For those of us who spend a lot of time in the kitchen (which is generally most of us – especially if we have a big family!), we might find ourselves asking the question, “is it better to use a dishwasher or handwash our dishes?”. From figuring out when is the best time to run the dishwasher and how long a dishwasher cycle takes, to understanding how much electricity a dishwasher uses, there are many misconceptions about just what is the best way to get this everyday kitchen task done – but thankfully, we’ve got the answer.
What’s more efficient – dishwasher or handwashing?
Time efficiency
One of the major advantages of a dishwasher is there is less clean up time needed after breakfast, lunch and dinner. Depending on the length of the cycle, your dishwasher may be able to wash a full load of dishes in just 30 minutes. Obviously, this depends on the number of people in your household and the size of the pile of your dirty dishes – but generally, that’s more time doing what you love, rather than spending it in the kitchen.
Energy efficiency
Not only does a dishwasher help to save valuable time and effort when it comes to cleaning up (especially after a dinner party or family get together), but it also helps the environment. Using a dishwasher is more efficient than hand washing as it saves more water and electricity – not to mention elbow grease – than if you were to stand at the sink labouring over your dishes.
Water efficiency
You can also use our Finish® Rinse Aid and put your dishwasher on an eco-wash. Eco-washes reuse the water in the machine, delivering clean dishes without water wastage. To save water further, remember that there’s no need to rinse your plates before putting them in the dishwasher – simply scrape off the food and off you go! Pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher can waste around 1115 litres of water a year!
Just remember – never use hand soap in the dishwasher or you’ll risk an overflow of water from the appliance to the floor. Only use specially formulated detergents like Finish for the best results.
