Do you know how to “green” your dishwashing routine? See how your knowledge stacks up and how you can tread a little lighter on the planet with sacrificing sparkling results. Afterall, if we all take small steps it can add up to a big impact. 

What uses more energy, hand washing or using the dishwasher? 

Many believe hand-washing is better for the environment, but that’s not the case. You may have heard that the dishwasher uses less water, but did you know that it uses less energy, too? Heating the water takes way more energy than running the dishwasher, so the less water used usually means the less energy, too. 

Is it more efficient to wait for a full load or run the dishwasher daily? 

If you are washing as few as eight items (dishes, utensils, glasses, etc.) then the dishwasher still comes out ahead as more efficient than washing them by hand. And the longer dishes sit before being cleaned the more “caked on” food can get. For most households, you’re better off running the dishwasher daily than waiting until it gets full. This is especially true if you’re in a household that tends to over-load the dishwasher, which can block some dishes from getting clean. 

Is it more efficient to scrape or rinse a dirty pan? 

This is a tricky question. Rinsing a pan before putting it in the dishwasher uses a lot more water than scraping it. With today’s dishwashers, you shouldn’t be pre-rinsing. But the dishwasher may not get a very dirty pan clean if it’s only been scraped off. Still, the best practice is to scrape it and load it into the dishwasher. If that doesn’t get it clean, feel free to leave it in and wash it again with the next load. Washing it twice, as long as it’s in the dishwasher with other dishes, will still take less water and energy than pre-rinsing it in hot water to remove food residue.  

How did you do on our quick quiz? Hopefully you learned a tip or two to use and pass along. Happy dishwashing, and here’s to a cleaner, greener home!