https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:55:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-550586 Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:59:10 +0000 softcream 550586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have a dishwasher, but i never touch it. i eat all 3 meals at home during the week, and we usually eat at least a couple meals at home during the weekend. we just hand wash everything daily, and it's been working out fine for the past 18 months or so since we've moved in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-550554 Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:39:24 +0000 Pirouette 550554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i had never had a dishwasher until about 2 years ago, and i love it now. BUT, if i found the perfect apartment and it didn't have one, i'd be fine with that, given that i handwash so much as it is (pots, pans, etc.) that i don't think it would be a huge thing, AS LONG AS there was room in the kitchen for a larger drying rack, so i didn't have to spend all my time dishwashing by hand in a cramped kitchen and then drying everything. that was what drove me crazy.</p> <p>Of course, as others have mentioned, once you have a baby it may be less manageable. i know moving sucks, but maybe you are better off doing a 1 year lease and moving if it's really hard on you or you feel like you are outgrowing the space once you have a LO? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-550527 Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:29:23 +0000 lavender 550527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a dishwasher growing up and I was so used to it. When DH and I moved in together I would still handwash even though we had a dishwasher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-549182 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:42:12 +0000 Honeybee 549182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have a dishwasher until DD was 4-6 months old. I think it would be inconvenient but doable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-549109 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:21:19 +0000 Maysprout 549109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do a lot of cooking from scratch and when my husband cooks, which he likes to do, he seems to use every pot available. We have survived without a dishwasher but it's annoying, I def like having one now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-549094 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:16:23 +0000 hellobeeboston 549094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think my husband and i would get divorced without a dishwasher.</p> <p>haha - dramatic, but as it is, dishes are such a source of frustration and we HAVE a dishwasher. ugh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-549083 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:13:50 +0000 Pepper 549083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one, but I've lived in a few apartments without one. I can definitely survive without it, although they certainly make life easier if you cook a lot. DH and I hand wash a lot of our pans and knives as it is, even with one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher/page/2#post-549062 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:03:33 +0000 ShootingStar 549062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before I bought my house and lived in the city of Boston and didn't have a dishwasher for years. It wasn't great, but it was just me and not a super huge deal. It might've helped that my kitchen was all the way at the back and I frequently bought home take out. </p> <p>But living with DH, it's like we have exponentially more dishes than I used to, especially when we're home all day on the weekend. We also cook at home a lot more, and the kitchen's the first thing you see when you walk in the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-549061 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:03:31 +0000 FarmWifeGina 549061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have lived without a dishwasher with two little ones underfoot and, since we really rarely eat out and I cook pretty much everything from scratch, we generate a LOT of dishes. After battling the ever growing mountain of dishes and never getting anything else done for over a year after our second baby was born, I said "Enough!", put my foot down, saved up some of my own money, bought a dishwasher and made DH rip up a cabinet (our kitchen didn't have a space for one, so we made one) and install that damn dishwasher. Truly, it has been a lifesaver for my sanity.<br /> But. If we lived in NYC, we would probably do a lot more eating out and take-out and I could probably manage without one. I think it all depends on the amount of cooking you do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-549041 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:57:01 +0000 Bluebonnet 549041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We run the dishwasher every single day (before LO was born we'd run in a couple of times a week). I would go insane if I had to wash all the pump parts, bottles, and dishes by hand every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-549025 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:51:55 +0000 Trailmix 549025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsayinnyc I think a 1-bed is totally doable (and often the norm) for one baby in NYC. We were dead-set on staying (our apt is amazing, well below market value and in my dream neighborhood) but...we're expecting twins. So now we're not sure what to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548986 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:42:41 +0000 fussygal 548986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It totally depends on how many dishes you generate, the time you have and if you enjoy dishes (some people do!). We eat way too many meals at home and I despise dishes too much to go without one. That being said, we did lives without one for three years in our old apartment, but dishes became a pesky issue and caused a lot of disagreements! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548985 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:42:25 +0000 GrapeCrush 548985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have one, but rarely use it. mainly only use it when we have a party and don't feel like doing dishes(but even then, we usually use paper) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548982 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:41:10 +0000 lemong 548982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can't live without it! Before LO, I could have handled it, but now with a baby - it's a must now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548964 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:37:48 +0000 yin 548964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since I never had the luxury of a dishwasher before, I don't know what I'm missing out on. I wash dishes everyday, and it has become therapeutic for me. It is very time consuming though, and it never seems like the sink is ever empty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548962 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:37:43 +0000 LittleFox 548962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had a dishwasher for several years, and I wish I