Monday, November 8, 2021

What should we put in its place?

We heard a strange musical jingle a couple days ago.

It took us both a couple minutes to pinpoint the source. The culprit, as it turns out, was the dishwasher. It was randomly singing to us, chirping out a peppy little song at various intervals.

As I mentioned before, we live in a very musical household with appliances that are fond of singing to us. This is the first time we've lived in a house with modern appliances, and for the most part I long for the old-fashioned simpler versions. Old-fashioned appliances didn't sing, for one thing.

Anyway, this home came pre-equipped with a dishwasher. I've never used it. I've never been a fan of dishwashers, preferring to wash dishes by hand, resulting in the rather comical sight of a dish rack parked right over the dishwasher.

In fact, I rarely "see" this appliance at all. In the almost-year we've lived here, I've opened the dishwasher once or twice just to peer inside, but the rest of the time it just sits there.

So when the machine started randomly chirping at us – and we couldn't figure out how to shut it up – Don finally pulled the breaker and turned the durn thing off permanently.

We've talked about just pulling the dishwasher out, but the result would be a big gaping hole in the kitchen. The question arose, what would we put in its place? This kitchen is far bigger than I'm used to and I don't have enough pots and pans or other kitchen paraphernalia to fill the existing cabinets as it is, so adding extra storage in lieu of the dishwasher would be superfluous.

Therefore I thought I would pose the question to you, dear readers. If we pulled out the dishwasher, what should we put in its place?

46 comments:

  1. Instead of pulling it out you could let your dishes dry inside on the racks or pull out the racks and use it to put your kitchen trash can.

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  2. you can use it as a dish rack- for drying hand-washed dishes!

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    1. I've done that too! Especially around the Holidays. I spent more than a few years cooking commercially before moving into IT, and I have a bit of OCD, so I clean up as I go. It makes a great place to dump cutting boards, knives, prep bowls, etc. after they've been washed since I'm just going to need them again shortly.

      Then once the meal is prepared they are usually dry and ready to be put away.

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    2. That's what I was thinking. Personally, I love my dishwasher and use it regularly but when our old one was broken, I used to wash the dishes by hand and then let them drip dry inside the dishwasher. It keeps your countertops free and makes use of an otherwise useless appliance.

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    3. I used to let my hand-washed dishes or large pots and pans dry in my dishwasher, too, BUT if you do that, you will need to run a load now and then to wash the inside of the dishwasher and to let the dryer cycle thoroughly dry the inside. If you don't,you will probably get mold, and hence, a mildewy smell.

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    4. Good thought, Alaska. I didn't have a problem with that because I usually left the broken dishwasher sit open while the dishes dried. But I could see how that would/could happen if you regularly dried them inside with the door closed up tight.

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  3. I also had moved into a new house with three times the cupboard space, pantry space and all that. within four years I had managed to fill every space there was and wanted more. but now that I am in my retirement and downsizing stage I wonder why I bought so many things that I used once per year! I would try and match the door to your other ones and store stock pots and such in there. My fridge talks to us also:)

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  4. If it’s functional and has a high-heat disinfect cycle, I’d just leave it and occasionally use it for that.

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    1. Yes, the dishwasher comes in handy for sterilizing canning jars. Also I wouldn't be so quick to pull the dishwasher. I am an older, disabled lady, and I have a big kitchen with a dishwasher in our downstairs. My husband remodeled a very small bedroom upstairs as a small kitchen where we do most of our cooking. However, with heating oil and woodstove as our heat sources, washing dishes by hand may soon have to go. People argue about whether using a dishwasher saves money or not, but after washing dishes by hand for years, I have learned that, especially in cold climates like mine, it takes a long time to heat the water for dishes. Energy costs are my primary concern this year, and so we likely will be using our kitchen downstairs more and certainly our very efficient dishwasher.

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  5. How about a trash bin or compost/trash bin? Have Don match the cabinet and drawer facing and use drawer opening for dropping in trash and cabinet door for emptying. I can never find a good spot for a trash can.

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  6. A trash compactor. I always thought those were ostentatious, when I was a judgmental little kid, but then we moved to the middle of nowhere, with no trash collection. It was nice to have.

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  7. bookshelf for cookbooks? A pretty curtain in front and hide the trash?

