DISHWASHERS VS. HAND WASHING: DO DISHWASHERS SAVE WATER?
Your dishwasher is the ultimate kitchen sidekick, making it easier to prepare the tools you need just when you need them. Your sink can also be a handy place to scrub a few dishes in a pinch. But when it comes to water consumption, is it better to hand wash or use your dishwasher? Use this guide to discover more about the way each method consumes resources and learn when to use a dishwasher or hand wash dishes.
DISHWASHERS VS. HAND WASHING: 4 KEY CONSIDERATIONS
The pros and cons of using a dishwasher vs. hand washing dishes vary by circumstance, but this guide can help you find more clarity for your situation. See four considerations below to discover how each method measures up in terms of water consumption, cleaning power, time investment and cost.
1. WATER CONSUMPTION
Your owner’s manual may mention how much water your dishwasher consumes, but standard dishwashers typically use 3-4 gallons per wash cycle. Hand washing dishes can use up to 27 gallons, churning away about 15 gallons for every five minutes the faucet runs.
Thanks to advancements in dishwasher technology like soil sensors, enhanced water filtration systems and dish rack designs, modern dishwashers are becoming increasingly eco-friendly. ENERGY STAR® certified dishwashers can help you save both water and money over the appliance’s lifetime.
2. CLEANING POWER
Dishwashing vs. hand washing cleanliness in terms of sanitization ultimately comes down to water temperature. Depending on the model and settings, dishwasher water can heat to over 155°F as it cleans dishes, which exceeds the USDA’s recommended 140°F necessary for sanitizing.However, sink water should be kept at a maximum temperature of 120°F, so it may be difficult to achieve the same kind of cleaning power that dishwashers offer.
Select KitchenAid® dishwashers offer a Sani-Rinse Option that raises water temperatures up to 146ºF, eliminating 99.999% of food soil bacteria by adding a high-heat final rinse to the wash cycle.
3. TIME
Dishwashing times vary by cycle, sensor readings and how dirty dishes are, but you can generally expect a cycle to last anywhere from 1.5-4 hours from start to finish. The average person takes about 15 seconds to hand wash a dish according to a study from detergent brand, Cascade. You can expect hand washing a standard dishwasher’s capacity of 10-12 place settings to take about 27-33 minutes.
If you’re in a pinch, look for a quick wash cycle on your dishwasher’s control panel. Select KitchenAid® dishwashers feature the Express Wash Cycle that cleans dishes in less time, so you have the dishes you need while prepping, cooking and entertaining.
4. RESOURCE COST
The operational cost of dishwashers vs. hand washing varies by dishwasher model and hand washing habits, but hand washing typically consumes about nine times more water for the same number of dishes. So cleaning your dishes in your dishwasher may be the more economical option.
ARE DISHWASHERS BETTER THAN HAND WASHING?
A dishwasher generally uses less water than hand washing, and saves you some elbow grease, but not every item can be hand washed. Kitchenware like cast iron pots and pans, delicate glassware and knives, hand-painted china or ultra thin plastic can be damaged or warped in the dishwasher.
In addition, the coating on copper non-stick cookware can be damaged in hot water, wood can be discolored and silver and enamel don’t hold up well to the high heat. So be sure to check if your item is dishwasher safe before you put it in your machine.
TIPS FOR USING LESS WATER WHILE WASHING DISHES
Saving water can benefit the environment, your community and your pocketbook. Use the tips below to save resources, whether you opt for using the dishwasher or washing dishes by hand.
Make sure you know how to load your dishwasher the right way - don’t overload so you won’t have to rewash dishes that didn’t get clean.
Don’t spend too much time pre-rinsing dishes. Detergent does its job best when dishes have some food residue left to cling to. Plus, many modern dishwashers are designed to detect the soil level of your load and may cut the cycle short if dishes don’t have soil on them.
If you’re hand washing, rinse a few items, then turn the water off while you scrub them clean so you don’t waste water.
Pre-rinse for the dishwasher or hand wash using warm water. The warmer the temperature, the stronger and faster the cleaning power.
Run full loads when you can, and don’t overwash by using unnecessarily long or heavy-duty cycles when they’re not required.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® DISHWASHERs
Select KitchenAid® dishwashers are designed with efficiency in mind. Eco Series dishwashers from KitchenAid brand save you water, energy and money with quality wash and dry performance.1
Select models also feature the Triple Filtration System that uses three levels of filtration to remove particles during the wash and rinse cycles, ensuring clean water circulates through the wash arms and onto dishes, even with dirty cookware loaded in.
1. Compared to dishwashers meeting the minimum 2023 Department of Energy efficiency standards.
Share
