I have put my crockery dishwasher at waist height so I no longer need to bend down to empty it. I have two dishwashers, one on the backside of the kitchen as shown in the picture (waist height) for crockery and silverware and one in the kitchen island at normal height for pots, pans and utensils which I all store inside the island cupboards/ drawers. Its really quick to empty both dishwashers, and I can't imagine going back to only having one! Almost all my crockery and silverware as well as pots and pans are in kitchen drawers, cups and glasses in the cabinets with folding fronts.

This is the best tip I have seen on houzz to date and it costs nothing

We have raised the dishwasher in several designs and don't have counter above it just more cabinets.

This is one of the best kitchen design ideas- just makes good sense!

We added a second dishwasher to the kitchen in the bar area because the bar is on the opposite side of the cooking and "cleaning" side of the island and we didn't want to have to move glasses around to the other side of the island when emptying. We also didn't want drinks being prepared in the same place where we are trying to cook and clean. We will load all drink ware in one dishwasher, which can be done directly from the kitchen or dining tables. Dishes and flatware will be stored in a drawer and cabinet next to the main dishwasher.

I ann fortunate enough to have an old house with a butler's pantry. When we renovated the kitchen, some designers might have incorporated that space into the kitchen or dining room. Instead, we put a dishwasher in there, and use the cupboards as designed - for China, glasses, silverware and table linens. I'' disabled and have to step one step only (depending on the item) to unload the dishwasher.

Having managed a household for years, I discovered the trick of storing dishes near the dishwasher. I disagree with your suggested storage of drinking glasses, etc. These should be stored adjacent the refrigerator, the exception being specialty glasses, i.e., wine.

Good advice. I have always tried to arrange my kitchen this way but when we bought our current house, the kitchen had been newly renovated but the dishwasher was not beside any cupboards where I could store dishes so I had to take several steps for each handful of dishes. Very soon, I actually hired a contractor to move the dishwasher. It was definitely worth every penny. Now when my friends and family move, they always ask me to help organize

the kitchen.

This article is spot on! My kitchen is narrow and long. When I renovated last year, I built a cabinet for my glasses, cups and dishes directly across from the dishwasher. My dishwasher has this neat basket for silverware. I just lift it out and take it to my silverware drawer. My pots are hanging opposite the sink because I prefer to hand wash them. I have a little work to do this year, but I already love my new old kitchen!

This article comes at a great time for me, as I am just now considering a new kitchen design. My current design has my dishes near the table, rather than the dishwasher. Putting dish storage nearer to the dishwasher, in my situation, puts the dishes pretty far away from the table, where they will be used. I'll have to ponder which is the better scenario. I appreciate this Houzz article, as the info it contains is not something I had considered.

I, too, am considering a second (18" wide Bosch) dishwasher and sink near my baking area, which currently is on the other side of a large island from my one kitchen sink. When I'm baking, I have to walk around my island to put dirty bowls, spoons, measuring cups, etc. into the sink. I use a very large plastic bowl to contain dirty baking things, now, but a second sink and dishwasher seems like a solution.

Organization is so critical to a well-functioning kitchen. Now if I could only decide where to locate my cooktop!! Thanks, Houzz!

For older folks unstacking a drawer with lots of plates and bowls is too heavy to pull out.

I am planning a kitchen renovation and can hardly wait to put drawers in below the countertop. I am perpetually straining to put the dishes away up high. I have the most dysfunctional kitchen in this house built in '71. In all fairness, a few places were retrofit with rollout shelving but one shelf collapsed under the weight of all of our bowls and ramekins - go figure. Give me the sledgehammer right now!

I only watched long enough to see where the dishwasher is located. In my now home and several other re-do's in other homes we always install the dishwasher so that when you open the door it is about level with your counter top. Why have (mostly) women been bending over to the floor to fill and empty a dishwasher. Ladies PLEASE think this over, It's your back. I saw this on TV when I was about 16, I'm now 72 and wouldn't do it any other way.

This is great for someone who is young and have young children who can help with unloading the dishwasher and setting the table. With the constant bending, this is no good for someone with problems with their back. Will this cause additional problems as they age? When I redid my kitchen, I had the dishwasher raised about 15" to reduce the amount of bending.

Here's my dishwasher strategy: Use it a couple times a year on major holidays and when it croaks kick it to the curb. Make a nice curtain with a compression rod and use the cubby for the kitchen garbage and recycling cans. My dad always said you can hand wash a sink full of dirty dishes faster than the average suburbanite can load one of those things... and he was right. Two houses and counting.