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  8. A cookbook bookshelf? Seems like there is never a place to put them in the kitchen, and they seem out of place in the regular bookshelf.

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  9. I have a dishwasher (came with the house). It is only me. I use the dishwasher as a drying rack for hand-washed dishes. Although, it runs counter but if you do that, periodically, you need to run it or smell it. The dampness inside can cause mold/mildew. So about once every couple of weeks, I run it, usually empty.

    One time I really like to use it though is to wash my jars when I am getting ready to can. Holds lots of jars and can keep them warm.

    kathy in MS

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  10. If it were me pulling it out I'd probably put some type of pull-out storage for small appliances (like an air-fryer and slow cooker).

    That said I wouldn't pull it out personally even though we also use our drainrack more than our dishwasher. I find it incredibly handy for sanitizing large quantities of canning jars in one shot. I pull out all the removeable pieces (silverware holder, etc.), start it, and dump in a 1/4 of bleach.

    Once sanitized I can leave them in there for weeks simply opening the door to grab what I need.

    I also find it very useful for periodically sanitizing our 15 freeze-dryer trays and cooling racks (which are a pain to really get clean) all at one time.

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  11. I did exactly this - when the dishwasher quit, it was pulled out...what to do with the hole? I the 5 gallon buckets that I use to hold flour & sugar. Wine buckets that have good gaskets to keep creepie crawlies out. Also store the bigger cutting boards that come out during veggie processing. Eventually I'll make a curtain of nice material and hide the buckets.

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  12. Trash compactor, drink fridge, lift up shelves for heavy appliances, hidden storage, dehydrator nook.

    Dad offered to buy me a dishwasher. I told him that he was only allowed to do it if he was going to put cabinets in for the entire kitchen instead of just half of it. He decided it was less expensive to leave things as they are. I agreed.

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  13. By now it's entirely possible the gaskets have dried out and even if you did want to use it, it would leak. Apparently it's recommended dishwashers be used at least once a month to keep the gaskets from petrifying.

    Since you have enough storage, what about trash can, recycling bins, a bin for compostable bits, worm composting bins. Though, Anonymous's suggestion of racks for air drying dishes is good - add a fan since air flow in there might need some assistance? A parking spot for a little cart to wheel around as an extra working or serving place? Or since it already has electric available, a small refrigerator for over flow from the large refrigerator, a proofing drawer for baking and keeping food warm. Switch the water line to the cold supply and put in a separate ice maker since that is what usually seems to fail on refrigerators that have them (I won't have an ice maker in a refrigerator either). A place for a dog bed so Mr Darcy isn't underfoot but still close? Is there anything stored in cabinets up high that you wish were lower?

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  14. If I recall correctly, didn't you just install a new wood stove? Hmmm, seems to me that removing some silly dishwasher that talks to it's own incessant drummer might be a handy place to store more stove sized fahrwood. B ut then I'm old school, whaddaheyeknow. I'm not much interested in appliances that talk to me. I have faith, you're creative, you'll figure it out.

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  15. Have Don build you a nice movable serving cart/canned food cooling rack and put an attractive curtain to hide it when it is not out in use.

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  16. If it does happen to still work .... I do not like to use mine on a regular basis, but I do use it on Sundays. Less things for me to do, more time for reflection

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  17. I am allergic to dishes washed in a dish washer (hands erupt with nasty blisters) so I use my dishwasher to store my 'good' dishes.

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  18. I also think it would be good for trash and recyclables. I use my hole for a trash can and the upright tub I use for dog food that I buy in bulk. It could be a cabinet for all the animal needs for Lin Lin and Mr. Darcy. A permanent place for animal needs even the outdoor critters, like liquids that could freeze outdoors.

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  19. My first thought was bookshelves.
    My second would be a cabinet like my sister had on her farm. Two drawers, both lined with sheet metal. The bottom drawer held #25 pound sack of flour and had a cover for the bin that would retract when the drawer was opened. The top shelf was the same construction and held 25#of white sugar.
    SJ in Vancouver BC

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  20. I would not turn the dishwasher on because it has had time for the gaskets to dry and you will probably have leaks all over the kitchen. If it were mine, I would put a trash can and the bags behind it. But. i don't know what you need.

