Kitchen Deals -> Dinnerware

There seems to be little difference between hard wood and plastic cutting boards from a safety standpoint, as long as they are properly washed and sanitized after each use. Personally, I like the feel of solid wood. One piece of advice--buy large cutting boards. Don't bother with these tiny boards that everyone seems to have in his or her kitchen. They are not user friendly. Once you get down to serious cutting or chopping, the small boards are always woefully inadequate and downright maddening!

Don't put up with intrusive machine noise in the kitchen. Most dishwashers are now whisper quiet, 45-49dB being typical. You should still be able to watch the television or hold a conversation whilst the machine is operating.