Is a dishwasher necessary for a family of 4?
No one can say for sure whether a dishwasher is needed in the house. Some people cope with a mountain of dirty and greasy dishes themselves, while others prefer to load even one set of dishes into the machine. But modern practice clearly shows that those wishing to purchase a kitchen assistant are increasing every day, especially if there are at least 4 people in the family. Does this make sense, what are the benefits and what people say about dishwashers - we will tell you in detail in the article.
It's all about lifestyle
Many grandmothers and housewives over 40 will say that the thought of buying a dishwasher will not even occur to neat and hardworking people. The young and modern have a different attitude - the frantic pace of life, intense busyness and the desire to relax after a hard day clearly indicate the need to update the kitchen. Moreover, it doesn’t matter how many children and adults there are in the family, since it’s not about people, but about saving time and effort. So, a dishwasher is useful in the following cases:
- Problems with hot water. Even single people find it difficult to wash dishes if there is no hot water supply in the house or regular interruptions in the water supply. In this situation, a machine that can heat up will easily get rid of grease and other contaminants.
It is a mistake to think that installing a water heater will be a more profitable and successful alternative. Firstly, the water will take a very long time to heat up, secondly, it will pour out quickly, and thirdly, a lot of electricity will be wasted.
- Lack of time. The most popular argument in favor of a dishwasher will be the banal employment of all family members, when adults are at work and children are at school or in classes.As a result, everyone only gets together for dinner and doesn’t want to spend their free time standing at the sink and washing dishes.
- Health problems. It’s worse when it’s physically difficult to spend time at the sink. Allergies to dish gels, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, radiculitis, rheumatism, osteochondrosis - all this dictates the need to install a dishwasher at home.
- Frequent meals. A dishwasher is also useful in families that strictly monitor their diet and food culture in general. They eat 5-6 times a day, always cook fresh and separate meat from vegetables. By the end of the day, a decent pile of pots, boards, bowls and plates can accumulate, which are easier to deal with if you have an automatic machine at hand.
- Taking care of your hands. Many housewives take care of the skin of their hands and nails, which are adversely affected by detergent.
All the situations described become even more relevant if you have a family of 4 people. Then the busyness and fatigue increases in proportion to the number of dishes that are constantly getting dirty. A dishwasher will make your routine easier and reduce the household load; what other advantages of the machine are and whether we can talk about saving energy consumption - we’ll look at it further.
Does the machine help you save money?
An acute question arises about the cost of operating a dishwasher. There are often opinions that the machine is very expensive in everyday life due to increased energy consumption, water consumption and the need to purchase expensive special detergents. To understand where the truth is and where the lies are, let’s consider whether a dishwasher helps you save money.
First, let's touch on water consumption. It is difficult to calculate the number of liters consumed during manual washing, but on average we are talking about a daily intake of about 60 liters from the water supply.The washing machine spends about 12-13 liters. in one standard cycle, and more economical models can reduce the volume to 7-8. This does not affect the quality of washing: specially designed sprinklers and nozzles, as well as automatic heating, help to use resources more rationally.
The dimensions of the dishwasher do not affect the degree of consumption - water consumption is determined by the system and design, which do not depend on the existing dimensions. There are often full-size models that spend less in half-load mode than with a “whole” cycle in a compact machine.
Rumors about high energy consumption of dishwashers are true. Moreover, the water saved often does not cover the increased electricity bills. Thus, many washing machines at minimum speed consume on average 0.8 kW/h, which equals a monthly 70 kW. You won’t be able to do without spending money on special detergents, capsules, tablets or powders.. Rinse aid, regenerating salt, and anti-scale mixtures are also required. Even choosing domestic and cheap brands will not allow you to save money.
We won’t lie - in total, servicing a dishwasher will be more expensive than the standard method. But free time spent with family, well-groomed hands and a good mood are sometimes more important than money spent. Especially if we are talking about 4 people.
