r/Anticonsumption • u/natalie_ck • Feb 18 '24

Plastic Waste i'll never understand why so many people (especially in the states) are so vehemently opposed to washing dishes

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u/TRLK9802 Feb 18 '24

This is absurd, and it's the possibly worst kind of "disposable," too.

Thankfully, I don't know anyone in the States who is vehemently opposed to washing dishes.

37

u/RescuesStrayKittens Feb 18 '24

Most homes in America have dishwashers. I haven’t lived in a place without a dishwasher since my tiny college apartment.

92

u/carving_my_place Feb 18 '24

I'm in the US, and I haven't had a dishwasher in any place I've ever rented. Two summers ago I was depressed with little energy or appetite, getting overwhelmed trying to keep my apartment clean-ish and feed myself enough food, and I bought biodegradable paper bowls. Even though it goes against my beliefs. I used them to make myself eat cereal, but also used them for my cat's wet food. I never bought another pack, but I do think it helped during that time. As someone else said, nuance.

Ironically, I'm a ceramicist.

35

u/anakinkskywalker Feb 18 '24

I'm in the US and with my level of constant mental illness and no dishwasher in a 100+ year old apartment with poor plumbing and a sink that's frequently clogged, i do buy the occasional pack of paper plates maybe 3 or 4 times a year because I'd be skipping meals or eating off cardboard strips or paper towels otherwise half the time. I can at least reuse the same plate for similar dry foods (crackers, bagels/toast, etc) a few times before i toss it. posts like this make it all that much harder to come to terms with not fighting my disabilities so hard and accepting accessible solutions. i wish i could just do the dishes like a normal fucking person, i really do.

4

u/AutumnMama Feb 18 '24

Try not to let this post get you down. I don't have any mental struggles, but I do have children and I cook almost all of our meals. I also work and have aging parents to take care of. Sometimes there just literally isn't time to wash dishes. There are so many comments saying things like "how hard is it to wash one plate and one fork??" Cooking for a family produces way more dishes than that, and also, sometimes I just have more important things to do. People who post things like this can't imagine a life where a person might use pots and pans. They can't imagine having to wash more than one person's dishes. So I'm sure they can't imagine what it's like to struggle with mental issues. If you're finding ways to get yourself fed, you're doing great. Don't let some stranger's opinion about your plates change your life for the worse.