Last month I addressed a reader question about whether it was more eco-friendly to use paper plates rather than run the dishwasher–the answer was to go with the dishwasher, which surprised many people. In response to that another reader wrote with a related question. I’m sure it’s a quandary all of us green and frugal folks have considered at one time or another:
Is it more green to use a dishwasher or to wash by hand? I don’t own a dishwasher, and I wash “Asian” style with a small bowl of hot soapy water to dip the washcloth in, scrub the item, then a quick hot rinse from the tap, then onto the drying rack. My husband has always argued that a dishwasher would be more efficient with the water, but I don’t see how it could be. What do you think?
The next time that you wash dishes by hand, here’s an experiment I’d like you to try. Stop up the sink over which you hot rinse the dishes, and then at the end of the wash cycle, measure how much water is in there. I’ll bet it’s more than you thought you were using, because when it runs down the drain, you don’t see it. How many gallons did you end up with?
I’m suggesting this experiment because, unbelievably, newer, efficient dishwashers use as little as five gallons of water for the entire dishwasher load. On the other hand, says the American Water Works Association, when you wash dishes by hand, the average person uses 20 gallons of water. Now maybe this figure comes from those that leave the tap on as they’re washing and aren’t conservative with water the way you are. But I’ll bet that it would be a challenge for you to hand wash an entire day’s worth of dishes using five gallons only–for the dipping, washing and rinsing.
Considering that you don’t own a dishwasher, you don’t have one as your back-up option, and I would suggest you continue to wash your dishes in the water-saving manner you’ve been using. But in the future, you may have to question whether getting a dishwasher does make sense as a water- and time-saver.
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
There is more to think about than just water consumption here. In regards to going green dish washing by hand should surely win out for all round greeness?
1 – use a bowl to wash the dishes
2 – use a “green” biodegradable detergent.
3 – when finished use the greywater to water plants
4 – no electricity used
those factors alone make it more environmentally friendly I think
What do you think?
Di:
You bring up some good points, but I’m not 100% in agreement with you.
You can get “green” biodegradable dishwasher detergent, and if you’re using hot or warm water to handwash your dishes, then you are using electricity or some form of power to heat the water.
I love your idea of using the grey water to give houseplants a drink, though. That’s brilliant.
Thanks for commenting.
Leah
I believe I found you from Home-Ec 101. This dishwashing dilemma has been plaguing me for awhile. I do use my dishwasher quite a bit b/c I had heard/read that it actually uses less water that hand washing. But, I have items that I don’t put in the dishwasher like those plastic cups my kids drink out of. They get flipped over by the water pressure and then fill with dirty water and then I have to wash them again.
When I wash dishes, I don’t like to fill a sink w/ water and put all my dishes into it. I just don’t see how anything gets clean that way. So, I do the wrong thing and run the faucet. But your reader’s suggestion of “Asian” style washing struck a chord with me. I think for those items that I don’t put in the dishwasher, I will start washing “Asian” style. I know that will use less water than I currently use for my handwashing needs.
Malia
Malia:
I’m glad that you found this advice helpful! Thanks for posting.
Leah
Using the dishwasher properly and efficiently makes a difference, too. Don’t prewash unless something is really stuck on a dish. Only run it when it’s full. Turn off the power heat and use airdry instead. All these contribute to keeping it greener.
Daisy:
Thanks for your ideas. I’m convinced that these kinds of tips can allow you to use your dishwasher and save power. I mean, I run one, sometimes two loads of dishes a day, and I’ve been watching my electric bill go DOWN over the past few months. Amazing. Have a great holiday weekend.
Leah
Thanks for looking into my question. I took your challenge and measured how much water I use to rinse, and I was dismayed at the amount. So I came up with another solution – I’m boiling just one kettle on the stove and setting everything in my drying rack over the sink without rinsing after I scrub. When the water is boiling, I pour it over the whole load of dishes in the rack. So I am now using a total of 10 cups of water per load of dishes, and just the electricity to boil one kettle of water. And, I even got my DH to try and do it too and he’s agreed it’s not much more work!
Sara:
So how much water WERE you using previously?
10 cups is an awesome amount, and I’m glad you found a new system that’s green and works for you!
Leah