The Southwest Voice

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Has it been 40 years since we began noticing American family disintegration? Or was it 50 years ago? However long it may be — and however many causes we can name — I, as an octogenarian, blame a heck of a lot of family troubles on automatic dishwashers! Is “togetherness” missing in your family? Band together around the kitchen sink — one dishwasher taking care of glasses, silverware, dishes and pans, while other family members dry things to sparkling clean, and storing in proper cabinets and drawers.

Compare that scenario to Mom — usually — or two children rinsing and storing various items in the automatic (at least a 10 minute job), then measuring detergent, etc., and turning the noisy machine loose to whir and slosh and pound for 30 minutes. At some point (in 30 minutes, or when the next meal is being prepared) someone will have to unload and wipe dry the cups and glasses full, or partially full, of water! How disjointed! How singular! It is true that the rinse cycle on every automatic sterilizes the load, but today’s detergents already sterilize everything!
You want proof?

Picture my wife and I in college housing with two children in the 1950s — and my wife suffering from strep-throat for a month! Our doctor’s prescriptions failed to cure the sore throat. Yet, neither our babies or myself were affected by wife’s affliction.

Wife wisely determined that our detergent, Tide, was destroying the “bug” in the dishwater. Answer: gargle with Tide! (Just a few grains in half a glass of warm water). It worked! The sore throat disappeared never to return. Never would have happened if we’d had an automatic! (Today we use Joy — a mere “touch” in a half glass of warm water!)

We as a family — now with six children and 15 grandchildren — are sore throat free because we gargle with Joy at the first sign of tenderness or congestion in the throat! True story!

The first mechanical dishwasher was invented in 1886 by Josephine Garis Cochrane. By 1893, it was a smash hit with hotels and restaurants! The home unit became common in the 1960s. (See? Hippy types missed out on bonding with siblings around the kitchen sink! Instead, they let their hair grow, took LSD for color, and fell into “free” love! All because of Josephine’s invention!)

Let your automatic sleep! Re-awaken your family to the healing bonds of washing, drying and storing dishes like we did back in the good old happy days!