Fill Dishwasher
Did you know you can save up to 5,000 gallons per year using your dishwasher when full and avoiding pre-rinsing? Just follow a few basic steps and you are on your way to saving precious water resources and money!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
In the great debate over which saves more water—hand washing or using a dishwasher—the dishwasher wins! However, it is not just any dishwasher load that gets the prize. In a study on dishwashing water and energy use, the clear winner was specifically a full load of dishes washed in an Energy Star dishwasher that was not pre-rinsed. This method used 3-5 gallons of water.
In second place was hand washing dishes using a basin filled with soapy water for washing and another basin filled with clean water for rinsing—not running the water while washing. This method also included having a water saving aerator installed on the kitchen faucet and used up to 8 gallons of water.
Both of these methods use less than half the water of other dishwashing methods! In fact, using an older, regular dishwasher used up to 15 gallons and regular hand washing (with the water running) used up to 27 gallons. Running your dishwasher on full and avoiding pre-rinsing can save water, energy and time! Really, it's a win-win-win. Check out the tips below and start saving!
1Be dishwasher smart
Dishwashers can save a household up to 5,000 gallons of water per year compared to manually washing up. Better yet, they also save a lot of time. Here are a few tips to use your dishwasher more efficiently.
Run on full. To get the most out of dishwashers, and save as much time, water, and energy as possible, fill dishwashers to their full capacity before pressing start. Whether your dishwasher is new or old, running it full is the best way to save water.
Wash non-kitchen items. Instead of handwashing items like children’s toys, Ziploc bags, or even sunglasses, save water by throwing these items in the dishwasher. A few other items you can throw in—plastic hair brushes, soap dishes, toothbrush holders, sponges and dish brushes, vases, light fixtures, pet toys and food bowls, golf balls, flip flops or unlined rubber boots, microwave trays, refrigerator shelves, washable kitchen exhaust fan filters and more. In general, small plastic, ceramic, glass or metal items wash great, but don’t put it in if it’s made of wood, cast iron, copper or other material that will not weather the dishwasher well. If you’re not sure, check the manufacturer’s label. And if it is greasy or particularly dirty, run the items in a separate load without dishes.
Avoid pre-rinsing. Rinsing the dishes ahead of time can use 2-5 gallons of water per minute! The good news is most of the time pre-rinsing is not necessary. Modern dishwashers have sensors that “measure” how dirty the dishes are before washing and adjust settings accordingly. If you don't have this feature, you might have a manual setting that allows you to adjust the amount of cleaning. Dishwashers with this adjustment can generally take dishes that have not been rinsed.
Check your instruction manual to see if this feature is included on your dishwasher. Scrape food off plates and utensils before loading into the dishwasher. If you must rinse your dishes before washing, use cold water instead of hot.
Post a note. Dishwashing is often a family affair with everyone in the household pitching in. Share the info on the most efficient way to use your dishwasher with others in your household. Put a note on the dishwasher or fridge with tips to remind everyone!
Congrats! You are now “dishwasher smart”! Commit to following these tips whenever possible and mark this action done!
Extra credit - Upgrade an older dishwasher. If your current dishwasher is relatively new, you can make the most out of it by following some of the tips mentioned above. However, if your dishwasher is over 10 years old and particularly if it is pre-1994, replacing it can save significantly on both water and energy. Check out the Upgrade Dishwasher action to learn more.