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  21. I know someone who ran a large, successful, family business. She had a portable DW for 30 years and used it for her filing cabinet only. (You would want to disconnect the water if you did this.) Rows of file folders set up in 'her' order and stored until no longer needed. More fireproof than other places! As a writer, it might be handy for current work. As one with a sense of humor - the thought is worth a giggle. (We always told her is someone broke in looking for her records they would leave empty handed....)

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  22. Most of todays appliances have a life of 6-10 years according to an appliance repair friend of ours. There is also the potential for water leaks while the unit is in place.
    Here is what we would do in your situation. We use 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids for what we call "daily use" products such as flour, sugar,bags of different beans, etc. Put a heavy duty rollout shelf on the lower part of the space and I think you can store 4 ,2 1/2 gallon buckets on the shelf.
    Bluesman

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  23. I would make it a cabinet with a door and keep my trash can in it

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  24. Several people beat me to it; use it for dish storage or a drainboard. If you use it for drying dishes, run it once a month or so to clear out the funky water that'll end up in the bottom after a while. You might not see it, but it'll be there, down in the plumbing for the water pump.

    Out her in the Wild, Wild West we use the dishwasher for the simple reason that water is so expensive here. The dishwasher uses about the same amount of water fully loaded as washing just a few dishes by hand. That, and the less water we use, the less pressure we put on the septic tank. ...There's always that septic tank...

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  25. If you do decide to remove the dishwasher, my suggestion would be to leave the space open so that you could sit at the counter. Use the space to store a stool.

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  26. If it were me it would be a wine and beer fridge. Bookcase for cookbooks? Hidden trash?

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  27. Please let us and show us the outcome.

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  28. I was going to mention the gasket drying out, but I see that others before me did so.

    Charlie

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  29. I have a dishwasher that I never use so I use it for storage - kitchen paper goods on the top shelf, empty glass jars, plastic containers, etc on the bottom shelf and seldom used/very large utensils like soup ladles in the cutlery basket.

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  30. We love to think our home is our last home sweet home. But history proves otherwise. If you don't need the space why remove it? Removing it will cost money, plus it will lower the value and marketability of the house.

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  31. We pulled our unused dishwasher out and replaced it with six five-gallon pails of our most commonly-used storage food items. (Rice, flour, sugar, etc.) That proximity cuts down on frequent walks to the pantry. We might add a decorative curtain, just make it look more quaint. But for now, the sight of those buckets is a conversation starter, for visitors.

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  32. Why a wine bottle refrigerator, of course!

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  33. Next to my sink, I have a pull drawer out with two trash cans that come in handy especially during food prep.

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  34. My cell phone personal assistant AP always started up when I turned the phone on and talked to me and also randomly throughout the day. I tried to delete the AP but it cannot be deleted. I closed it and disabled it to no avail (so what does disable really mean?). I deleted various google APs and took away permissions to no avail. I deleted my Google sign on but it didn't help. Finally out of desperation I took away the permission for google to use the microphone and it worked! No more google assistant talking to me.

    What continues to stump me is why they (big tech companies) do this stuff? Why force these APs on us, why not make them easy to delete or disable?

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  35. 1) make sure the dishwasher is fully closed. Give it a little shove,
    2) hit the cancel button a few times
    The chirp on mine was the door was open mid cycle. I’m assuming someone accidentally hit the run button.

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  36. Many kitchens nowadays put their washing machine in the kitchen by the sink. They have dishwashers in the kitchen too, but laundry in the kitchen works well. If you currently have a laundry room, then you have a whole room, although probably small, to repurpose. This may be better as a longer range plan as wash machines are now made for fitting under kitchen counters and the one you currently have may not fit.

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  37. I would use the dishwasher as a drain rack for drying my handwashed dishes.

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  38. I store canned foods in mine. You can really pile them up on the bottom shelf. If somebody robs your house they never think to look in the washer for $ or jewelry. Great hiding spot & if your house burns down the things in the washer are usually protected from the heat & fire.

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  39. I just bought a new home - with a dishwasher that I will never use. The kitchen is small - I'd like to take it out and put drawers in. But that takes money that I don't want to spend. So it's been fun reading how other people use them for storage......I'm gonna put some thought into that!!

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