How many times have you wondered if washing dishes by hand saves you more water than running your dishwasher? I admit, I thought this way for a long time. I really was surprised to find out I was wrong.
Dishwashers generally use about one-third of the hot water that’s used when washing dishes in the sink. Not only will washing dishes in your dishwasher give your water heater a break, but it’ll save you money and help the environment at the same time. Plus, you won’t have to waste time washing dishes! To take full advantage of all the great benefits of your handy dishwasher, make sure you only run it when you have a full load. And don’t worry about pre-rinsing your dishes because studies have shown that pre-rinsing doesn’t enhance the cleaning done by your dishwasher. It’s hard to believe, but skipping the pre-rinsing step can save you as much as 20 gallons of water per load. That’s pretty impressive!
Next time you’re shopping for a dishwasher, make sure you buy one that’s energy and water-efficient. Water-efficient dishwashers only use about four gallons of water per load. One simple way to save energy is by letting your dishes air-dry instead of using the dishwasher’s heat drying option. Now run that dishwasher and go enjoy all the time and money you’re saving!
