Who uses the most water: me with my sponge or my dishwasher in eco mode? The answer is in this article. Last December, my dishwasher gave up the ghost without warning! What was I to do? Not immediately! Thinking that a dishwasher wasn’t essential for two people, I took out the washable sponge and washing-up liquid and rolled up my sleeves. The result? Twelve liters of water for two glasses and two plates, not to mention the time lost washing, scrubbing, rinsing and drying! I thought I was on vacation at the campsite, but at home. And the verdict was final: in three weeks, I reinvested in a dishwasher, which I have been using on automatic program ever since. This little step back in time prompted me to dig deeper into the question: between washing by hand and using the dishwasher, which is really the most economical?
An unbalanced duel in terms of water and energy consumption
First round: water. The dishwasher wins hands down, with an average of 12 liters per cycle, compared to 42 liters for a conventional manual wash. Yes, 42 liters, which is almost three packs of water bottles. And if you’re the type to let the water run like a waterfall when washing or rinsing, it’s even worse. And what about energy? Surprise: here too, the machine wins. Heating water in the sink is not neutral: it takes 2.5 kWh for washing by hand, compared to 1 kWh for a machine washing machine, according to a study reported by TF1 Info. In short, economically and environmentally, the machine seems to be much better equipped.
Eco-friendly actions to ensure your machine doesn’t ruin the benefits
But beware, the dishwasher doesn’t do everything on its own, you have to give it a little help. To maximize its efficiency, it is best to wait until it is full before starting a cycle. And you should also consider using the eco mode, which uses less water and operates at a lower temperature. Another tip: avoid pre-washing your dishes in hot water, as it cancels out all the benefits. And don’t forget to run the machine during off-peak hours to reduce your bill (and help the planet). And finally, for the most motivated, forget the drying cycle and open the door at the end of the cycle. Your dishes will air dry, like the ones I finally left on the worktop of my sink!
And what about hand washing?
Does it still have a future? Yes, in certain specific cases.
For very dirty dishes or fragile objects, hand washing is still the best option. I still wash by hand, for frying pans, for example, or pots that are too big for the dishwasher. And if you have very few dishes, washing by hand, intelligently, can be more relevant than running an almost empty machine. But you have to be clever: one basin for washing, another for rinsing, no hot water running freely, and above all, don’t overdo the washing-up liquid (no, it doesn’t wash better, it just rinses less well).
The champions of washing up by hand manage to use only 5 to 10 liters of water per session! And you, are you more of a sponge team or an automatic program team? My trusty dishwasher, which cost €599, doesn’t even have to think about it. It runs, in eco or auto mode, while I sip my coffee! Are you interested in this subject? Feel free to give us your opinion or share your experience with us. Please report any errors in the text, click here to post a comment.
