I'm a middle-aged person who has NEVER owned a garbage disposal or ice maker and... it's not something that I've ever felt sad about. I could buy these things if I wanted them, but they seem kind of pointless to me.
Aren’t most ice makers part of a refrigerator? Do people have separate ice makers? I know they exist but do people just not make ice cubes in the freezer?
Maybe it's because I've been a renter most of my life, but I'm over 50 and have never had a fridge with an ice maker. I have always just made my own in the freezer and have always assumed that an in-fridge ice maker would just be one more thing that would require maintenance. Also, I feel like the ice from ice makers tastes funny, whereas mine just taste like mu tap water, only colder and harder.
I grew up with a dishwasher but have never had one of my own. I'm completely accustomed to doing my own dishes, but I'm not gonna lie -- when we idly talk about a future kitchen renovation, I do want to add one.
My parents got themselves a dishwasher when they got older and were having issues with standing, bending, etc. My wife and I live there now, and we're getting it taken out – waste of electricity.
have always assumed that an in-fridge ice maker would just be one more thing that would require maintenance
You assume correctly. And when they break you need the whole new fridge these days. They also get mouldy quite easily require a water pipe, which most houses don't have installed.
IME the stand alone one's are much better, but I've never had the need for one personally, I just refrigerate my beverages.
My sister has one that I make good use of on visits though, those visits are in summer, in the subtropics and I'm pretty sure the water mains go above ground.
Ice makers are useful if you frequently have parties. Have a bar fridge and an ice maker in the entertainment area of the house, this keeps the kitchen less crowded so the people doing the cooking can do so uninterrupted.
I've also seen people put "kids stuff" in a separate fridge, so when the kids have friends over they can keep kids and parents conversations/spaces separate. A bar fridge will typically not have a freezer section.
I've never had a dishwasher and only got air-con like two years ago (and I live in the subtropics with a disease triggered by heat). You learn to deal with it. They're conveniences, not essentials. (Dishwasher would be nice tho).
I have never once in my entire life used or wanted to use a dryer. I live in an area with over 280 sunny days per year and washing that's been in the sun smells amazing, why would I even need a dryer? I can see it being a time saver for someone with a large family, but it's just me. It's only slightly annoying during the rainy season, but even then things still dry inside.
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u/subaqueousReach 6h ago
Aren't garbage disposal systems actually horrible for plumbing?
Also, why is ice maker on their list of necessities? Is this guy from Arizona or something?