Is it more environmentally efficient to hand wash your dishes or use the dishwasher?

Question

Is it more environmentally efficient to hand wash your dishes or use the dishwasher?

Answer 1

i say hand washing dishes is better.   cant totally depend on technology all the time.

Answer 2

depends if you only have 2 or 3 things to wash versus a whole lot that could be neatly put into the dishwasher [always and only use it when its full] to save water and energy....oh  i would reccomend looking at the energy star appliances if you are looking to buy a new dishwasher

Answer 3

I would say a dishwasher if you fill it up. I'm sure they use the same amount of water whether half full or full. A dish washer full of dishes would use less water and electricity than if you were to wash the same amount by hand.

Answer 4

probibly by hand. depending on what kind you get.

Answer 5

"Environmetally efficient" is hard decipher.. :)

There are four areas to evaluate as I see it.

1. Materials use(production)

Dishwashers use more materials than a plug for you sink. But it's all on a very small scale and over the lifetime of the dishwasher very, very little waste.

2. Energy efficiency

The last figures I saw on this stated that washing by hand under running water(i.e. rinsing under running hot water) uses 3 times as much energy as a dishwasher. Not using running water is roughly the same as a dishwasher though. The major component of energy use is heating the water. On average is 25% of domestic hot water used for washing dishes.

3. Water efficiency

Same, abit less with a dishwasher.

4. Chemical waste

Here is where the human factor comes in. Most people can cut their household chemical use by 80%. Just by not overusing.

If you use dishwasher tabs, break them in half. In nearly all cases you will not see a difference. Same goes if you wash by hand.

Answer 6

Dishwasher! Short cycle and air dry (no heat). Don't pre-wash (yes, it sounds stupid, but tons of people do it) before putting your dishes in the washer.

Answer 7

i think it depends. You shouldn't use the dish washer if it's just a small amount of dishes.

Answer 8

if you have a modern dishwasher that is 4 star rated then definitely the dishwasher.

Answer 9

i agree with morphriz

Answer 10

Hand wash, when you use the dishwasher you use electrical power.  Some electrical power is generated by the force of water?????????  Perhaps.

Answer 11

the dishwasher uses less water than hand washing. per load anyway.

Answer 12

Probably hand washing if you actually fill the sink and let air dry or towel dry them

Answer 13

I think it depends on how energy efficient your dishwasher is.  My mom bought one that has a high energy rating so she tested it out.  For a month, she did nothing but hand was, and then a month of dishwasher washing.  For her, the dishwasher was more efficient than the hand washing, so she only uses the dishwasher.  Conduct your own experiment to find out how efficient yours is

Answer 14

figure that out

the production of

electricity causes contamination -

do you use electricity to hand wash the dishes

does your husband run on batteries or is he the plug in and charge type.

Answer 15

Well, I know that using the dishwasher saves you money.

Answer 16

dishwasher

Answer 17

It's more efficient to let the dog l**k them clean.

Answer 18

It depends.  If you have an old dishwasher, it will take about 30 gallons of water to clean your dishes.  Newer units use less.   I don't think hand washing them uses this much.  Judge for yourself.

Answer 19

Indian made vessels and utensils are made to use for rough use and with the dish washer it is very difficult to wash. It is better use hand wash method for effective cleaning and to get the best results. Yours VRVRAO