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It depends, I use it (always on air dry) If we have company, or if I use a large number of dishes preparing a meal or baking, otherwise we hand wash dishes.
I use mine because I'm lazy. We don't eat at home everyday, so it can take a few days to fill the dishwasher enough to run it. I don't include knives and certain other kitchen tools, though.
I don't use a sponge, I use a dishcloth that is changed out every day; and I don't wash dishes in the sink, use a dish pan that is also cleaned and not full of e coli.
I don't leave the water running while washing and rinsing all the dishes.
I think the part about germs is exaggerated (I don't use a sponge, either), but I think people would be surprised by how much water they use washing dishes by hand, and how little a dishwasher uses by comparison. I can wash three meals' worth of dishes for five people in one load. If I did them by hand, I would have to rinse them off, then fill the sink with hot water to wash, then rinse them all again. That's quite a lot of water.
Not to mention that I'd be hand washing three times a day (after each meal), because there isn't room on my counter and sink to stack up all those dishes for an entire day. I don't have a rack big enough to air dry them, either, and I certainly don't want to hand dry them all!
I get how if you have a single person, or a couple, and eat quite a few meals out, it would take a long time to fill a dishwasher and might not be worth it. But for five people, most of whom eat every meal at home? It would be false economy not to use the dishwasher.
Because it is just my mother and I, we still hand wash our dishes 99% of the time. The exceptions are during the holidays when there are a lot more dishes that need to be tended to. But we do still use the dishwashers to store our most commonly used cups, bowls, utensils and plates since we do not have much cabinetry.
I'm convinced that most of you who don't use a DW don't know how to use it properly... if you did, there's no way you would want to wash everything by hand. I'm sitting here struggling to figure out what would possess you to want to spend so much time doing a process that is automated using an appliance most of you have right there in front of you! An appliance that uses less water and energy than you do.
I find that as long as I run it every day, nothing is ever so caked-on that it cannot wash off in the DW. Likewise I do recognize certain foods as ones the dishwasher just cannot handle without some pre-washing help... burnt substances need to be scrubbed off by hand, and once egg or cereal is dried on a bowl, best to either soak or hand wash. Lastly, I use little soap/rinse-aid gel packets that I just drop into the silverware section.. they are more expensive per load than adding powder or liquid, but holy heck are they simple. I buy them in bulk online and don't mind using them because you just toss one in and turn the machine on - no mess, no measuring, so simple.
I just don't get it, but I guess some people just enjoy doing things the hard way.
^^ This is accurate^^
The appliance works best if used every few weeks simply to keep the components functioning properly with occasional use by having it complete a water cycle.
I find I use mine about every 10 to 20 days depending on what kitchenware I used for cooking purposes. I still wash in sink by hand for frequently used items (bowl, utensils) and let dry on counter top.
It's good to know that there was a good reason for running my dishwasher every 2 weeks, or so. I thought I remembered hearing something like what you explained. Thanks.
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