishwashing by hand for me, really is like a therapy. I suppose it also has to do with the fact that I play the piano and the hot water is soothing to my hands. Helps to loosen them up!

KBC
Mar 31, 2010, 08:30 AM
Not really Clough, hanging in there. Going to try to get some sleep I have staff meetings all day tomorrow.

Me neither Stringer,I am trying nasal spray and Zertec, just seems to make me groggy.

ANYWAY!

Dishwasher, I rinse the items first,just the caked-on,baked-on stuff, then run,run away:p

Been through a lot of repairs with dishwashers over the years,mostly simple things.For the most part,I have no problems with how they clean, the extra heat to the water is just fine for sanitizing, hotter than faucet water.

Stringer
Mar 31, 2010, 02:35 PM
Me neither Stringer,I am trying nasal spray and Zertec,,just seems to make me groggy.

ANYWAY!!

Dishwasher,,I rinse the items first,just the caked-on,baked-on stuff,,then run,run away:p

Been through a lot of repairs with dishwashers over the years,mostly simple things.For the most part,I have no problems with how they clean,,the extra heat to the water is just fine for sanitizing,,hotter than faucet water.

The sinus problem seems to be just about gone Ken it's so many other things; diabetes, etc. No energy, tired all the time, Extreme pressure with my company... you know the story, right? Higher taxes, higher insurance costs, not getting new business, etc , etc... not sleeping too well... depressing too.

Clough
Mar 31, 2010, 03:41 PM
Me neither Stringer,I am trying nasal spray and Zertec,,just seems to make me groggy.

ANYWAY!!

Dishwasher,,I rinse the items first,just the caked-on,baked-on stuff,,then run,run away:p

Been through a lot of repairs with dishwashers over the years,mostly simple things.For the most part,I have no problems with how they clean,,the extra heat to the water is just fine for sanitizing,,hotter than faucet water.

How would the water be hotter than that from the faucet, KBC? Or, is it a matter of what the hands of a person can tolerate concerning the hot water from the faucet?

KBC
Mar 31, 2010, 03:48 PM
How would the water be hotter than that from the faucet, KBC? Or, is it a matter of what the hands of a person can tolerate concerning the hot water from the faucet?

There is a heating coil in dishwashers,it makes the water VERY hot,hotter than tap water.

Clough
Mar 31, 2010, 04:01 PM
Originally Posted by Clough
How would the water be hotter than that from the faucet, KBC? Or, is it a matter of what the hands of a person can tolerate concerning the hot water from the faucet?


There is a heating coil in dishwashers,it makes the water VERY hot,hotter than tap water.

Thanks! I didn't know about the heating coil.

KBC
Mar 31, 2010, 04:04 PM
Maybe I'm wrong? I don't know for sure,, especially now-a-days, my sinuses are killing me:(

I'll look some up and see if there is still coils in them..

EDIT:
Yes,they do,for the drying cycle mainly,the older models had a visible coil,newer ones are hidden under the undercarriage.The units still produce hotter water than most people could handle on their skin.

Clough
Mar 31, 2010, 04:09 PM
So far, the preference for using an automatic dishwasher is winning!

KBC
Mar 31, 2010, 04:25 PM
Singing to the choir, My weight gain has been significant, no diabetic problems(yet)but the doc is becoming more adamant about me stopping smoking, looks like my year to do it..

All those symptoms, they all point to depression.. got any way to treat it?


The sinus problem seems to be just about gone Ken it's so many other things; diabetes, etc. No energy, tired all the time, Extreme pressure with my company......you know the story, right? Higher taxes, higher insurance costs, not getting new business, etc and etc........not sleeping too well...depressing too.

Just Dahlia
Mar 31, 2010, 10:22 PM
I use the dishwasher if I have no time. There are many things I will not put in the DW and there are many things that I will not wash by hand. (my Pyrex get much cleaner in the DW)
I did not vote, because I use both equally.
When I am cooking, which is a lot... I wash by hand as I go along. I also find it relaxing. For Christmas this last year I received 10 hand knitted washing cloths for the dishes. I love them! I think it would be much more comfortable if I was shorter or the sink was higher, but I enjoy washing by hand.
I however do not dry, it's a waste of my time. The items will sit in the sink until they have mostly dried themselves before I towel them down and put them away.

