It’s no secret that dishwashers come with a whole host of benefits, from making light work of dirty dishes after a family feast, to saving more water than you would with washing them by hand. But what about the hygiene benefits that come with using a dishwasher? Dishwashers do clean better than by hand and we don’t just mean that sparkling shine.
What makes dishwashers so effective?
Essentially, dishwashers have the ability to use incredibly hot water and much stronger detergents than the average dish soap to get the job done. It’s intentionally designed like this because hot water is the best way to remove food grime and bacteria from your dishware. Solid grease and fat can stubbornly stick to the surface of dishes, glasses and utensils. The heat from the water converts the fat into liquid – making light work of even the toughest of stains.
Combine this heat with a premium cleaning product like Finish® Quantum Ultimate, where the dual-layered tablet with the Powerball technology each play an important role in providing the perfect clean every time.
Does washing dishes by hand kill germs?
So, can you get away with washing dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher? Well, considering that the sponge plays host to a significant number of germs in the kitchen – including sinister ones like salmonella and E. coli 1 – using a sponge might not be the best idea. Sponges are exposed to all sorts of food types, and, when you combine this with the porous and moist nature of the sponge, it’s the perfect environment for germs to grow. Yes, this is the item that you wash the dishes that you eat off. You’ll need to regularly replace your sponge to prevent spreading these germs.
Your tea towels are just as guilty for harbouring nasty germs, so once your dishes are clean, you may be drying them with germ-infested towels. Again, dishcloths are exposed to a lot of water and can remain damp, which is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Obviously, dishwashers reduce the need for items like sponges and dish towels. There are also cycles that you can use to give dishes a deep clean, particularly if you use it alongside a Finish® detergent and Finish® In Wash Dishwasher Cleaner. It does all the hard work for you, leaving items perfectly clean without having to stand over the sink. So, dishwashers are more hygienic in terms of apparatus used to clean the dishes.
Does washing dishes in cold water kill germs?
While it may be more comfortable for you and your hands to wash dishes in cold or lukewarm water, it doesn’t aid the cleaning process much as cold water isn’t effective against germs.
Washing dishes with hot water does kill germs, although the temperature should be over 65°C for a deep and effective clean. These are not temperatures that your hands can safely withstand, which means there’s no guarantee that that you’ll have removed the bacteria on your dishes through handwashing alone.
Dishwashers are hygienic as they offer a range of cycles and they are able to reach temperatures that hands can’t withstand. If you’re wondering, “how hot should water be for washing dishes?” the information outlined in the dishwasher temperature guide will help you get the best clean every time.
1 https://www.nsf.org/blog/consumer/clean-germiest-home-items
