Which will be the cheaper - washing up dishes etc by hand on a daily basis - or using a dishwasher?

Question

There are just two of us, but we do cook a main meal every day. Plus we have breakfast and lunch dishes etc.

Answer 1

Oh dear, I hate to burst EVERYONE's BUBBLE, but according to the new Energy Star rated appliances, washing by hand is now not so efficient!  Washing by hand takes more energy, more soap, and more water than the new Energy Star appliances.  According to Tree Hugger, The Bonn Study proves it even with the most careful and sparing hand dishwasher, they could not compete with the machine.  Like I needed a reason to get one!  LOL!  Hope this helps you!  Good luck!

Answer 2

Sometimes I wash the dishes by hand, just to save on my light bill,but if its alot of dishes,pots and pans i use the dishwasher,.

Answer 3

using the dishwasher you save water and your personal energy that you could use spending time with your family

Answer 4

No contest. Ciara M is absolutely right.

Hand washing uses no electric or gas energy other than what you've used to heat water - and if you really want to be 'green' you can wash dishes in cold water.  A dishwasher runs a pump and if you feed it with cold water, it may have to heat it up.

Plus, it costs to buy one and maintain it; you have the regular cost of chemicals, and if you include the energy cost of all the inputs - washing dishes by hand is definitely cheapest and best for the environment.  There's just the two of us too - and we don't have a dishwasher. Although, I confess, we're thinking of buying one - but they can be unreliable and a pain in the ***. Just like me in fact.  

Answer 5

washing by hand is cheaper.....but it takes longer

Answer 6

Washing my hand. But you can get these dish washers that are environmentally friendly and use less water and electricity.

Answer 7

its faster and quicker to do them by hand if its just the two of you..clean as you go and it will not take anytime at all

Answer 8

I absolutely agree with the previous contributor - that a dishwasher is more effective and economic than handwashing.  This, of course, assumes that hand washing is done properly; ie dishes have been sluiced off in cold water first, then washed in hot water and then rinsed (studies show that detergent residue is carcinogenic).  There are just two of us in our household and we only use a dishwasher.  I rinse dishes off and put them into the dishwasher, waiting until it's full before running a cycle - and then, because I've rinsed them first, I run it on the most economic cycle.  Yes, it means having more crockery but over the years my crockery seems to have procreated effortlessly!  There is absolutely no comparison between a clean piece of crockery that's been machine-washed and one that has been handwashed.  I also use Eco-wash dishwasher tablets.  

Answer 9

Washing by hand as you go along cooking your meal.

To fill a dishwasher you have to have more dishes than you need, especially if you don't have children.

You could, of course, be like my children and never bother washing up.

Answer 10

I have found that hand washing for 2 people is cheaper. We only have 4 of every dish, so we never have a full load. I only run the dishwasher about twice a month to keep it running right. Takes longer to wash the dishes yourself, but I definitely think it saves money.

Answer 11

It really is not clear, as it depends on many factors.  Which? magazine said pretty much that recently in response tho the same question.

If you use the DW and it is full, it uses a relatively small volume opf water to wash 12 place settings and glasses and so on.  If you use an eco setting that does not have a hot air dry, it is not hugely power hungry.

If you wash the equivalent number of items by hand, you may use several bowls of water and most people use too much detergent, which then goes down the drain.  

The key is to not use the DW unless it is full, and dont put in pots and pans, as then you have a high energy wash for a load most of which is not that dirty.  

Answer 12

In my experience with washing for only two people, hand-washing is faster, cheaper- and more effective. I've been told dish washing machines have improved since they were invented, but my eyes tell me otherwise when I help in someone else's house.