I always run the hot water until maximum hot and the garbage disposal before I turn on the DW.
And always us short cycle, no heat. I hate to waste the energy.

Stringer
Mar 31, 2010, 10:42 PM
Just Dahlia agrees: I'm so sorry, please feel better:)

Thank you hon... :)

KISS
Mar 31, 2010, 11:09 PM
To Stringer and KBC:

Allergies are in high gear to the point that they effectively got me sick the last two weeks. Mucus in overdrive. Means tired. Put Asthma on top of it, mans more tired. Put insulin dependent diabetes and migraine son top of that you have extremely more tired. Put a mask on to work outside and get even more tired.

Clough:

Some dishwashers have a hot water boost heater in them. Some have an option to air, can or coil dry. The detergent used (must contain phosphates) makes cleaner glasses. Phosphates are banned in some localities. So, pick your poison: environment, energy savings, disinfecting qualities, convienience and cost.

We generally wash the dishes by hand and let them drip dry. When there are lots of dishes we wash by hand and put in the dishwasher to drip dry.

We also might rinse dishes until a large load is accumulated and then use the dishwasher.

Company usually means use the dishwasher.

The amount of mechanical pre-washing depends on when the dishwasher is going to be turned on.

Generally it's an energy waster.

It can do a better job with fine glassware.

Something are not allowed in the dishwasher. Wood, for in stance.

Clough
Apr 1, 2010, 11:21 PM
To Stringer and KBC:

Allergies are in high gear to the point that they effectively got me sick the last two weeks. Mucus in overdrive. Means tired. Put Asthma on top of it, mans more tired. Put insulin dependent diabetes and migraine son top of that you have extremely more tired. Put a mask on to work outside and get even more tired.

Clough:

Some dishwashers have a hot water boost heater in them. Some have an option to air, can or coil dry. The detergent used (must contain phosphates) makes cleaner glasses. Phosphates are banned in some localities. So, pick your poison: environment, energy savings, disinfecting qualities, convienience and cost.

We generally wash the dishes by hand and let them drip dry. When there are lots of dishes we wash by hand and put in the dishwasher to drip dry.

We also might rinse dishes until a large load is accumulated and then use the dishwasher.

Company usually means use the dishwasher.

The amount of mechanical pre-washing depends on when the dishwasher is going to be turned on.

Generally it's an energy waster.

It can do a better job with fine glassware.

Some thing are not allowed in the dishwasher. Wood, for in stance.

Do you mean that using the automatic diswashwer is an energy waster, KeepItSimpleStupid?

Thanks!

caibuadday
Apr 2, 2010, 03:43 PM
I wash them by hand and put them in the machine with the racks half way out, for drying. Run machine every week to remove any old standing water

KISS
Apr 2, 2010, 04:22 PM
Energy waster

mudweiser
Apr 2, 2010, 04:27 PM
I like to wash my dishes by hand. I don't have a dish washer either so I don't get much of a choice now do I?

I like washing dishes and having my laptop nearby and listen to a lecture from the internet, something interesting. Like maybe a sermon [even if I am an "Atheist", I still like hearing what religious folk have to say], or something I completely don't understand like quantum physics...

I also like washing dishes because I like water. I like those pruney hands, I like seeing the grime come off too.

I still hate washing pots though. Especially if I forgot to have it soaking overnight.

Okay that's my take on handwashing vs. machine washing.

Clough
Apr 2, 2010, 04:54 PM
energy waster

I corrected my error in spelling. ;)

Clough
Apr 2, 2010, 04:56 PM
Doesn't anyone else think that washing them by hand is at least somewhat therapeutic? :confused: :)

Clough
Apr 2, 2010, 05:47 PM
Originally posted by mudweiser
Yes!

How is washing them by hand therapeutic for you, mudweiser?

