'Why Haven't Dishwashers Become Popular In India?' A Delhi Man Asks, and the Internet Responds
A recent discussion on X (formerly Twitter) has reignited a long-standing debate—why haven’t dishwashers become a common household appliance in India? The question, posed by a Delhi-based user, prompted a flood of responses, highlighting various factors ranging from economic considerations to cultural habits.
Many users pointed out that dishwashers remain a luxury due to their high initial cost and maintenance expenses. Unlike in many Western countries, hiring domestic help in India is often a more affordable and comprehensive alternative. Household workers not only wash dishes but also rinse, dry, and arrange them, making them a more convenient option for many families.
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One user summed it up, saying, “Cost & maintenance, dishwasher doesn’t washes Indian cooking easy, dishwasher needs salt n detergent specifically for it, it costs good, then u have to remove soiled food from dishes too wash in it, Indian utensils cannot be washed plus it takes 1 hr to 45 mins for clean cycle. Good for Crystal n glassware then too u have to rinse by hand.”
Another user gave an example: “1. It consumes lots of water
- It runs for at least an hour so electricity consumed
- I use dishwasher but sometimes the food stains stick. For e.g. make an Indian Chai and put the pan in dishwasher, it will not clean it properly. So good for foreign countries where salads, chicken, cereals or soups are cooked.”
Many Indian homes lack the necessary plumbing, reliable electricity, and drainage systems to support a dishwasher efficiently.
One user wrote, “Because it requires reliably uninterrupted electricity, plumbed water and drainage. Is more work (rinsing, loading, unloading) than a cheap house help and people have general fear of appliance failures being cumbersome and service unreliable (usually untrained).”
Another user also compared dishwasher penetration to air conditioners in India, stating, “Penetration of air conditioning is 7-8% so technically even ACs aren’t popular. We are a very poor country and dishwashers are very high up on the Maslow’s hierarchy of consumer appliance needs.”
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