Hey earth muffins! Today I want to talk about washing dishes. This might sound boring to some people, but trust me – it is an important eco topic! 🌎 ❤️ Everyone washes their dishes, so it is necessary to think about its impact on the planet. So, if you were like me when I started my eco journey in 2018, you might be asking this question: is the dishwasher or hand washing dishes better for the environment?
The short answer is this: the dishwasher is better! When looking at the statistics, hand washing dishes used 34,200 gallons of water to a dishwasher’s 16,300 gallons over 10 years (Source). That is a crazy difference! I always thought that hand washing was better because it saved energy… But after giving it some thought this makes total sense in terms of water. In order to take full advantage of using a dishwasher, though, make sure to use these tips to be as eco-friendly as possible when washing your dishes!
1. Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
I think this goes without saying. You will save the most water and utilize resources the best if you only run your dishwasher when it is totally full. My boyfriend and I usually run it every night or every other night, depending on how many pots we have used to cook meals. We put everything in there – pans, pots, mason jars, etc. Saves us work from having to hand wash anything and is the most eco-friendly option!
2. Run the dishwasher with tap/cold water and opt out of dry cycle(s).
Dishwashers are awesome because you can customize the wash cycles. If you can change the temperature, always go for tap cold or cold. This prevents the machine from having to use any energy to warm up the water. Many dishwashers also have more than one dry cycle… Try opting out of multiple dry cycles (or even all dry cycles!) and let your dishes dry naturally. I personally haven’t had an issue with this; leaving the door open for the dishes to dry is a great way to speed up the process too.
3. Use “green” dishwasher detergent!
By using a dishwasher, you have to also buy some sort of detergent to clean your dishes. To be zero waste, avoid all dishwasher detergents in plastic bottles. Opt for ones in recyclable boxes or even try making your own! I personally love the Ecover dishwasher powder (affiliate link). I’ve found that it works better than other green brands (like Seventh Generation), and it comes in a cardboard box. I have been messing around with castile soap to try to use DIY cleaner, but so far I haven’t had any luck… But, choosing an eco detergent is a great first step for all!
4. Buy eco appliances.
If you are replacing your dishwasher at any point (or are buying one because your current residence doesn’t have one), make sure you buy one that has eco cycles! I am actually pretty amazed how most applicances have eco cycles these days… My dishwasher and laundry machines at my apartment complex all have an eco option. It is important to use as little water as possible to not waste such a precious resource. Whether you buy brand new or secondhand, definitely look to see if it has eco modes!
Overall, I hope I’ve convinced you that while it might not seem the best option, running the dishwasher is better for the environment. It wins out in the dishwasher or hand washing battle! 😊 But, make sure you follow the above tips to make sure your dishwashing is as green as possible! Do you have a dishwasher in your home?
Love,
Jenna ♥
All of these are such wonderful tips. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Great post! I always learn so much reading your posts! We have a dishwasher at home and when there are too many dishes in the sink I’ll place them in the dishwasher because I hate washing dishes (the worst home chore ever!). When there are a few dishes, I’ll wash them. Aren’t you suppose to use hot water? I’ve always heard that you are supposed to wash dishes with hot water to kill all the germs and bacteria. ♥
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Glad you learned a lot from the post! Regarding the whole hot water thing, the “hot” water in your dishwasher (and even your washing machine is actually sometimes hot enough to kill bacteria/germs… For some germs to be killed, it must reach at least 140 degrees; but, some of the stronger bacterias/germs can only be killed by about 210 degrees. As a typical dishwasher’s “hot cycle” can range from 120 to 150 degrees, you might not be killing as many (or even any) germs. So, to me it doesn’t seem worth it to use up energy to heat the water AND hot water instead of using tap cold 🙂 But, totally up to you and your preferences!
-Jenna
Michelle, I agree with you, and in a quick Google search every source I saw was recommending that a dishwasher be connected to the hot water pipe, not the cold, and said that the dishwasher’s own heater will bring the water to about 140F which is high enough to kill germs.
I know that the hot water I can tolerate putting my hands into when I hand-wash dishes is not that hot, but still I would never consider washing dishes in cold water unless I had no other option. Hot water helps remove food from dishes, too.
So informative! I never thought about green dishwashing detergent. I am going to look into this!
This is such n informative post Jenna! I actually would’ve thought that hand washing was the more eco conscious alternative, so I’m shocked to find out it’s actually the other way round. Unfortunately I can’t instal a dishwasher in my current home because it’s only temporary accommodation, but I’ll definitely keep your advice in mind for the future. x
El | Welsh Wanderer
This is really good news!
Do you have a very small dishwasher? It’s hard for me to imagine two people filling a dishwasher in just one day. My family of 4 is filling the dishwasher about every 2 days now, and pre-pandemic when we weren’t home for every meal it was 3-4 days. We have a full-size dishwasher.
One way we reduce dishwashing is by using some dishes two or more times between washing. A water glass can be used repeatedly for a few days, and sandwich plates, cereal bowls, etc., can be dusted off or quickly rinsed and set back on the table to use again.
Yupp – our dishwasher is pretty tiny! We also do a lot of cooking and wash our pots and pans in the dishwasher as well. Those can take up quite a bit of space! Love the idea of reusing dishes. We use huge Hydroflasks for water, so we barely ever need to use things like water glasses. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Jenna ♥
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Wow, that surprised me! But I can see how a full dishwasher would use less water. That makes me feel a bit more motivated to buy one! 😉
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