This video is produced by Which? of whom I am an affiliate. The video lasts just under 4 minutes and contains advice and tips aimed at helping us to be greener when using our dishwashers. It’s pretty general and mostly just common sense but there might be at least something worth hearing.
For anyone thinking that using a dishwasher is not green it depends how you use it, which is one of the messages behind this video. Of course even if it wasn’t “green”, it’s still better for those who insist on using a dishwasher to use it as efficiently as possible. A full sized dishwasher uses about 18 litres of water on a main wash, and as the presenter Matt Stevens says, that’s just 2 bowlfuls. As a full sized dishwasher can hold up to 120 items I would imagine when fully loaded it’s environmentally friendly compared with washing 120 items by hand – especially if pots are rinsed under hot running water.
I would imagine more than 2 bowlfuls of water would be used to manually wash 120 items by most people. On the other hand if there’s only a small load in it will be more green to wash by hand unless you can wait until the dishwasher is full. ( I covered this topic last year in another article – Which uses more water, a dishwasher or washing by hand? )
The video
Related advice regarding some of the issues raised in the above video
Which? 1 month trial offer available
How to be greener with your dishwasher (Which? Online page: Eco-friendlier ways to use your dishwasher)
Which? Dishwasher reviews 30 Best Buys and 3 Don’t Buys (1 month trial offer with copy of Which? magazine for £1 details)
One of the recommendations in the video is to use economy 7 to benefit from cheaper overnight electricity charges. However, as an engineer I personally advise it is not worth the risk trying to save a few pence by leaving either a dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer on totally unattended whilst all are asleep because of the risk of fire. If you look at my Appliance safety warnings & recalls category you can see several warnings about Fire risks in appliances.
Economy 7 and white goods (My opinion on Economy 7 and major appliances)
Why do the economy settings programmes take much longer if it’s saving energy?
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