The reality is, most people have some sort of back problems and if they don't, they will. I want to raise my dishwasher....and I will. I did the same thing with my dryer. My washer is not front loading. I am able to stand up straight when loading and unloading my washer. My problem was the dryer. Had to twist and turn to throw wet clothes in and to take them out. I had my husband raise my dryer on a pedestal so I would no longer have to twist and turn. Fortunately, I already had one of those ready made pedestals. But if I didn't, I would have made him make me one. Don't ask me why I had never used it before because I seriously don't remember.

Is that drawer rated to hold that much weight?

As for raising the dishwasher, I mentioned to kitchen designer. Where she put the sink there was enough room between the sink and a doorway to put the dishwasher - raised. The raised dishwasher helped my back, and (just as important) gave me a section of raised counter where I could put food ,with out the dog grabbing for his supper! I also keep the coffee pot on the raised section of counter

It all depends on the layout of your kitchen. Perhaps it would work to take everything out of the dishwasher and put things on a near counter before putting them away.

Has anyone experience with the narrower width dishwasher? I am thinking of getting one instead of the conventional size.

Lisaomay, your question is right on! My drawer bottom broke from me loading it with dishes.

perhaps instead of a pull out dish drawer the space the drawers would occupy should be left open. Check into commercial sized dish storage. the nursing home & university I worked at had dish holders on wheels that were spring loaded. as the level of the dishes went down the cart raised the holders up so you never had to bend way over. Ditto for unloading as you filled the spot the dishes sunk down- you yourself never had to bend excessively to load or unload it. I worked with one that held plates and soup bowls. I am sure that there are many other designs. Mostly you will find these in stainless steel, with heavy duty wheels that come with brakes. They are rated for a LOT of weight. they can also be wheeled directly into your dining table to help set up without having to balance dishes in your arms. these units also come set up for trays of glasses and cups. Many places like golden coral restaurant have them if you would like to go and check them out. If you are like me you would make a tray for silver ware that would fit 1/2 way across the top and you could wheel all to the table and only make a 2nd trip for glassware. Fewer steps, less lifting, dishes stay cleaner, storage is easy.

ok. I'm not a fan of these strategies. None of it addresses how far the storage is from the cupboard. Take me for example. If I stored my dishes the way this article advocates, I would be carting them all the way round the kitchen to the eating area... also, I wonder how many people have their dishwasher, washing machine etc in the main kitchen these days? Our white goods are all in a utility room which keeps the main kitchen for food prep and entertaining. I'm not knocking her principles, just saying that it doesn't stack up unless you have a compact kitchen area. Do you want your children carrying dishes any distance to set a table? I don't. Store your dishes near your food prep and serving area. Not near the dishwasher - unless it is all in the one spot!!

Please read "none of it addresses how far the storage is from the kitchen"

It's actually good exercise to bend, stretch and move around the kitchen to take care of items after the dishwasher has already done the job for you.

In the planning stages now for a new kitchen. Demo of old one starts Monday. So quickly -- what are the risks and drawbacks of installing an elevated dishwasher? What reasons for NOT doing this will the plumber and installer give me? Thanks!!

Can't say it often enough (because i commented on this a while ago and it currently seems to be catching on with the professionals as well : raise your dishwasher to worktop level and save bending down for every item (look at the uncomfortable position of the lady in the first image - backbreaking!) A professional plumber should have no problems with it, this in not space science.

I was surprised to see sterling silver in the drawer. I too have a drawer for my sterling, but I do not wash it in the dishwasher. I did use the dishwasher for a time with sterling and it got permanently clouded, and each piece had to be buffed!!!

Our setup is very similar to hess7561. We have no cabinets above the counter, but the majority of dishwasher-washed items are directly across from the dishwasher (plates, bowls, flatware, mugs and glasses). The next set of drawers (visible, but not open) house storage containers and large pots. The far drawers house coffee making supplies and not-often-used storage containers. Pans and knives are behind me on the other side of the stove (stove is directly to the left of the photo). That way, they are close to the sink as most are hand washed. Loading & unloading the dishwasher is pretty quickly accomplished and everything is easily accessible. The drawers are cork-lined so items don't slide around, but I would like to get a grid storage system for the glasses.

After writing about raising dishwashers in an earlier post, this is how a raised down washer can work and have counterspace next to it as well as be convenient to unload.

I notice the lightening source in second pic. Could you explain it? Like it!

This is almost the exact set up we created when we remodeled our kitchen 3 years ago & I appreciate it every day. Our lower drawer is for pots & pans, as the range is just to the left. Under counter dish drawers are the best!

all good ideas - what about RAISING THE DISHWASHER. So many reasons to raise -1) So Much EASIER on a BACK, 2) keep foods from a roving dog, 3) keep hot items from Children, and more reasons for each person