A dishwasher that automatically indicates that whether the dishes in it are clean or not. When the dishwasher is finished running, the display reads “clean”. A weight sensor in the drawers detects when dishes have been placed in the dishwasher, at which point the display switches to “dirty”.
-- ytk, Jan 23 2013

The first half of this idea is baked (my dishwasher has a little light that indicates when a load has finished running), leading to an interesting semantic conundrum: is a halfbaked idea of which half is fully baked truly halfbaked?

The other part, with the weight sensor and all, I like, but therein lies another dilemma, since what good will it do you to know if the dishwasher is empty or full, the dishes in it clean or dirty, without opening the door, since the only activity ensuant to such knowledge begins with opening the door, either to remove clean dishes or to add detergent and start the cycle?

Here's a bun for giving me all of these philosophical questions to ponder.
-- Alterother, Jan 23 2013


Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether the dishes are dirty or not, particularly if some of the dishes don't have obvious dirt on them. White cereal bowls, for example, usually just have milk residue on them.

Also, (especially when you live in a household with kids) the dishes don't always get put away as soon as they're clean. It's not uncommon for someone to simply grab a clean glass or plate out of the dishwasher and close it again. The only safe way to make a determination as to the status of the dishwasher is to either examine every dish until you find a dirty one (or don't), or shout across the house in the hopes that somebody is more knowledgeable than you on the subject.

The “finished” light is useful, but since it gets cancelled as soon as you open the door, it's not definitive as to the status of the dishwasher when it's not illuminated.
-- ytk, Jan 23 2013


Maybe have someone in the household take responsibility for emptying the dishwasher?
-- UnaBubba, Jan 24 2013


//Maybe have someone in the household take responsibility for emptying the dishwasher?//

Inventing, patenting, and marketing this idea would be easier.
-- ytk, Jan 24 2013


My dishwasher displays an orange light when the dishes are clean. It doesn't cancel when you open the door, unless you shut it again...then you're confused.
-- xandram, Jan 24 2013


//The “finished” light is useful, but since it gets cancelled as soon as you open the door, it's not definitive as to the status of the dishwasher when it's not illuminated.//

The light goes off on my dishwasher when the door is opened, but turns on again when the door is closed, unless it's turned on to run again.

The rule in my house is: If the dishes are clean and you open the door, you empty it and put the dishes away.

Since rule #1 is "Don't piss off Dad" we get 100% compliance.

And if you believe this, I have some investment opportunities I'd like to discuss with you.
-- whlanteigne, Jan 26 2013


[bella], that anno should either be bronzed or taken out and shot—I'm not sure which.
-- ytk, Jan 27 2013


I vote for a whole separate idea - the ant farm dishwasher.
-- normzone, Jan 27 2013


Seconded.
-- blissmiss, Jan 27 2013


There could be a whole anti-hygiene category.
-- AusCan531, Jan 28 2013



random, halfbakery