atulaDishwasher...wash my dishes!
August 22nd 2008 06:57
I know this is a way old debate and people are still trying to figure out who wins the battle. So I on my part have just researched few of the sites that have written about the dishwasher vs. hand wash war. While most believe dishwasher is the winner there are a few who still feel it is better to hand wash for the environment benefit. It seems they think that the dishwasher uses up more water and energy.
Most of the writers who are backing up the dishwasher have got new proof from the research conducted by the University of Bonn, Germany that proves quite clearly that dishwashers are more energy efficient and environmental friendly as it uses only half of the energy, one sixth of the water and fairly less amount of soap too.
Now we all know the amount of labor used to wash the greasy pots, or cake plates through hand wash. The research states, dishwashers do a more efficient job for these items as the machine uses just slightly more water for removing the grease whereas we end up running the utensil into pre- rinse, soap sink, hundred scrubs, another rinse, and yet another soap sink if the grease persists.
A step-by-step analysis of dishwasher vs. the hand wash has following results,
Water usage
If you are a fairly small family with limited amount of dishes or if you tend to do the dishes only once in a day instead of many washings a day, your hands are better than the machine as it will use a little more water. But under most circumstances, a dishwasher uses less water compared to hand wash even if you are the meanest of washers who uses a dry cleaning technique for dishes.
A point to remember is, do not pre- rinse if using the machine. That will add up to the water usage and thus be a lot of wastage.
Most dishwashers manufactured since 1994 use seven to 10 gallons of water per cycle,
while older machines use eight to 15 gallons. A standard 24-inch-wide household dishwasher is designed to hold eight place settings, but some newer models will wash the same amount of dishes inside an 18-inch frame, using less water in the process.
Therefore, if you machine is the older version it is really good to replace it with a new one and if not, then I think using the dishwasher only when there is large amount of dishes to be done is good as that will save water used to wash just few dishes a day.
Energy usageYour text goes here
A dishwasher uses electricity to run. A sink does not. Also, the energy usage whether you are hand washing or using the washer is because of the water heated. Earlier, it was thus better to hand wash as a dishwasher was supposed to use slightly more energy. But now the new dishwashers heat water themselves and only the amount that is needed. Saving you of not only the trouble of heating water in a heater, but also saving unnecessary heating and usage of water.
Time
A dishwasher is more efficient and the time can be used to do ten other things of your list.
But I also know some people who clearly enjoy doing the dishes and it gives them time to spend with themselves, planning or even relaxing from the hundred activities.
Friend of the Environment
Modern dishwashers use less water, are more energy efficient and we can also switch to the non detergent based soaps, but still, the dishwasher is a machine, made of plastic and precious metals dug from ores, it generates a little more noise than hand wash, so the old fashioned method is still more eco friendly.
If the choice is of saving water and energy a new dishwasher is better.
If the choice is of not using plastic, and metal the hand wash is better
If it is a small family, again hand wash is better.
If doing lots of dishes in a day, everyday, a dishwasher is better
The debate continues….
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