Studies are showing more and more that, when used to maximize energy-saving features, modern dishwashers can outperform all but the most frugal hand washers. Studies show that most people pre-rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher, even though dishwashers purchased within the last 5-10 years do a superb job of cleaning even heavily soiled dishes. If you find you must rinse dishes first, get in the habit of using cold water.
In an effort to live more green and frugal, I decided to do a little experiment. Using my baking soda tip, I simply scraped my dishes off in the sink to remove clumps of food, dusted with baking soda and immediately loaded in the dishwasher. I used very little or no water at all, depending on the item. Here is a picture to prove how dirty the dishes remained.
The baking soda still did it’s trick as it was pre-washing before I even turned the dishwasher on. They sat in the dishwasher for a few hours before it was fully loaded and ready to go through a cycle. Since I used the baking soda, I only added about 1 tablespoons of detergent. The result: Amazingly clean dishes! I was pleasantly surprised at how little time, water and detergent you really need to use in dish washing!
So here are the facts:
- Dishwashers are more energy efficient than hand washing – their job is to clean dirty dishes, so leave them dirty!
- Even old-school dishwashers don’t use as much water per dish as hand-washing. Newer, more efficient dishwashers use only 1/6 of the water used during hand-washing, and save 230 hours of your time each year.
- You conserve water when you only run a fully loaded dishwasher (and clothes washer too, for that matter!)
- Another tip: Let your dishes air dry. A dishwasher uses more energy to dry dishes than to wash them. If your dishwasher doesn’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open to let moisture escape.
Savings:
- Saves water – better for environment and your water bill
- Uses less energy/electricity – also better for environment and your utilities bill
- Uses less time – more time to spend on more profitable things
- Uses less detergent – if you pre-dust with baking soda you extend the detergent longer
Other Appliances
Information provided by Tidbits & Stuff.com
Refrigerator
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer filled for most economical operation. Less cold air is lost when the door is opened in a filled refrigerator because the food helps retain the cold.
- Allow foods to partially cool before placing them in the refrigerator. It takes more energy to cool hot food.
- For added savings, cover foods and liquids. The moisture that is released by uncovered containers increases energy use during the refrigerator’s defrost cycle.
Oven
- Don’t open the oven door to take a peek at what’s cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside – by as much as 25 degrees – which increases cooking time and wastes energy.
- As long as your oven is on, cook several items at the same time. Just make sure you leave enough room for the heat to circulate around each item.
- In an electric oven, you can turn the heat off several minutes before your food is fully cooked. As long as the oven door remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking your meal.
I’ve started using my toaster oven for as much as possible and have saved around $10-$15 a month on my energy bill! Works great if I’m just doing a small casserole in 9×9 pan, quiche, pies, or quick bread, not so much for batch baking.
I don’t have a dish washer, but I have also heard from someone (can’t remember who!) that dish washers use less water than hand washing. I wonder… how much water does a dish washer use for a load of dishes?? I don’t use much water at all for washing my dishes (maybe 3-4 gallons a day, total!)… but I have seen people wash their dishes by hand and run LOTS of water… so I would love to have hard numbers here!!
Great tip about the dishwasher! I’m always trying to find new ways to save energy – I had never thought of opening the dishwasher and letting the dishes air dry. I will give that a try!
I have also heard that dishwashers are much more efficient than washing by hand–IF you skip the pre-rinse. I like your baking soda tip and will try it if I ever live in a house with a dishwasher. Did you try using the baking soda trick on just half of the dishes? I’d be curious to see if the baking soda worked better than absolutely nothing.
I just discovered your blog through WFMW. Our website (http://greenbabyguide.com) has a similar “frugal green” angle. Thanks for the tips!
I have tried skipping the baking soda, but only if I am turning the dishwasher on right away, and it worked fine. Since I don’t need to turn it on as frequently at our place (it gets run every other day or so), I use the baking soda to break down the food while its sitting in the machine; otherwise, it would probably get pretty crusted on. If you run it more frequently, you probably could skip the baking soda.
I love love love your blog! Keep up the great work.
You do an amazing job on your site. I love all the info you provide. Keep up the great work!
I will show your post to my hubbie – perhaps I will get a dishwasher for Mother’s Day. Thanks for the tips.
Blessings,
~Martie
great tips, thanks. btw, been using your deodorant recipe since Friday (both dh and I actually) and no stinky pits here! thanks!!
I love my dishwasher!!! I run at least every other day!! It has saved me so much time!
Thanks for all the tips!
The dishwasher is also good for keeping illness at bay. It santises them.
Great tips, my dishwasher won’t clean them that well, but I fill up something in my sink, usually a bowl and then just keep using that water to scrub off the dishes before they go in.
Oh to have a dishwasher. We rent so we cant install one but this post will be my leverage to talk hubby into one when we buy our own place.