Dishwashers - how essential for busy family?

Is it a waste of money or worth its weight in gold?

Thanks

Absolutely essential.

It's something that I would say is essential.

I never particularly wanted one, didn't see the point.  MrSC did and in the end we got one with money we had for our wedding - I wouldn't be without it now.  We don't run it every day as there's only two of us but you can put dirty stuff away in it as you go which makes your kitchen tidier and then turn it on when it's full.  Loading the dishwasher takes about a quarter of the time washing up does.

Essential!

Think I'd spend all day at the sink washing up if I didn't have one.  The children seem to have a habit of needing a new plate/cup etc every 5 seconds!

Even though there's only the two of us, it's essential.  When ours broke, it was just horrific having to wash up!  Saves a lot of time and effort.  Once you have one, you'll never look back!

Absolutely agree, once you have one you'll wonder how you did without one.  I didn't think I needed one but once I had it I loved it and with four kids and various hangers on it is  worth its weight in gold now.

Gryfon:

Essential!

Think I'd spend all day at the sink washing up if I didn't have one.  The children seem to have a habit of needing a new plate/cup etc every 5 seconds!

Mine too

Thanks all.

We were offered a full sized one a coule of days ago, but we don't have enough space and had to turn it down .  We're due to move to a new build in the next few weeks and there's plumbing ready for one, but not enough space for a full size.  Maybe we can get one of the built-in ones fitted.  Mr G is very keen.

You can get slimline ones, maybe that would be worth investigating?

love love love it!

uses less water than washing up, i set it to go on overnight to make use of economy 7. it's only slightly less important than a washing machine to me. (though we don't have a TD as they use so much power)

I don't think they are essential even though I do have one

We invariably do some washing up after a meal even if it's saucepans etc so it wouldn't be that much trouble to wash plates up as well

I don't bother putting pans and stuff in the dishwasher as I'd be putting it on a lot more and the kids plastic stuff gets done in the sink as well it seems a waste of water to put the dishwasher on for things like that

Having said that I do quite like having one but not essential

Someone who came to view our house this week was horrified we didn't have one. There's no room though; we'd have to get rid of the washing machine (which is more useful IMO).

having lived without one for 4 years and then moving over here I would describe them as a marriage saver!

We are having to move in July and I've already put it on the list of must have's.

Essential, I wouldn't be without mine

We're not even a busy family, there's just 2 of us but we wouldn't be without it, saves so much time and hassle. I'd never be without one again.