Cohousing-L Mailing List: dishwashers

[David Mandel (dlmandel]

I responded privately to Joani a few days ago about the dishwasher, but
since this seems to be developing into quite a discussion and no one is
saying anything like this, here you are.

David Mandel
Southside Park


We don't have a commercial dishwasher. Couldn't afford it back then. And
from what I've heard and seen elsewhere, I think I'm glad. At first
thought the idea of 2.5-minute cycles sounds exciting, but then it
doesn't hold much, so you're loading, waiting 2.5 minutes, unloading,
loading. .... etc. Seems kind of disruptive to get engaged in other
tasks that you'll then have to keep interrupting.

The other major complaint is the noise (a major issue with other
"commercial" appliances, too -- especially fridges. Unless the kitchen
is isolated from the dining room, an idea that doesn't appeal to me,
chatting after dinner becomes a pain when the cleaners start firing up
the dishwasher. I ate at one cohousing place and maybe everyone there
was accustomed but I sure noticed it. Sure a load takes only a couple
minutes, but someone estimated 10 loads for a typical meal. Together
that adds up to real time, and a lot of stopping and starting

We started out with a home-style dishwasher, paying a bit extra (still
way less than commercial) to get an ultra quiet one. We have since
bought a second one, so now, a dinner's worth of dishes can be done all
at once after even the biggest meals. It probably doesn't take much
longer than a dozen or so 2.5-minute loads in a
commercial one, it's a whole lot quieter and you can ignore it for 40
minutes while you leave or clean other stuff instead of loading and
unloading for an extended time, wrenching your back, messing up your
floor or counters......

(I was in the minority about even the second dishwasher. With good
planning, a cook team could load the single one up quickly as the first
step in cleanup, then deal with pots, leftovers, counters, stoves,
tables and floors in about the time it took to do its thing. Then if it
was a large crowd or lots of dishes, second load could be started and
left while the cooks go home. But we got the second one so now teams
don't even have to plan that consciously.)

One or two regular, quiet dishwashers, I don't feel at all deprived by
the lack of a commercial one. Think about it before you get seduced by
the idea. A quiet tortoise might work better than a steam-belching,
clattering. attention-demanding and back straining hare. Resist the
temptation and you might get a calmer experience for diners and cooks
alike.