Ask an Expert: Hand Washing Dishes

Does hand washing dishes use less water and energy than a dishwasher?

It's widely believed that dishwashers are convenient but use more water and energy than hand washing. In fact, hand washing a load of dishes uses about 27 gallons of water, while using an ENERGY STAR®-rated dishwasher can use as little as 3 gallons. Using a dishwasher — rather than hand washing — can save you more than $40 annually, according to ENERGY STAR.

Additional ways to save energy while washing dishes include:

• Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them. Most dishwashers can clean off food residue and rinsing just wastes water.
• Dry on the lowest possible temperature setting. This not only saves energy but also avoids spotting of glassware.
• Operate the dishwasher only when you have a full load. Running on partial loads wastes energy and water.

If your dishwasher is older or in need of repair, purchase a new ENERGY STAR-certified model. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use less energy and water than standard models while providing the same level of performance.