Dishwasher vs. hand-wash?

LocalNewsDaily.com, Oct 10, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Smart sustainability practices often involve switching something off: lights, heat, air conditioners, your car’s ignition. When it comes to washing dishes — and we all must — that guiding principle faces a challenge.

It’s easy to imagine energy savings would be found in shutting down the automatic dishwasher and doing the washing up by hand. Maybe. Maybe not.

Time

This, and fears about servants manhandling fine china, led to the invention of the automatic dishwasher, which debuted at the 1893 World’s Fair. The machine, which didn’t come into widespread use until the 1950s, still offers the labor savings it always has: You load it, you fire it up, you’re free to go.

Advantage: Dishwasher

Water use

You’ll use far more water running the dishwasher than washing one batch of dishes by hand, but most folks aren’t inclined to leave a mess in the sink, and will do dishes several times a day. Assuming you don’t use too much water pre-rinsing while loading the machine — and you shouldn’t — running the dishwasher once a day wins on saving water.

Advantage: Dishwasher

You’re soaking in it

For every person who professes a deep hatred for washing dishes, there’s another who finds it to be an almost mystical experience. Some folks find soothing balm in the rather mindless rhythms of washing a sinkful.

On the other hand, if running the dishwasher frees you up to read a good book or spend quality time with the kids, technology has indeed improved your quality of life, at least for a wash cycle.

Advantage: Draw

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