Is powdered detergent safe for dishes?

[ea56]

I like to look out the window while washing dishes,

it is calming on hectic days.

Me too Jon, we have a nice window and view right over the kitchen sink to our backyard, which my husband keeps pristine. And over the fence its lush with Liquid Amber and Sycamore trees, just a beautiful view.

Eddie

 

[maytagbear]

I have lived in five apartments

since we sold the house, and NONE of them had windows over the sink, so why not use the machine??

Each to his own. If doing dishes by hand is for you, more power to you. It does not Thrill me, or bring me much Joy...........

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[iowabear]

As a single guy I could easily live without a dishwasher.  On average I run it once a week.  A lot of times I just rinse off whatever dishes I was using and put them in the sink rack to dry to use again.

 

The microwave oven is what I would really miss if I didn't have one.  Hard to believe they can bought for $40 (or even less on sale) these days.

 

[sarahperdue]

Palmolive

"Eddie, you're soaking in it"
--Madge

 

[lordkenmore]

As I think of a view out of the window over the kitchen sink, I'm reminded of my childhood home, which had the kitchen window overlook the area where the family dog would be when out doors. How lovely it would be to watch the dog busy taking a dump while one washes dishes... LOL

 

[lordkenmore]

I personally hate doing dishes by hand. I'm pretty sure I swore 12 years ago that I'd never, ever live without a dishwasher again...only to be forced to accept living in a place with no dishwasher! That said, I don't think it's crazy preferring to wash dishes by hand. One person's relaxing task is another person's drudgery, and all that.

The funny thing for me is that I was once cynical about the value of dishwashers--at least for someone like me (single, living alone). Then I had a chance to use one (and did so just to try it)...and quickly got hooked. Indeed, I thought there was nothing as relaxing as sitting in the next room, watching TV, sipping a glass of wine...while the dishwasher ran in the background, doing all those wretched dishes!

 

[lordkenmore]

>[Microwaves] can bought for $40 (or even less on sale) these days

Or how about getting one for about a dollar, like I did? (Admittedly, it was at Goodwill, and a very special sale). But, yes, it's amazing how cheap they can be.

That's another gadget I was once cynical about. When I was a teenager, someone told my mother that we should consider getting a microwave because "they are so cheap now!" (although probably a lot more than $40!) and it would be something I might find useful. I had no enthusiasm for the idea--my attitude was more or less "why bother?"

Today, I'm not sure I consider them indispensable, but I find it very handy having one, and really wouldn't want to go back to no microwave. Although if I had to choose between a microwave and a dishwasher, the dishwasher would probably win.

 

[tolivac]

Since I don't have many dishes-just clean them by hand.My KA dishwasher died several years ago.Just NOT interested in buying a piddle dishwasher that takes 2-3 hrs to wash dishes when I can do them in 10 minutes!Don't have ANY use for new time wasting appliances.REMEMBER------TIME is a resource you don't get back!

 

[lordkenmore]

>TIME is a resource you don't get back!

Very true. This is one argument in my mind for having a dishwasher. It might only take a few minutes a few times a day...but that time adds up...

That said... I can't say I'm a fan of the idea of long cycle times. Yes, I've heard the argument it really doesn't matter, because you don't have to be standing there as it works! BUT those cycle times can be inconvenient if one is doing something that will generate a lot of dishes through a day (family holiday events, entertaining in general, a cooking binge to fill the freezer). I also personally don't like to leave appliances like dishwashers running entirely unattended. I may be paranoid, but I like to be around in case something goes really wrong. I'm not one of those "I'll hit the button and go out for the evening types!" either.

 

[iowabear]

I know an older guy who runs his dishwasher twice a day!  In the morning after his breakfast (coffee cup, cereal bowl, spoon) and in the evening (plate, glass, silverware, maybe a pot or pan.)

 

His wife passed away a few years ago and everybody worried how he would get along with housekeeping.  He does pretty well, all things considered so if this is his system we don't dare criticize.  We all envisioned unwashed dishes piled to the ceiling.

 

[givemehotwater]

Speaking of Palmolive

and other modern day dish liquids, I have to say.. I'm quite disappointed. Not only do I find them very hard to rinse off dishes, and sponges, but a lot of them have taken up horrible strong scents. The recently reformulated Green Palmolive, and new Dawn formulas come to mind.

I prefer the cheaper Ajax Orange and Lemon Liquids, or Non Ultra Dawn in Classic Blue for washing up. They do almost the same job as the ULTRA liquids, smell much better, and rinse well. I know they cost a few more pennies versus the new garbage, but for me, it's worth the $$$$.

To answer the Original Posters question, I have washed a load of dishes with about a tablespoon of Roma with Phosphates. The water was insanely slippery, and cutting grease was literally effortless. I almost did break a measuring cup however, from all slippery water -- and would recommend wearing a good pair of gloves for a solid grip.

 

[lordkenmore]

I, too, have found a lot of modern dish detergents annoyingly hard to rinse. The worst is when I carefully rinse a French press coffee maker I regularly use. Then, make coffee, and get a slight "note" of detergent in the coffee. Some variety of Palmolive was really problematic.

 

[tolivac]

That's it-just don't like leaving machines such as dishwashers,washers,dryers and stoves,ovens running when not home.Can't wait for those to be done since I don't have the time to wait before going to work or going to sleep-another time I don't want those running.BAD things could happen when not home or asleep.I can sleep so soundly that a neighbor pounding my door,knocking on windows couldn't wake me.Then woke to a Sheriff car and deputies seeing if I was OK.They were surprised to see me.I woke just as they came as was getting ready to work.All of us laughed about it-including the Sheriff.The neigjhbor thought I had a heart attack or stroke or something.Now he is more careful about calling the sheriff.Was scary---then funny!All of those lights flashing around made me think the aliens had landed in my yard-kinda like ET!

 

[DADoES]

 
I'm not going to spend $$$$ for a dishwasher, whether directly or included in a purchased home, and let it sit idle ... although I know people who do that and boast about it, LOL.