Experts on the advantages of the machine
The cost of dishwashing equipment is usually quite high, so before purchasing you should think carefully and weigh the pros and cons. In simple words, you need to decide for yourself whether the machine will ease everyday difficulties or, on the contrary, complicate life with new problems.So, let’s not rush to shell out a tidy sum, but study the advantages and disadvantages of dishwashers in the kitchen:
- Easy model selection. A wide range allows you to choose the optimally suitable model in terms of capacity, dimensions, appearance and other performance characteristics. So, you can choose a chamber for 4-6, 8-12 or 18-20 sets of dishes, depending on the size of the family and the frequency of meals. As a rule, companies of 4 people or more choose medium-sized machines with 9-14 sets.
- Convenient accommodation. Many people are afraid to purchase new appliances because they are afraid of cluttering up their already small kitchen. But the compactness of modern models allows you to install both a full-size machine with a width of 60 cm, a narrow machine with a width of 45 cm, and small-sized ones made to individual sizes. We are also pleased with the possibility of being built under a countertop, in a wall cabinet or under a sink, which will significantly save space.
- Easy to use. The average duration of one cycle is 2-3 hours, which often makes housewives change their minds. But this is not critical, since the operating time of the machine is compensated by the automatic mode and high quality washing. Moreover, you can always choose a night program and unload the dishwasher in the morning.
- Perfectly washed dishes. The most important thing is that hand washing eliminates boiling, steaming and the use of aggressive agents. The automatic mode, on the contrary, carries out complete disinfection, which makes plates and cups spotlessly clean. But only units with a washing class of at least A can boast of this quality of washing.
The quality of washing is affected not only by the specified level of cleaning, but also by compliance with operating rules, including the correct placement of dishes on the racks and the correct choice of detergents.
- Automatic drying.Another advantage is that there is no need to wipe the dishes after using the machine. The machine is equipped with condensation drying or turbo drying, which gently blows on loaded items. This is especially true when washing glass, crystal and porcelain.
The machine can also surprise you with additional functions and programs. These include soak and pre-rinse modes, allowing for an express wash to remove minor stains. In addition, the machines are capable of sterilizing cans, children’s toys, as well as delicately washing fragile materials.
Let's study people's opinions
To finally understand whether it is worth spending money on a dishwasher will help you study the comments of other housewives. We have selected several real reviews from consumers who have already understood the issue. Among them are the following opinions:
Tatiana, Krasnodar
It took me a long time to decide to buy a dishwasher, as it seemed like a completely useless luxury in life. But as soon as I bought it, I regretted that I had thought about it for so long. I was persuaded to try an automatic washing machine wash by my sister, who “met” her unit right after her wedding. There are three of us in the house, and we chose a compact one for 4 sets. On the second day after the acquisition, I thanked the inventor for such a miracle of technology. Now I spend much less time in the kitchen: cooking, loading dishes and taking care of other worries without haste. I admit, I was very amazed at how much I used to spend on washing dishes.
Olga, Volgograd
I thought for a long time, compared and evaluated, but still refused to buy a dishwasher. There are four of us in the family, and purchasing new equipment would become unprofitable. We calculated this: 1. It takes a lot of water, which with our pump will lead to high energy consumption. 2.The machine heats the water itself, which will also affect the electricity bill, while I use cheap gas. 3. Washing dishes by hand is faster, on average 5-6 minutes, so you don’t want to wait two hours for the dishwasher program.
Lyudmila Alekseevna, Moscow
I think every family needs a dishwasher, whether it has 2, 4 or 6 people. There are four of us in the house: three adults and a child. I am a pensioner, at home all day, and I notice that a lot of time is spent on cooking, and even more on washing dishes. With the advent of an automatic machine, there would be fewer worries, and I would be able to play with my granddaughter more often. And in general, it’s wonderful when you acquire equipment that makes life easier, allowing you to spend your leisure time more usefully and pleasantly with other family members.
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1 reader comment
Of course, whoever saves time and hands is profitable. If he also has money. But I think it’s not profitable.
1. Cost of the washing machine.
2. Water consumption.
Dirty dishes are not loaded. It still needs to be rinsed. And this is also water consumption. And no one manually spends 60 liters a day, as was described in the article. And while you rinse, load, then unload. You'll also waste time.