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Today when I was thinking outloud on Twitter, I mentioned that I was trying to convince my husband that we need a new dishwasher. The one we have now is original to this 1994 house and it works when it feels like it, which is usually less often than we use it!

I REFUSE to put my son’s bottles, sippy cups and dishes in the dishwasher because it just doesn’t do as good a job as I can do with antibacterial soap and a good (dedicated) scrub brush. But, I have to admit that the grind of washing all of his stuff by hand is getting old. Now that he’s a toddler, he uses many more dishes, spoons and cups than when he was just learning to eat and I find myself behind on that chore more than I’d like to be.

I researched dishwashers online and found a very nice GE dishwasher for less than $250. We don’t need a high-end one since we plan to sell our house soon, and I thought that being able to write, “Brand new dishwasher” in our Craigslist ads could go a long way.

My husband isn’t as convinced that we need a new dishwasher. He’s the type of guy who uses something until it’s broken, falling apart and ready to die. I, on the other hand, like for things to work and work well. A dishwasher that doesn’t work well just creates more work…rewashing things that come out dingy, handwashing glassware, and of course, handwashing all of our toddler’s things.

So I did some math, which I will call, “Machine Math” from this point forward. It’s a way of justifying a purchase in a mathematical manner, which most practical people and people like my husband can appreciate.

I figure a new dishwasher will save me 10 minutes of time each day. Keep in mind that it will also save my husband a little time since he is the one who empties the dishwasher. This is a very conservative estimate, but I would say that I spend at least 10 minutes redoing something the dishwasher didn’t do and also washing toddler dishes by hand.

Multiply 10 minutes X 365 days a year and you have 3650 minutes or about 60 hours a year! This also breaks down to five hours a month! What could you do with an extra 5 hours a month? Could you work more? Spend more time with kids? Take up a hobby?

I decided to multiply that 60 hours a year by an average hourly work rate of $20 an hour which accounts for hours that I work on things but they aren’t considered “billable” hours. Anyway, that amount comes to $1200 a year!

At a dishwasher cost of $300 and a total savings of 60 hours in a year which could bring in $1200, it seems like a no-brainer to buy a new dishwasher. Isn’t it funny how sometimes just reducing things to good ol’ math can make them clearer?

So if you have a machine, or a process or something else that isn’t working for you or not working as well as you would like, do the math! Find out how much that failed machine or process is really costing you. Sometimes just a quick minute with the calculator can put it in perspective.

p.s. For more fun with “Machine Math” and a real-time look at how this Automatic Mom lives her life, follow me on Twitter!