7 reasons why I like hand washing over the dishwasher

1. It's quiet. Everyone is happy to go somewhere else so I don't ask them to do it.

2. I'm rinsing them anyway, I might as well just use a little soap and a few more seconds and have them clean.

3. I get the satisfaction that *I* cleaned them, not the dishwasher ... since I did most of the work rinsing them *anyway* when I dishwashered them, it didn't seem fair that the dishwasher got the thanks for a "job well done."

4. I can do a little at a time, and then those dishes I've touched are DONE. If I fill the dishwasher a little at a time to run a load, those dishes are still dirty until the whole thing is run.

5. This only works because I can use the dishwasher as a drying rack - even if I let the sink get totally full from all-day-dishes, I can wash them all at one time and the sink is clean. Typically with the dishwasher, we'd have to arrange them carefully and then there'd be some left in the sink that didn't fit. That I'd just leave there. Now I wash them all and stack the ton of them all ungracefully to dry in the dishwasher.

6. While I'm handwashing, the after-dinner-helper (who used to load the dishwasher) has time to bring me the dishes, wipe the table, clean under the table, etc. We're both done at about the same time and the place is much cleaner. They enjoy their part (sort of) and I enjoy my part.

7. The dishes actually come out clean. More than I can say for my dishwasher right now.