Dishwashing vs Hand Washing

There are some obvious pros and cons when it comes to hand washing versus dishwashing, but the overall decision is usually a cross between personal preference and resources available. Without a doubt, many people prefer to have a dishwasher do the dirty work for them. However, before you decide on an absolute method for cleaning dishes, let’s take a look at how at the pros and cons of both techniques.

Pros and Cons of Hand Washing

Hand washing dishes is a great way to ensure that all of the crud is removed from them before using them again. Especially when the dishes have been sitting out for awhile, the food that gets caked on them can be difficult to remove, sometimes entailing a thorough hand-cleaning process that dishwashers simply cannot compete with.

Hand washing naturally eliminated wear and tear on a dishwasher because the work is being done manually. By hand washing dishes, you can alleviate some of the costly aspects of dishwasher repair that come from excessive usage.

The obvious disadvantage to hand washing dishes is the lack of convenience. Each load of dishes can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour to wash, depending upon how long the dishes have been sitting and how many dishes there are to do. Especially in today’s busy world, some people either don’t have the time or don’t want to give up their downtime to wash dishes.

Another con to hand washing dishes is the destruction that it can cause to the hands, also known as dish-pan hands. Many dish soaps tend to dry out the hands, especially when a bleach alternative is contained. So many people have to spend additional money on moisturizers in order to soothe their aching skin.

Pros and Cons of Dishwashing

The clear advantage to dishwashing is the convenience factor. Simply rinse the dishes, load them into the dishwasher, press the “on” button, and the work is done for you. For working mothers that are tied down with family obligations, the dishwasher often becomes a major source of relief.

Another benefit to using a dishwasher is the cost that it can afford. Obviously, a dishwasher can hold many more dishes than the average kitchen sink, which means less refilling and wasting of water. Because of that, dishwashers can help to save a lot of money on the monthly cost of water.

Unfortunately, however, dishwashers are not without problems. They are like any other technological product in that they can break down and require costly repairs. Of course, the potential for such repairs or replacement can be reduced by exhibiting good care of the dishwasher; however, it is most definite that the dishwasher is not going to last forever.