Is a dishwasher necessary for a family of three?

It's no secret that household appliances make life much easier for housewives, allowing them to spend more time with their families. Washing machines, microwave ovens, multicookers and other “helpers” have long been in every home, but some women only take a closer look at dishwashers, doubting whether an expensive machine is necessary in everyday life. Obviously, in large families this device would definitely not sit idle, but is it worth buying a dishwasher for a family of 3 people? Let's figure out whether there is any point in purchasing it, and what you should pay attention to.

Is it the number of people that matters?

Some dishwasher users claim that this new piece of technical thought will certainly appeal to anyone, and will not gather dust idle even in a bachelor’s apartment. And if you have a family of 3 people, you shouldn’t doubt the advisability of the purchase. What is the basis for this judgment? A dishwasher has a lot of benefits.

1. The unit is convenient to use in apartments where there is no hot water supply or where there are frequent interruptions in its supply. In such conditions, the dishwasher will become a real lifesaver. Of course, you can install a water heater, but the time, energy and water consumption in this case will be much greater.
2. In the modern pace of life, people can be so busy that spending free minutes washing dishes after dinner for three people will be an unaffordable luxury. Adults are usually at work until the evening; children are also busy in kindergarten or school.And in those few hours that the family gathers under one roof, you don’t want to spend even half an hour washing dishes.

A dishwasher will help save parents’ nerves and give them free time to relax with each other and with the child.

3. People's health does not always allow them to stand at the sink for a long time, washing dishes. Possible banal allergy to tap water water or detergent. People with radiculitis or rheumatism also find it difficult to clean manually. The equipment will help you clean up your kitchen without harming your health.
4. A person may have his own views on the correct diet. Today people are trying to eat healthy and varied, splitting up their meals. So, even in a small family that eats 5 times a day in small portions, by the evening a lot of plates, spoons and forks, a couple of pots, several mugs, a baking sheet, a frying pan, etc. can accumulate. To clean a mountain of kitchen utensils you will have to spend at least an hour, and the dishwasher The machine will save you from unnecessary hassle.

Agree, the arguments presented are very convincing. The number of family members is not at all a determining factor when choosing a dishwasher. Sometimes, even in a team of 6-7 people, it may not be useful, since everyone is accustomed to washing utensils after themselves, and in small families the situation is exactly the opposite. Therefore, you should decide for yourself whether the washing machine is right for you, weighing all the pros and cons.

The myth about the financial benefits of a typewriter

The issue of dishwasher efficiency is controversial. On the one hand, the device undoubtedly consumes less water resources.The dishwasher reduces water consumption thanks to the operation of a variety of sprayers and sprinklers.

When washing by hand, on average, 60-80 liters of water are consumed; a dishwasher can handle a similar volume of dishes, consuming only about 12 liters.

Naturally, during its operation, the dishwasher consumes electricity. Cold water is heated by a heating element to the temperature specified by the program. Modern models consume about 0.8 kW/h. On average, the volume of electricity consumed per month will be 65 kW.

You can calculate the savings obtained from using a dishwasher, which will be approximately 1 cubic meter of hot water and the same amount of cold water per month. Energy costs should be subtracted from the resulting amount. So income and expenses will simply overlap each other, and on top of everything you need to add the costs of purchasing detergents and salt compounds that keep the machine running.

Thus, the efficiency of the dishwasher will not be confirmed. But this does not mean that the purchase is meaningless and impractical. A dishwasher will save personal time, provide the highest quality cleaning of dishes, and take care of the skin of your hands. Maintenance of the device will be more expensive than manual washing, but for any convenience you have to pay a little extra.

Advantages of machines: expert opinions

Do you need a dishwasher in your apartment? It all depends on the wishes of the household. Often this question is associated with the high cost of the unit and the reluctance of buyers to throw money away. Therefore, before paying for an expensive purchase, you should understand the main pros and cons of a dishwasher. So, what should you look for when choosing technology?

