In our v1.0 saga, we ripped out an old standard under-the-counter dishwasher, and recycled it ourselves; we recycle everything, from electronics to appliances, large or small. From the dishwasher parts, we quickly built a v1.0 drying rack system that supplied mobile dish racks for air-drying of dishes, and rolls in and out of the original 2' hole under the counter. It was built from recycled parts, and the typical scrap materials that every homestead has. v1.0 is documented here:
https://permies.com/t/166582/ungarbage/Convert-Dishwasher-space-Drying-Rack
It worked, but as I had used a mobile wire rack shelf on wheels to hold the two drying racks, it was not meeting requirements from the boss. She didn't really have input to give me before she saw v1.0, but definitely had input afterwards. So, v1.0 was "scrapped" (taken apart) and thrown back into the "waiting to be re-used" area, while I pondered the new requirements from the boss for v2.0, like "expand the counter space", "completely fill the original 2' hole", "mobile is good, as it is like a rolling island for the kitchen", and so on. I needed a special-purpose piece of furnishing, but I didn't want to spend hundreds on it ... something with my labor only, and more visits to the scrap pile.
v2.0 - drying rack system
Given the requirements, I rummaged through the lumber scrap pile, and easily found
enough pieces to build two "shelves" (one with wheels for the bottom), connect them with 2x4's into a mobile rack, and then incorporate the two drying racks from the old dishwasher. Wheels came from various appliances with heavy-duty wheels that end up in our wheel box. It now looks like the attachment. The bottom shelf holds the lower dishwasher rack, and screws make for "stops" at front and back. The upper shelf has the upper dishwasher rack hanging below it, mounted on the old dishwasher rails; it now slides in and out, and holds cups and such.
Water pads are underneath the bottom rack, and one sits on the top shelf for a really outsized pot and pan.
The boss approved, leftover paint was pulled out and liberally applied, and the rack system went into the kitchen. It fills the hole, and is usable from there, or it can be pulled out to the center of the kitchen, as an island to hold additional items for any kitchen effort or
project. As a bonus, no more banging of feet on the edge of the dishwasher door, when it is down and being used. This new rack slides in and out, has locking wheels, and now everyone uses less harsh language when working with it.
Recycling - Appliances
We recycle our own appliances ... by taking it apart, we end up with parts and piles destined for different uses. From a dishwasher, for example, we ended up with these parts:
- screws, nuts/bolts, springs, hoses, etc. ... refills our parts bins
- electric motor ... windmill projects, trading with others, etc.
- multitude of cables, pre-crimped with various blade/spade connectors ... fulfills lots of wiring projects
- drying racks (two), plus rails, wheels, etc. ... our drying rack system, for free!
- plastic tub ... this
should go into a planting or water feature
And everything else was sorted into these piles for recycling:
- metals
- plastics
- trash (things that didn't fit any of the other recycling piles ... items are now much smaller and easier to transport)
The benefit of recycling your own appliances: a.) it doesn't fill up the landfill, or an appliance graveyard b.) it restocks your homestead parts bins c.) the resulting keep pile lends itself to designing and creating new projects. For example, the two drying racks, once free of the surrounding dishwasher, immediately suggested a drying rack system that expands our counter space, supplies two racks for hand-washed dishes, and rolls around as needed, or fits the 2' hole in the existing counter (where old dishwasher was). This theoretically saves you having to buy such a system from Amazon or other sources, and if you are like us, it was built from recycled parts and scraps that are already present on your homestead.
Kitchen Furnishings vs built-in Appliances
For those of you with dead dishwashers, or with a desire to switch back to hand-washing, perhaps this post will help you to both get rid of that non-functional dishwasher appliance, and end up with a more functional kitchen furnishing that saves electricity and water.
v1.0 of our saga had a pic of an old-times kitchen, where there was no "cabinetry", just furnishings and stand-alone appliances. I believe I will use this approach when redesigning our kitchen. Imagine perfectly sized countertop "tables" at a back-saving height, placed around the kitchen. Underneath are rolling appliances and/or drying rack systems. Our kitchen antique "hutch" makes a reappearance. The antique
coffee grinder gets mounted on the wall, along with more modern versions of such tools. The refrigerator gets replaced with freezers acting as fridges. And finally, our
wood cookstove gets incorporated into the design, for heat/water/baking needs in our 9 months of cool/cold weather.
Where upper cabinetry would've been, we have more
greenhouse devices holding kitchen food plantings (herbs, salad stuff). More windows letting in light for both plants and humans. The kitchen goes back to being a fun gathering place for everyone doing some kitchen project, not a hole for one person who has to do a chore.
Hope this helps!
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