DO DISHWASHERS SAVE WATER?
When it comes to post-meal cleanup, your sink and dishwasher are dependable partners in your kitchen. But when comparing water consumption, one option may be more sustainable.
Use this guide to break down the water and energy usage of your dishwasher and discover whether it truly saves water in the long run.
HOW MUCH WATER DOES A DISHWASHER USE?
Though the exact number may vary based on the make and model of your appliance, standard dishwashers typically use 3-4 gallons of water per wash cycle. In comparison, hand washing dishes can use as much as 27 gallons of water.
Many modern dishwashers now offer innovative features like soil sensors and enhanced filtration systems to streamline the wash cycle and help reduce water and energy consumption. Look for dishwashers with an ENERGY STAR® certification to help save more water throughout the lifespan of your appliance.
DO DISHWASHERS USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY?
The overall energy consumption of dishwashers can vary widely based on age, model and usage. On average, a dishwasher cycle uses about 1200 watts of electricity. In contrast, hand washing doesn’t directly consume energy, as it is performed manually. Despite this, hand washing often still indirectly consumes some energy, primarily for heating the water.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a new ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher uses less than half of the energy used when washing dishes by hand, and can save over 8,000 gallons of water each year.
DISHWASHER VS. HAND WASHING COST
Since the upfront cost of purchasing a dishwasher may be higher than hand washing, the latter might appear to be the more economical choice at first glance. However, dishwashers can help you save money long-term by helping to conserve water.
3 BENEFITS OF USING DISHWASHERS
Beyond water savings, dishwashers offer a variety of benefits that hand washing struggles to match.
1. Sanitization
Most modern dishwashers are equipped with a high-temperature Sanitize Cycle that increases wash temperatures up to 140°F with a final rinse temperature of 156°F to sanitize dishes and glassware according to the National Sanitation Foundation guidelines.
2. Heated Dry
Many types of dishwashers feature a heated dry option, which utilizes hot air to thoroughly dry dishes, eliminating the need for towel drying once the wash cycle is complete.
3. Time Savings
Arguably the most significant benefit, dishwashers free up your time and help make cleaning up after a meal feel like less of a chore.
Hand washing can be a tedious and time-consuming task, requiring manual scrubbing and rinsing of each dish, utensil, and glassware item. With a dishwasher, all you need to do is scrape off large bits of food, load the dishes into the appliance, add detergent and select a cycle.
EXPLORE MAYTAG® DISHWASHERS
When it comes to cleaning your dishes, streamline the process with a Maytag® dishwasher. Designed with powerful cleaning in mind, select Maytag® dishwashers offer features like Dual Power Filtration that lets you skip soaking, scrubbing and pre-rinsing or the 3rd Level Rack that brings more loading space and cleaning power straight to the top of the dishwasher.