1. Capacity.This property determines how many place settings can be loaded into the unit. The larger the size of the machine, the greater the volume of devices it can clean in one operating cycle. The most compact devices allow you to wash 4-6 sets of dishes at a time, and the most productive - more than 17. For a family of 3 people, it is better not to purchase the smallest equipment, but to pay attention to medium-sized models that can accommodate pots, baking trays, and other necessary kitchen utensils.
2. Case dimensions. Very often, a housewife refuses to purchase a machine not because of money, but due to the lack of free space in the kitchen. If this is the case, consider narrow models, only 45 cm wide. Correctly selected dimensions of the dishwasher will allow you to place it in the most compact kitchen area. You can purchase built-in appliances.
3. Duration of the cleaning cycle. Basic washing programs take about two to three hours. This time parameter often scares away housewives. However, what difference does it make how long the machine will work if, after loading things into the chamber, you forget about it? You can start cleaning before going to bed, and when you wake up in the morning, you can be happy with the washed dishes.
4. Washing class. A very important indicator that characterizes how clean a set of dishes will be. It is worth purchasing washing machines marked “A” class. Such equipment will clean products at temperatures of about 70 degrees and above. When washing by hand, treating appliances with such hot water is simply unrealistic.. The dishes will be completely disinfected and no harmful bacteria will remain on their surface.
5. Number of washing programs. The more different functions are provided, the more effective the cleaning will be.Some dishwashers have pre-rinse, half load, express clean, and soak options. By choosing one or another mode depending on the degree of soiling of the dishes, you can make washing even more profitable and efficient.
6. Drying. This technology is present in every dishwasher; the only difference will be in the principle of its operation. There are condensation and turbo drying. During condensation drying, the dishes taken out of the hopper will be without a single drop, and there will be no need to additionally wipe them.

It is also worth paying attention to the additional options provided in the device. Multifunctional dishwashers are capable of sterilizing jars and disinfecting children's toys. Some models can be controlled from a smartphone via a Wi-Fi connection.

Should I buy a machine?

Whether a dishwasher is needed to serve a small family is a personal matter for everyone. In order to have a personal system of arguments about the advantages and disadvantages of the device, we will summarize the above and present the information in the form of a compact plan. So, the advantages of a dishwasher are:

• significant savings in personal time;
• high quality dish cleaning;
• sterilization of cutlery;
• preventing the negative effects of detergents on the skin of the hands;
• complete drying of equipment.

The main disadvantages that can be noted:

• high cost of equipment;
• problems with placing equipment in small apartments;
• high cost of maintenance.

Yes, the price of a high-quality dishwasher can be intimidating, but once you spend the money, you will get a device that will function properly for many years.And the problem with lack of space can be solved by purchasing a compact device that is built into the kitchen furniture. Do not make hasty conclusions; before purchasing expensive equipment, you should soberly evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of the device.

What do housewives say?

Elena, Omsk

For housewives who perceive washing dishes as torture, a dishwasher will become an indispensable assistant. And the washing process does not bother me at all, but on the contrary, it even calms me down. My husband gave me a car, but it sits practically idle. I only use it to clear a mountain of dishes after friendly social gatherings.

Tatiana, Moscow

I can’t imagine how I would live without a dishwasher. There are three of us, and the machine gets completely clogged every day. In addition to plates, mugs and forks, pots, pans, baking sheets, baking dishes, and boards accumulate. I use a juicer every day, and these are additional parts. The machine cleans everything with water heated to 70 degrees, thanks to which the surface of the products simply shines, and I am sure that there are no bacteria on it. Which, you see, is very convenient if there is a small child in the family. We have a two-tariff electricity meter; I run the dishwasher at night, which is even more economical. In the morning all I have to do is put the clean dishes into the drawers. Isn't this the dream of every housewife?

Marina, Yaroslavl

I don’t regret the purchase, the dishwasher is really very convenient, saves water, and saves my personal time. But I don’t use it every day, I run it a couple of times a week when, in addition to the plates, dirty pots, jars, baking sheets, etc. accumulate.

Valentina, St. Petersburg

In my opinion, a dishwasher is not necessary for a family of three.I also live with my husband and daughter, and it’s easier for me to wash the dishes immediately after eating than to save them until the machine is fully loaded. But for the sake of a couple of plates and one pan, I don’t see the point in running the appliance for 2 hours. I think this technique will be indispensable for a large family, and a good housewife can serve three people.

   

Reader comments

• Share your opinion - leave a comment