How Often Do You Wash Dishes?

[mvazul]

I was talking to a friend and was shocked to learn she only washes dishes once a week. Not pots and pans, but bowls, plates, glasses, silverware, etc. I can't imagine. She asked how often we do dishes. I told her at least once a day, usually twice. This was before our dishwasher. Now, with the dishwasher, it's once a night with a small load hand washed after breakfast.

She was absolutely floored that we washed dishes that often. I told her there is no way we could make it through two days, let alone an entire week, with the amount of dishes we have. She told me she will buy new dishes before having to wash more than once a week. That is her choice. I don't agree with it, but it's her home. She was quite offended with how often we are doing dishes in our home.

Her family size and my family size are exactly the same - husband, wife, teenage son and pre-teen daughter.

So - how often are YOU washing dishes?

Michelle

ETA - my friend has a dishwasher. She leaves her dishes in there all week. I still can't imagine it.

 

[richmond282]

As soon as the dishwasher gets full, I run it. Usually once a day... maybe every other day, if we haven't been home much. I do handwash most of the big items as soon as I'm finished using them.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I couldn't imagine dishes sitting in the sink for a week even if I didn't have to wash them for some reason.

 

[BillSears]

Usually when I have a full dishwasher which is about 2 times a week. I live alone but I cook from scratch every night.

 

[badblackpug]

I have four kids and I don't wash dishes every day. Maybe every other or every 3rd, depending on when the dishwasher is full.

 

[joviroxx]

uh, everyday, as many times as needed.... Going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink is a pet peeve of mine. I usually hand wash too, the dishwasher doesn't get used much cause I HATE emptying it LOL!

 

[luvmy3]

Wait. she lets her dirty dishes sit around for a week. I am getting dry heaves just thinking about it

 

[mvazul]

Wait. she lets her dirty dishes sit around for a week. I am getting dry heaves just thinking about it

She puts them in her dishwasher. It is her kids' responsibility to make sure they are done. They get washed once a week. She said she would rather they sit in the dishwasher and buy new dishes than argue with her kids.

 

[mombrontrent]

We run our dishwasher at least once a day. I also hand wash dishes once a day as well, sometimes more. Either they eat out alot or have takeout alot or are using paper and plastic because there is no way a family of 4 could still have room in their sink and dishwasher after a week of no washing.

 

[Pakey]

The stuff in the dishwasher gets washed when it's full; once or twice a week at most. Pots, pans, knives get washed when used.

 

[charming23]

I run the dishwasher everyday or every other day. It depends on what we are doing and what we are eating.

 

[Coconut36]

Once a day for sure. The only time I don't need to run it once a day is if we have eaten dinner out (rarely) that night. Anything that doesn't fit in the dishwasher at night I wash by hand.

We are husband, wife and 2 young kids.

Does she not cook? If they order out/bring food home I can see her having less of a need to wash dishes..if she cooks a dinner every night I don't see how she can get away with once a week.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

All the time. Dishes are like tribbles in this house. You turn your back and they multiply.

Dishwasher gets run once a day at least. Sometimes twice a day. We also handwash big stuff and coffee maker.

We are home a lot so that is probably why.

I also make hot breakfast most mornings. This morning I made crepes. Yesterday it was crepes and omelettes.

As far as your friend, that is odd. I would gross out knowing I have dirty dishes in my sink or dishwasher all week. I mean that stuff cakes on there.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Pair of DINKS here with multiple pets. We usually run out of spoons before we run out of any other silverware. That's when we wash dishes.

 

[MIGrandma]

I voted "other" because it's almost always twice a day, but only occasionally more than twice a day.

We have a dishwasher and most everything goes in there and I run it when it gets full so usually every other day or every third.

I do handwash a few things though (like the coffee pot) in the morning, then if I do any baking in the afternoon I'll handwash that stuff too (mixing bowls, cookie sheets). And if I use many pots and pans, etc. while cooking dinner I'll handwash some of those too.

So, basically it's just plates, bowls, cups, silverware that go into the dishwasher, and maybe small pans. I just hate to see a big pan/pot take up so much room in the dishwasher so it's just easier to handwash it.

 

[John VN]

Things get dirty, I hand wash them. In other words, every meal.

My kitchen, I keep it clean.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

I wash them probably 2-3 times a day. I tend to use the dishwasher only when its full. Its just my husband and I so we don't use a lot of dishes but just something about leaving dishes too long in the sink doesn't sit right with me.

 

[mvazul]

Once a day for sure. The only time I don't need to run it once a day is if we have eaten dinner out (rarely) that night. Anything that doesn't fit in the dishwasher at night I wash by hand.

We are husband, wife and 2 young kids.

Does she not cook? If they order out/bring food home I can see her having less of a need to wash dishes..if she cooks a dinner every night I don't see how she can get away with once a week.

They do eat out at least once a week. They also eat a lot of cereal. Maybe that is why??? I don't know. I was just so shocked that she was actually irritated that we wash dishes at least once a day. There are times (usually a Saturday or Sunday) when we will eat a small breakfast and then eat a late lunch or early dinner while out somewhere and still do dishes.

Like I said, it's her home, so her rules.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

DINKS here too. Like John VN, we hand wash after every meal.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Usually, twice a day. Once after the kids have left for school and I have my breakfast and lunch(I do them before I pick them up), and again after dinner, but that is usually done in the dishwasher except for the pots and pans.

Right now I wash as we use them because I am using my dishwasher as a drying rack/dish storage since I can't lift my arms over my head and my cabinets are above my head LOL.