Most of us have a dishwasher in the house and it is often one of our most valued assistants. It saves a lot of time even for low-demand jobs, and is also economical in terms of energy, water and detergent consumption.
But is that still the case today, when electricity prices are soaring to unexpected levels and we are slowly starting to talk about water prices? Wouldn’t it be better to go back to hand washing?
Let’s take a look together.
When is a dishwasher cheap?
The logical precondition when it is worth washing dishes in the dishwasher is when the appliance is full. A full dishwasher uses about a third less energy and only half the amount of water than washing by hand.
According to a study carried out in Bonn, Germany, a fully loaded dishwasher consumes about 15 liters of water, while it is about 46 liters when washing by hand. And if you rinse the dishes under running water, it can be up to 150 liters of water.
According to the same study, dishwasher owners spend an average of 10 minutes a day washing dishes. That’s the time it takes to put dishes in and out of the dishwasher, while washing them by hand can take an hour. And we can do a lot of other useful work during the hour.
The dishwasher also disinfects our dishes, because it uses temperatures that our hands would not be able to bear. It is usually above 65°C, but this temperature is only needed when washing pieces that have come into contact with meat or fish. If not, it is sufficient to use it once a month to help dissolve the fat deposits in the appliance.
Use the eco program
For regular washing, the most beneficial is the eco program, which is already included in the settings of most dishwashers today. Many consumers doubt its effectiveness because it is disproportionately long compared to others. But the Eco program uses much less water and energy than the others. Although they save time, they therefore require much more energy.
How to make hand washing cheaper?
If you only need to wash a few pieces, hand washing is much cheaper.
If you don’t have a dishwasher and only wash dishes by hand, wash them immediately after eating. Don’t let the residue dry on it, as you’ll use more water by soaking it.
Pour hot water, add detergent and use it. Rinse the dishes cold and only if you need to rinse off the detergent. Wash the least dirty parts first to keep the water clean for as long as possible.
Also think about buying a cheap sink faucet, which so-called aerates running water and therefore reduces not only the consumption of water, but also the energy needed to heat it.
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