As water costs rise across the U.S., many households are looking for ways to conserve this vital resource—and dishwashing is a great place to start. Whether you’re handwashing or using a dishwasher, every method has its own environmental impact. Surprisingly, using the dishwasher more often and handwashing less can save you a significant amount of water and energy. Let’s break down the water usage of each method and how you can make both more efficient.
The Myth of Dishwasher Waste
For years, dishwashers earned a reputation for being water hogs. The misconception that dishwashers use far more water than handwashing still lingers. However, this is simply no longer true for modern machines. Before 1994, dishwashers weren’t regulated for water usage, and some older models could use up to 15-20 gallons per load. But the advent of the Energy Star program and stricter regulations changed all that.
Since 1994, dishwashers have been designed to use far less water, with newer models consuming only about five gallons per load. In fact, today’s energy-efficient dishwashers can use as little as 4-5 gallons of water per load, thanks to the implementation of internal water heaters and optimized cleaning cycles. So, unless you’re still using an outdated dishwasher from 30 years ago, it’s likely much more efficient than handwashing.
Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing
So, how does handwashing compare? According to EnergyStar.gov, a dishwasher that has earned the Energy Star label only costs about $50 a year to run, using less than 5 gallons of water per load. On the other hand, handwashing a typical sink full of dishes can use a whopping 27 gallons of water. If you wash a full sink of dishes every day, you could be wasting over 8,000 gallons of water per year, compared to running your dishwasher once a day.
In short, using an energy-efficient dishwasher is far more water-efficient than handwashing, especially if you wash dishes daily. The savings not only extend to water but also to the energy used to heat the water—something that modern dishwashers do efficiently with built-in water heaters.
How to Make Your Dishwasher Even More Efficient
If you’ve decided that a dishwasher is the way to go, there are several simple practices you can adopt to make your dishwasher even more water-efficient:
- Scrape, Don’t Rinse: Scraping excess food off your dishes instead of rinsing them under running water can save you a significant amount of water. Rinsing dishes can waste up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Simply scraping food off your dishes requires no water at all.
- Skip the Extra Rinse Cycle: Many dishwashers have an optional rinse cycle. This can be helpful for extra-sticky dishes, but keep in mind it uses about half a gallon of water. If your dishes aren’t heavily soiled, consider skipping this cycle.
- Run Full Loads: Running a dishwasher with fewer than the maximum number of dishes wastes water, as it uses nearly the same amount of water for a half-load as it does for a full load. Make sure your dishwasher is full before running it, but don’t overload it, as that can reduce cleaning efficiency.
- Choose a Smaller Dishwasher: If you don’t have a lot of dishes, consider getting a compact dishwasher. These use even less water than full-sized machines, consuming as little as 2 gallons per load. Compact dishwashers are also great for smaller kitchens and can be simpler to install.
How to Make Handwashing Dishes More Efficient
If you prefer to wash your dishes by hand, there are still plenty of ways to reduce your water consumption:
- Soak First: For dishes with stuck-on food, such as pots and pans, soak them in hot, soapy water before scrubbing. This will loosen food particles and make the scrubbing process much quicker, reducing the amount of water you need for rinsing.
- Use a Basin or Pot: Instead of running the water continuously while scrubbing, fill a large pot, basin, or your sink with soapy water to wash your dishes. You can then rinse them with a quick blast of water, saving significant amounts of water compared to running the tap constantly.
- Turn Off the Tap: Whenever you don’t need the water running (such as when you’re scrubbing dishes), turn off the faucet. This simple habit can save a lot of water over time.
- Be Mindful of Water Temperature: Try to avoid washing dishes with excessively hot water, which can increase evaporation and use more water overall. Warm water is sufficient for most dishwashing tasks.
With rising water costs and the increasing need to conserve resources, we all have a responsibility to use water more efficiently in our daily tasks, and dishwashing is a great place to start. While handwashing has been the traditional method, modern dishwashers are far more water-efficient than most people realize, especially when using Energy Star-rated models. Even better, there are simple ways to make both handwashing and machine washing even more efficient, from using a basin instead of running the tap to ensuring your dishwasher is fully loaded before use.
By adopting these practices, you can cut down on your water usage, save money on your water bill, and reduce your environmental footprint.
