The Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Settings That You Likely Haven't Been Using

Dishwashers are a major convenience for saving time, and they're an indispensable kitchen appliance for many large families. Today's dishwashers are more energy efficient than ever and have a variety of settings to help you conserve energy and get your dishes clean. Many people have not used all the dishwasher settings on their machines and may not know that some settings can help save energy and water.

The eco-friendly dishwasher settings that you likely haven't been using are eco-mode, quick wash, and lower temperature settings. Choosing the right dishwasher setting for each type of load helps ensure that your dishes are clean while conserving water and energy. Eco-mode uses about 25% less water and 30% less energy than a standard dish washing cycle.

In addition to saving money on utility bills, there are environmental benefits to eco-friendly dish washing. Other ways to mitigate the environmental impact of your dishwasher include skipping prerinsing dishes before putting them in the machine, avoiding the heavy cycle unless the dishes are very dirty, and not using heat dry. You can dry your dishes while reducing energy consumption by opening the door at the end of the cycle.

Eco mode is a setting available on most modern dishwashers. This setting is designed to use less water and wash your dishes on a lower temperature. When washing dishes on eco mode, you may notice that it takes considerably longer for the cycle to complete, compared to standard washing cycles. This is because the water isn't heated as much and the soaking time is longer. Studies in Germany found that energy consumption is lowest when eco mode is used.

If you want to reduce your dishwasher's energy consumption, consider lower temperature settings too. About 60% to 80% of the total energy used by dishwashers is used to heat the water. Hotter temperatures result in more energy usage. A lower temperature setting is an eco-friendly option, and low temperatures are also safer for delicate China and glassware.

The best dishwashing cycle for the cleanest dishes depends on how dirty your dishes are and the size of the load. If the load is light and the dishes aren't very dirty, a quick wash cycle can help you save time and water. Some dishwashers have an "Auto" setting that senses how dirty the dishes are and how heavily loaded the machine is to determine the ideal cycle to clean that load without wasting energy.