Dishwasher vs. Handwashing: Which Uses More Water?
What uses more water: handwashing or using a dishwasher? Whether you’re looking to reduce your water usage to live a greener lifestyle or you’re simply looking to save money on your water bills, it’s generally better to rely on your dishwasher to clean your dishes.
Here’s a guide to water usage when it comes to handwashing vs. running the dishwasher:
Today’s dishwashers are highly efficient
Today’s appliances, including dishwashers, are much more efficient than they were in the past. Old dishwashers typically consumed between 10 and 15 gallons of water per wash cycle, but modern models are much more efficient. Today’s dishwashers can only use 5 gallons of water, at most, per cycle, according to the United States Department of Energy mandates. Some high-efficiency appliances feature even lower water usage, at around 3.5 gallons per wash cycle.
Handwashing, on the other hand, is not very efficient in terms of water consumption. In many cases, washing a full load of dishes by hand requires over 20 gallons of water, so when it comes to what uses more water, handwashing or using a dishwasher, it’s safe to say that relying on your dishwasher to clean your dishes is usually the better choice.
Another aspect of modern dishwashers that helps you conserve water is the fact that you no longer need to pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in the machine. Not only does this reduce your water consumption, but it also saves you time and energy.
What if you don’t use a lot of dishes in your day-to-day life? Whether you have a small family or you eat out more than you cook at home, it’s only efficient to use dishwashers to clean full loads of dishes. If you’re only using your dishwasher every few days, you should probably be handwashing your dishes. Food particles can dry out and stick to the dishes in between wash cycles, and your dishwasher might not be able to clean them effectively.
Not all dishes should go in the dishwasher
Not all dishes are dishwasher friendly—there are some things that must be washed by hand. Sterling silver flatware, chef’s knives, nonstick pans, wood cutting boards and other common kitchen items can’t go in the dishwasher.
There are also some instances where handwashing is the best method of cleaning dishes. If you have a lot of stuck-on grime on your dishes, it’s often better to use a little elbow grease to clean it since even the most efficient dishwasher may not be powerful enough to get the job done.
When it comes to handwashing vs. using the dishwasher and which is better for your water usage, it’s clear that dishwashers are much more efficient. Not only is running the dishwasher faster and easier for you, but it also saves you money on your water bills.
Want to make sure your dishwasher is performing as efficiently as it should? Get in touch with Crews Appliance Repair today, and we’ll get your machine running its best in no time.
Categorised in: Dishwasher Repair
This post was written by Writer