Thanks!

mudweiser
Apr 2, 2010, 05:52 PM
I like the water! I like hearing it rush, I like feeling it. When I have a lecture going on as I wash dishes I'm kind of zoned out. Whatever problems I had that day fade away :)

Clough
Apr 2, 2010, 06:01 PM
I really like your reasons, mudweiser!

Mine would be similar and I also like the feel that my hands have after being in the hot water and also the feeling of getting something done! (Accomplishment.)

Wondergirl
Apr 2, 2010, 06:06 PM
I've never owned a dishwasher, and there's no choice like that on the survey. I've always done dishes by hand.

Clough
Apr 2, 2010, 06:23 PM
I've never owned a dishwasher, and there's no choice like that on the survey. I've always done dishes by hand.

The poll had to do with what a person prefers, not whether they own a diswasher or not. For that matter, a person could be having a cleaning person doing their dishes.

speedball1
Apr 3, 2010, 01:46 PM
Over the years I've installed hundreds of dishwashers in condos we have plumbed.
Wouldn't take one as a gift myself.
So you got to "prewash" before you put the dishes in the DW.
Let's see. Ya got to wash them by hand to get the sticky- ickey dried up crud off the plates. Now you place them in the dishwasher and wash them all over again. More water, more work, more time, more power with the same result as hand waased.
At my place I'm hooked up with a superb cook. She cooks, I wash and I eat much better then if I lived alone. Works for me!
This is Teresa Marie. My friend, companion of 16 years and the best cook around town. A formal model She just turned 60 a few months ago and this picture was taken on her birthday. Cheers to all, Tom

Just Dahlia
Apr 3, 2010, 06:54 PM
Over the years I've installed hundreds of dishwashers in condos we have plumbed.
Wouldn't take one as a gift myself.
So ya gotta "prewash" before you put the dishes in the DW.
Let's see. Ya gotta wash them by hand to get the sticky- ickey dried up crud off the plates. Now ya place them in the dishwasher and wash them all over again. More water, more work, more time, more power with the same result as hand waased.
At my place I'm hooked up with a superb cook. She cooks, I wash and I eat much better then if I lived alone. Works for me!!
This is Teresa Marie. my friend, companion of 16 years and the best cook around town. A formal model She just turned 60 a few months ago and this picture was taken on her birthday. Cheers to all, Tom
Ps, sorry for the spelling errors (not on my computer):o


Nice picture and she is beautiful:)

When I moved into my home 18 years ago... it came with a Magic Chef dishwasher.
I never did anything except take the excess food off the plate, bowl burned on glass dish etc.
All my dishes, pans, glasses came out sparkling. Better than if I scrubbed them by hand, to the point that I would not wash the glass casserole dishes because I could not get them as clean, even with soaking.
I could hear that thing running even if I was down the street at our neighbors, but I didn't care.
It finally broke down and had to be replaced with some expensive piece of cr*p. Now I wash my stuff by hand most of the time. It was very sad for me that they can't make a good noisy dishwasher anymore:(
I mean what's the point? If you have to rinse, scrub... basically clean and then put in to sterilize?:confused::rolleyes:

KISS
Apr 3, 2010, 09:05 PM
My vote: Have Clough do it.

Clough
Apr 3, 2010, 10:42 PM
My vote: Have Clough do it.

Hmmm... Maybe I should have put that on the poll too! :p

Just Dahlia
Apr 15, 2010, 04:29 PM
I just wanted to mention, in case I forgot to earlier...
That Borax and Baking soda equal parts is a wonderful Dishwasher Detergent.

Mix it all together (mine is in a plastic baggie) and use a heaping Tablespoon instead of the stuff you buy at the store.

It cleans just as good as the expensive stuff that I used to buy.

Always make sure your water is hot before you start the DW.:D

Clough
Apr 15, 2010, 08:42 PM
I just wanted to mention, in case I forgot to earlier...
that Borax and Baking soda equal parts is a wonderful Dishwasher Detergent.

Mix it all together (mine is in a plastic baggie) and use a heaping Tablespoon instead of the stuff you buy at the store.

It cleans just as good as the expensive stuff that I used to buy.

Always make sure your water is hot before you start the DW.:D

Mentioning the elements to use for dishwashing is a wonderful addition to this thread! :)