5 Common Myths about Dishwashers

Many homes in Utah come with a dishwasher, a popular appliance that, unfortunately, is still subject to wrong misconceptions. To help you maximize the benefits of this handy kitchen tool, debunk some of these erroneous ideas:
- Dishwashers Are a Waste of Money
Dishwashers can be a significant household investment. The average price can range from $400 to over $600. This cost doesn’t include installation and delivery fees. However, you are not paying for the appliance but comfort and convenience.
Depending on the number of items you have to wash daily, washing the dishes can take at least 30 minutes to an hour. Imagine the other essential things you can do within that period. Multiply that to the number of days you have to wash the dishes.
Besides, dishwashers can do more than cleaning cutlery and plates. Mental Floss reveals that with these, you can:
- Steam your veggies or warm your food (so you need not own a steamer or warmer)
- Clean your makeup brushes
- Cook food from salmon fillet to lasagna (you might not need an oven anymore)
- Ripen avocados
- Delay the ripening and spoilage of produce
- Rinse your produce
- Dishwashers Have a Long Lifespan
Appliances have different lifespans. For example, you can use the refrigerator for 13 years. Your oven can last for about 15 years. How about the dishwasher? On average, it is useful for seven years.
However, if it shows problems and you call for a dishwasher repair stat, you can extend its life. If you clean it regularly or let a professional maintain it each year, you can even double its lifespan.
- The Heat from the Dishwasher Can Already Sanitize It
Just because dishwashers release heat doesn’t mean all can already sanitize. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the temperature has to reach at least 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for it to kill pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.
If yours doesn’t reach this level, then it’s not disinfecting or sanitizing your plates and cutlery. But that’s not the only concern. If your dishwasher also doesn’t self-clean, food debris can remain. It can breed bacteria and cause your appliance to smell.
Cleaning a dishwasher is simple and easy. You need to do it only once a month, and you can use regular household supplies like baking soda (although don’t forget to read the manual for the complete instructions).
- Dishwashers Are Bulky, and Your Home Doesn’t Have Space
For many people, they imagine dishwashers to be as massive as their kitchen storage cabinets. They are wide that they eat up a lot of space. Although most Utah homes are gigantic, those living in urban areas might have a more compact kitchen.
In reality, dishwashers these days are available in different sizes. Some are slim, which has a width of only 18 inches. Others are countertop and portable, with a length of 36 inches and a depth of 30 inches.
- Dishwashers Can Cause Asthma and Allergies in Children
The idea might have come from this study. The researchers revealed that handwashing could decrease the risk of allergies and asthma in children. Note, though, that this talked about correlation, not cause and effect.
Further, the study anchors itself on the hygiene hypothesis, which implies that exposure to microbes early in life can help strengthen the immune system. The concept remains controversial in the scientific community.
But it doesn’t mean children cannot get allergies when they use dishwashers, especially if they are sensitive to heat. Young ones must stay away from the appliance to avoid hurting themselves.
Dishwashers can serve your Utah home well if you take care of it and stop believing the myths.
Meta Title: 5 Misconceptions People Have about Dishwashers
Meta Description: Do you enjoy washing your dishes at home? Here’s what you should know about your trusted device.
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