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advice? thinking of getting a dishwasher.

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Posted 6/1/2011 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting a dishwasher, because standing at the sink every day is getting too tiring, plus, hand pain makes the job of doing dishes difficult anyway.

I thought I'd ask my fellow fibromites for advice first: are there any features that you find work better with your fibro than with others? Should I be looking for a machine with drawers, for instance, rather than one that opens out and requires crouching on the ground to unpack? Or is that not a problem?

Is there anything else you think I should consider?

Thanks, all. I'd really, really, appreciate your advice on this, as I am a complete novice when it comes to dishwashers.

Ivy.
Posted 6/1/2011 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
Ivy, I can't live without my dishwasher.  I've had dishwashers with all the bells and whistles on them but never used the extra features.  The one I have now has stuff too, including a pot warming feature.  Never used them either.  I just want it to wash my dishes.  I thoroughly rinse my dishes before I stick them in the machine so I only use the short wash cycle.  The dishes come out clean and I save on water.

 

One feature I love is having the silverware basket on the door of the dishwasher instead of the bottom rack.  If it is on the door, you have more space in your dishwasher for other things.  I bought my home new and the dishwasher I have right now has the silverware on the bottom rack.  That works fine, too.

 

I wouldn't spend the extra money for the ones with drawers.  I never have to crouch to empty or load it.  I have to bend slightly and that's it.  The silverware basket has a handle so that's easy enough to take out.  I put my large plates and sandwich plates on the bottom rack and bowls, cups and glasses on the top rack.  I do wash my pans by hand.  They take up too much space in the dishwasher.

 

Hope this helps you.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/1/2011 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ivey...I have a few other suggestions that aren't neccesarily about convienence.  Like Sherrine said, most come with features you will never use.  When we bought our last dishwasher I did not want all the cycles to be computerized because if ONE feature goes bad you have to replace the entire computer panel....$$$$$.  For instance my rinse cyle 'broke' and it was going to cost $250 to fix as they just slap in another mother board.  It took some looking around but I found one with no computer pad...not the 'in thing' but I don't care.  I also looked for the noise level rating.  You know our 'sensitive' hearing!  We had one dishwasher that was so loud I wouldn't run it until we left the house...sounded like bowling balls banging around in an empty dumpster.  My son has one where you load the plates and silverware on the top shelf and I really like it because it's the plates that are heavy to pull out of the racks, then lift up to the cabinet.  Also, make sure it has a wand on the top and bottom and jets on the side...you can use the shortest cycle and save water.

My dishwasher is only five years old and the racks are rusty already...I will get stainless the next time.  I just read in Consumer Report that the average life span of a dishwasher used three times a week is a mere 8 years...the manufacturers love it when that happens!

Good Luck!

Donna

Posted 6/1/2011 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! That is such great advice! Thanks so much, Donna and Sherrine.

What are your racks made of, Donna? Are they metal covered with plastic?

I like the idea of having the plates on top. I find them heavy to lift too. And Sherrine, I'll look carefully at the silverware compartment: I can see how that would get heavy.

Noise - definitely! Great advice! Thanks.

Sherrine, you honestly don't find it hard to unload? My current strategy with my lower cupboards (I'm ashamed to say) is to close my eyes and toss things away, as stooping is really hard. I just wait for a day when my hips are playing up and standing hurts, and use that day to scoot around on my bottom and tidy up all the lower cabinets and put things away properly :-).

I have the fogs this morning, so please excuse brevity.

Thanks again, and please do keep the advice coming. I appreciate it a lot.

Ivy.
Posted 6/1/2011 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Ivy, first of all, I'm only 5'1" tall.  I don't have far to bend!   tongue   The top of my dishwasher is at my waist.  The racks pull out so you don't have to "climb" into the dishwasher to retrieve stuff like you do cupboards.  I unload the bottom rack first.  I just reach down and pull up the plates...usually a couple at a time.  That's not hard at all.  Then I roll that rack in and pull out the upper rack.  Honestly, it doesn't get easier that that.  I, too, have problems putting things in my lower cupboards so I make sure the stuff I really use is in the front.  But I have no problems with my dishwasher. 

 

Go look at dishwashers and invision them full and see if it hurts you to bend a little at the waist to unload the imaginary dishes.  It really isn't a problem!  You will find the one that is perfect for you!

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/2/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Yes Ivy...the shelves are metal with a plastic coating.  The coating is peeling away and therefore the rust!  It was not a cheap dishwasher either...just made like one!

Donna

Posted 6/2/2011 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Jealous!!
Posted 6/2/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Just bought one last week.It is a stainless steel front,with hidden controls.
I really like it.It has two racks and many different features
It is a Samsung brand. I looked at the double drawer dishwasher,which I liked design wisebut this was definitely more economical.I t was approx.899.00.

I'm just having my counters installed today,very excited.This will help keep mind off the pain lol
Sage
Posted 6/2/2011 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
I LOVE my dishwasher I have a portable one because I don't have the space to have a under the cabinet one but I hav it right next to my sink and the hose goes right to the facuet. It is great.

Mine has the two racks with the utensil caddy and it is not hard to get things out of. It is not down to the floor so bending is not an issue. I would say go for it, it saves time and pain.

Gina
Posted 6/2/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I love having my dishwasher, mine loads like Sherrine's and I also rinse my dishes before I put them in. My family gets annoyed because they say they never know if the dishes are clean or not, lol. The only issue I have with mine is the noise, so I tend to turn it on when I am going outside to garden so I don't have to hear it.
I find it very handy when we have the "clan" over because who really wants to do dishes after running after little ones all day.
Mine is not electronic and in 10 years have had one problem and that was a minor kink in the drainage hose, we moved it out, repositioned the hose and it works like new again : )
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