Shea Simmons
Arguably, washing dishes is one of the most tedious household chores. It has to be done daily, and no one likes sticking their hands in leftover food residue. For those with dishwashers, the process is a bit easier. Some, however, might be avoiding running the appliance due to energy costs.
Surprise! Your dishwasher actually saves you money. Yes, we know this sounds a bit impossible, but we’ll explain how.
Many people wait until their dishwasher is full to run it, believing that small loads are a waste of water and energy. That’s not the case. A study conducted by dishwashing brand Cascade found that it takes a person 15 seconds to wash a single dish by hand. This results in roughly half a gallon of water usage for a single dish.
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In comparison, a dishwasher (at least one that’s Energy-Star approved) uses less than four gallons during an entire cycle. As long as there are at least eight pieces in your washer, you’ll actually save on energy costs by reducing your water usage.
Of course, the best way to save is to run your appliance when it’s full. This way, you’ll get the most dishes washed for the least amount of energy and water.
You should also avoid pre-rinsing your dishes. Not only will you be using water that you don’t need to use, but your dishwashing detergent might not work as well. Most formulas are designed to adhere to food debris and pull it off your dishes, if there’s nothing to hold onto, your dishes could be less clean.
The next time you’re on the fence about running your dishwasher, go ahead. It’s likely saving you money. Plus, if you don’t have quite enough items, you can always pop in your bathroom accessories.
