is it cheaper to buy paper plates or to wash them in the dishwasher? thanks?

Answer 1

I think we should all just eat off the floor like animals. That way we save the world. Well I think using the dishwasher is best. Save trees more clean air. It's prob cheaper also. The trick is to have enough dishes so that you don't wash them until your washer is at capacity. That way you run it less.

Answer 2

I would say definitely buy plates and wash them. A small lot of dishes is better hand washed, if the dishwasher is full when used then not a problem. The less full the washer is the more water is wasted as well as detergent and power. Paper plates are a time saver for parties etc.

Answer 3

That depends on how many plates you have and how busy you are and how many people in your household. Are you living alone? It would take awhile to fill the dishwasher, but if you have a large family no time at all. What is your income? That's a factor as well. If you are very busy, or have a good income you can buy paper plates cheaply. Especially at discount stores, or if you aren't particular you can get clearance plates after a holiday with holiday motifs fairly cheap. Like e Christmas plates after Christmas. Valentines plates after Valentines day. Discount party stores sometimes have bargain tables. Also, if you use plastic wrap to line plates you use as a serving platter you can use a plate twice sometimes.

Answer 4

Depending on the type of paper plates you buy, and the number of washes you make a day. Some paper plates can be high priced while others are rather cheap. When you consider the cost of electricity, dishwasher detergent, VS the cost of paper plates, paper cups, plastic forks, spoons and knives, well it might be cheaper to buy the plastics and papers.

Answer 5

Anything meant for long term use is more cost effective than disposable, including the cheapest paper plates and the most expensive china. I am using up cheap paper plates that were on hand from my mother's request (she recently died) and the price is OUTRAGEOUS! My mom used them everyday and I will take years to get rid of these.

As for washing regular dishes. It depends...like everyone is saying.

How costly, and how effective is the detergent.
Settings on the DW and is everything running properly?
How full is the DW when you run it.
How often do you run the DW.
How much water and dish liquid to pre rinse and or soak stuff.
How wasteful or frugal you are with paper plates and their cost.

So...as usual there is no one set answer to the way we do things.

As for me, I have Dollar General plates and bowls in a nice plain white pattern that is easy to use and very durable. 4 each, total 8 dollars. I have Family Dollar plastic tumblers, 6 for 2 dollars. I inherited the family silverware, so free to me, and weeded out all but service for four. I have basic tupperware, pans, baking gear, serving dishes and food prep gear. I have a 3 piece knife set (chicago cutlery, easy to clean, one piece stainless steel) at 20 dollars for the set.

I say all this because my reusable gear is:

1) reasonably priced and
2) going on 10 years of use as an avg. Some is heirlooms, some is new.
3) low in quantity so I can keep clutter from accumulating. I do dishes at least every other day. My DW is broken so I wash by hand and I don't mind a bit. In fact, I could use some extra storage and I am thinking about tearing the thing out of there.

I also use high quality dishsoap, Palmolive (the purple one) which I buy in the largest size I find, and stock up when it is on sale. It is the only kind I enjoy using...because of the scent.

I let my rinse water run cold, heating up, with the stopper in, and add vinegar to it as a disinfectant. Once it is hot, I move to the other basin and fill about half full as hot as I can stand it. This way I can use less soap.

My dishes, counter, stovetop, sweeping the kitchen take about 10 minutes and 1 sinkfull of water, and a single squirt of soap, and a cup of vinegar. It is definitely a cheaper affair than either or your methods.

Answer 6

If you can afford to buy a dishwasher, why would you want to wash your paper plates in the dishwasher?

Wash ceramic plates in the dishwasher and dispose of paper plates in a garbage bag and drop the bag in the rubbish chute.

Answer 7

Over time, it is far less expensive (as well as better for the environment) to buy real plates and wash them in the dishwasher. If money is a real issue for you, you can find some very inexpensive plates at Wal-Mart or Target.

Answer 8

Dishwasher use can cost you about 30. a month extra if used everyday. If you get paper plates you still have to wash glasses, bowls, silverware, pots and pans. Trick is to wash them up right after use then it is easy and fast and doesn't cost much at all.

Answer 9

I think paper plates would get messed up in a dishwasher.

Answer 10

We use the two, however the main functional (extra cost-effective) theory is to apply basically paper plates for sandwiches, pizza, dry meals, etc and basically use your stable stuff for issues that are warm, saucy, gravy, pasta, soup or direction, and something which you will could decrease with a knife. We discovered that we basically wash dishes interior the device another day for 4 human beings. the cost of paper plates got here out to be 2.3 cents each (3 hundred plates for 6.ninety 9) you may not even rinse the plate for that quantity, not to indicate rinse, wash with cleansing soap and rinse back. Be functional. continually use paper until you serve something too warm, too liquidy or needs to be decrease.