[Castrophic]

Hi all,

Trying to work out what would be the better of the two? Time vs investment.

We have a newborn coming in Sept and think we can wrangle enough money to hire a cleaner for the first 6 months but I got to thinking that maybe it might be worth getting a dishwasher instead (as I glare at the pile on my sink at the moment)

In our kitchen we could only fit probably this one: Bosch Slimline due to narrow benches and no free 600mm width spare cupboards.

It would cost about the same for the cleaner or dishwasher but was thinking in the craziness of the first 6 months a cleaner would be more appreciated.

Can anyone think of any further pros or cons? WWYD?

[Paddlepop]

Do you need to spend money on a plumber to install water and drainage for the dishwasher? That could cost a few hundred dollars.

What about a cheaper dishwasher and a cleaner for 3 months?

[MAGS24]

Have you looked at Appliances Online? They often have cheaper prices and have free postage to anywhere in Australia. We have bought three appliances from them already and have had no problems. http://www.appliancesonline.com.au/benchto...ne-dishwashers/

You might able to afford a cleaner and a dishwasher if you can find a cheaper dishwasher.

[meggs1]

I'd go the dishwasher - it gets rid of a daily chore. Especially if you are going to use bottles and make your own purees and toddler snacks.

I'm lucky and have both, but the "cleaner day clean" doesn't last long whereas its good being able to just shove the dishes in after every meal.

[countrymel]

I'd go the cleaner.

Dishwashers don't get rid of the task of washing dishes, they just change it. A cleaner will actually do whole tasks!

My DP does the dishwashing in this house, perhaps your DP might see fit to do the same?

[2bundles]

I actually got rid of my cleaner when my kids were babies. It became too hard to organize to me out when she came. I hate being home when the cleaner comes.

I would go the dishwasher. You will have that for 10yrs.

[SummerStar]

Dishwasher. A dishwasher will still be around after 6 months and takes the effort out of that one chore each day.
I am someone who never had an issue with the cleaning with newborns anyway though. Even just the bare minimum (bathrooms cleaned and floor vacuumed) once a week or even left up to 2 weeks if I could get away with it and couldn't be bothered.
I'm just not sure I would have felt spending money on something like that would have been a good investment for me.
Even with my first two who were 18 months apart almost to the day, I'd still pick the dishwasher.

A cleaner would come once a week or so, dishes will always be piling up and needing to be done every day.

This post has been edited by SummerStar: 24/02/2013, 06:21 AM

[Madnesscraves]

Dishwasher.

Washing up with with a newborn was horrible. All I wanted was to sleep. Floors can be cleaned every fortnight or so. I'd think dishwasher has a better usage.

[Akatara]

Dishwasher hands down.

I had houses without dishwashers for years, and it was the first thing I got when we moved into our new house. It was the best.

I have a cleaner ATM due to a difficult pregnancy, and a new baby and lot of illness in the past 12months. But I want to cancel them soon. It's lovely for 24 hrs, but then inevitably someone spills something or makes a mess, so we clean a lot anyway! My dh is a bit of a clean freak though so if I didn't have a cleaner he would do a lot.

We have had about 5 things from appliances online in two years and they have been great. You can enter dimensions.

[strawberrypie7]

I would go for the dishwasher without a doubt. It will last years and I can't stand washing dishes so I adore mine.