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The 40-year-old dishwasher and other kitchen miracles

Jenna Price Columnist November 17, 2025 — 7.00pm

It’s the Monday morning after a big day in the kitchen. I’ve got a big dishwasher and I’m not afraid to use it – the day before, it ran five cycles.

But when I go to empty the dishwasher, it’s blinking. Bad sign. We’d just celebrated the fifth birthday of my beloved Bosch top model dishwasher, the one which pops open to let the steam out, the one with the third shelf for flattish toddler bowls and tongs. On average, it runs full, three or maybe four times a day. At least it did.

As it turns out, says the repairman, it would be a waste of money to fix it.

Guess how many dead dishwashers, fridges and gas heaters end up on our streets

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