Washing the dishes
Which is the most environmentally and financially friendly way to wash the dishes? By hand or using a dishwasher? Rinse or just scrape? Overload or stack neatly?
Dishwashing Vs. Hand-Washing
Which method uses the least energy? Well, this is a difficult question, it all depends on how old your dishwasher is, what settings you use, and how you would wash the dishes by hand. Dishwashers are often thought of as a luxury with a large financial & environmental cost. However, when used to maximise energy-saving features, modern dishwashers can outperform all but the most frugal hand washer.
Scrape your plates, Don’t Rinse them
Studies show that most people pre-rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers, especially those bought in the last 5 to 10 years do a terrific job of cleaning even the dirtiest dishes. Don’t be tempted to pre-rinse dishes before loading, just scrape off any food into the bin & let the dishwasher do the rest. This will save you time as well as water, energy &money. If you find you must rinse dishes first, get in the habit of using cold water.
When loading the Dishwasher
Load dishes according to manufacturer’s instructions. Completely fill the racks to optimise water and energy use, but allow proper water circulation for adequate cleaning.
Only ever wash full loads in your dishwasher.
The dishwasher uses the same amount of water and energy whether it’s half-full or completely full. Putting dishes in the dishwasher throughout the day and running it once in the evening will use less water and energy than washing dishes by hand throughout the day. If you find that it takes a day or two to get a full load, use the rinse and hold feature common on most newer models. This will prevent build up of dried-on food while saving time and water compared to pre-rinsing each item. The rinse feature typically uses only 1 to 2 gallons of water.
Turn Down the Water Heater Temperature
By turning down your water heater thermostat you will significantly reduce water-heating costs
Use Energy-Saving settings on your dishwasher
Pay attention to the cycle options on your dishwasher and select the cycle that requires the least amount of energy for the job. Use the no-heat air-dry feature on your dishwasher if it has one. If you have an older dishwasher that doesn’t include this feature, you can turn off the dishwasher after the final rinse cycle is completed and open the door to allow drying. Using the no-heat dry feature or opening and air-drying dishes will increase the drying time, and it could lead to increased spotting, according to some in the industry. But try this method some time to see how well it works for your machine.
Save energy, save money & help save the planet
