Change Your Dishwashing Habits

Many homes these days are fitted comfortably with an area designed specifically for a dishwasher so why not use it right? Automatic dishwashers replace the need for any dirty work. Load up all of the dirty dishes from the last few days and nights and then tap a few buttons to have your dishes mechanically and automatically cleaned. No manual labor required is by the end user save for the far-from-cardio motions of placing the dishes neatly on the rack.

The first automatic dishwashers were found to be in use as far back 1850, obviously with a much more crude and primitive design. Since then it has replaced much of the manual work done by the homeowner and allows for a more efficient use of time. Reduce labor and increase personal time. Isn't that what we all long for?

Does washing dishes by hand or in a dishwasher save more money? The answer lies in how the actions are done. There was a study conducted in Germany that showed that dishwashers were more efficient against the use of manual hand dish washing by the human dishwashers. The study found that the dishwasher handled electricity, water, and detergent usage better than a human. The study can be found here, although the text is in German.

Why is a automatic dishwasher more efficient? Well certainly because we are humans and not machines. Dishwashers may seem like they are wasting energy but the energy expenditure of a human using water and detergent inefficiently is greater than that of the machine designed to replace the job.

There are a few tips that one should follow to be sure that their automatic drying experience is truly the best course of action. These tips will also help you save money even if you already use a dishwasher as opposed to hand washing.

• Tend to use lighter wash settings for the dishes. The higher settings are unnecessary.
• Choose not to do a heated dry. The heated dry will simply waste electricity. 
• Do a load only when it is absolutely necessary. Fill the dishwasher to capacity before doing a load but do not overload. Make sure there is enough space for the water jet to reach each piece.
• Wash pots and pans manually. They take up too much space in the dishwasher. Do not leave the water running while doing this. Fill the pot or pan up with a slight amount of water and use this to clean with. 
• Do not overdo the use of dish detergent. 
• Using EnergyStar Dishwashers can help save energy.
• Check parts of the dishwasher and make sure they are working properly. This means checking for clogs and making sure the jet is not obstructed.
• Scrape off what you can from the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, but do not use water or other means of cleaning. The dishwasher can take care of this.