did. It would make life easier. That said, it isn't a deal breaker on an otherwise good place when I've been apartment hunting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548951 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:32:58 +0000 plantains 548951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC: Yep, I know what you mean. The one time we didn't have a dishwasher we lived inan incredibly charming brownstone across from the park. Eventually though, I just wanted a dishwasher and an elevator and was happy to trade in the charm for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548898 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:10:37 +0000 LindsayInNY 548898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix - We really want to live in the West Village. I know a 2 bedroom isn't realistic so we're hoping to find something with some sort of flex option (I don't need a formal wall, even just some sort of divider would be fine). We looked at Battery Park and I think we could find what we want there, I just don't *love* the neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548881 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:05:08 +0000 Trailmix 548881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We lived in a studio with no dishwasher for two years and when our lease was up, I said its either a dishwasher or trial separation (and I was only half-kidding). Not having a dishwasher was HORRIBLE. We have one now and I will never go back.<br /> On a side note, I live in NYC too (UWS), also have a small dog and we are trying to decide whether to move or not. Our rent will probably increase by over $1,000/month if we go to a 2-bedroom in the neighborhood, ugh!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548850 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:54:43 +0000 LindsayInNY 548850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ModernDaisy - I think we're sacrificing a lot as it is =/ We have a small dog too so that rules out a lot of options right away. Boo.</p> <p>@BKCaribBaby - I think it's going to be a "would really like to have" option but if we find a place that is nice otherwise, good price, etc. then we might have to sacrifice that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548846 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:53:20 +0000 LindsayInNY 548846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains - Part of it is the expensive city issue. The other part is simply that some neighborhoods are just old and taking a house/building and dividing it into apartments probably means they're just not equipped to have D/W which stinks. =/ I think we could survive just the two of us but adding in a LO? If we go the nanny route, we'd have to find a way to have her help too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548787 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:31:16 +0000 BKCaribBaby 548787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually have a dishwasher, and while I think it's great, I would live without one if it meant a bigger and/or nicer apartment. Having gone through the NYC apartment hunt a few times (and almost went crazy one of those times), dishwashers weren't even a priority to me. They were a nice perk, but weren't an option for most places I was looking. I've only lived in one rental with a dishwasher. We own our current place, so maybe I am thinking back wistfully (?), but I definitely could manage if there were other redeeming qualities to the apartment (great neighborhood, proximity to subway lines, etc.). Good luck with your search! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548785 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:31:09 +0000 Modern Daisy 548785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A dishwasher is pretty high on my priority list, even considering I live in NYC. I honestly don't know if I could live in an apartment without one. It would have to at least have absolutely everything else I've ever wanted in a NYC apartment adn then some. There are a lot of things I would absolutely sacrifice in order to have a dishwasher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548775 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:26:28 +0000 plantains 548775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish New York wasn't so fricking ridiculous, it is annoying that one should even have to consider making such a sacrifice. That said, I have only lived for a year and a half without a dishwasher and i really hated it. Back then, it was just me and DH but it was still a PITA. When we moved, I insisted on an pat with dishwasher and boy am I glad I did.</p> <p>It just makes having a baby so much easier. So many bottles and pump parts to wash, plus when she started solids that multiplied the load like crazy. All those bowls and spoons and twice the amount of pots etc from cooking her food. </p> <p>When I was still on maternity leave it didn't bother me as much, but when I went back to work it became evident that without a dishwasher, I would basically spend my whole life doing dishes and sterilising things and never hanging out with baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548768 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:23:50 +0000 regberadaisy 548768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I selected, other!</p> <p>We've been living without one since Novemeber. But we do have one it just needs to be installed. I def much prefer one but I also don't mind not having one. :)<br /> @LindsayInNYC: It's really not a biggie to not have a d/w with a LO. :) In your case I'll go without one to save money. I handwash and sterlize her bottles nightly, not a biggie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548744 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:15:34 +0000 LindsayInNY 548744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leialou - That's kinda where I'm at right now. It would suck but I could survive. And if it meant more money in our pocket, even more of a reason to survive without one! Since we're TTC now, I wonder if it would really stink having a LO without one though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548659 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:38:47 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 548659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can live without one. I wouldn't love it, but I'd survive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548639 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:32:06 +0000 Mrsbells 548639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have dishwasher but dont use it. I prefer washing by hand </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548637 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:31:08 +0000 LindsayInNY 548637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao - I was insistent on needing one but after seeing how expensive apartments that have them are, I'm starting to wonder if it's necessary. I'd rather have the extra money each month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coulddo-you-live-without-a-dishwasher#post-548623 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:24:30 +0000 Bao 548623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are buying a house and it doesn't have a dishwasher. Needless to say, DH and I are still arguing about this one ;) I NEED one and he says we can do without. </p>