How Much Water Does a Dishwasher Use?

Many have long believed that dishwashers use much more energy and water than simply washing up – however, this is a common misconception.

At a time when water costs are rising, it’s important to know the most efficient ways to save on your bills. In this blog, we explain how much water a dishwasher actually uses and whether it’s better or worse than handwashing your dishes.

Is the dishwasher more efficient than handwashing?

Using a dishwasher is often the most eco-friendly way of washing dishes.

Many people mistakenly believe that a dishwasher uses more water and energy per cycle than washing individual dishes by hand. However, most modern dishwashers are designed to be energy and water-efficient. When used properly and efficiently, a dishwasher will usually have less of a carbon footprint and use less water than washing by hand.

This assumes that the dishwasher is fully loaded before each use, and you’re not doubling up on water use by extensively rinsing dishes before loading them

How much water does a dishwasher use?

In the UK, the average dishwasher uses 9.5 litres per full cycle.

Dishwashers use water directly from the pipe and are installed to connect with your water source. The dishwasher is connected directly to the hot water pipe because hot water is needed to clean pots fully and kill bacteria.

[H2] How much water does handwashing use?

You may find it surprising that hand washing is actually less water-efficient than using a dishwasher. A dishwasher cycle uses around ten times less water than handwashing for the same amount of kitchenware.

However, this can depend on your washing-up techniques. For example, if you often leave the tap running during the washing-up process, you’ll use even more water.  

How can I save water when I use the dishwasher?

There are a few ways you can ensure you’re using your dishwasher as efficiently as possible:

• The quickest way to save water when using the dishwasher is to select the ‘eco’ setting for a cycle. This will not only use less water but run at a lower temperature, too.

• You should also frequently clean and maintain the inside of your dishwasher. Having leftover waste inside the dishwasher, especially around the arm sprayer, can keep your pots dirty even after a full cycle. Regular cleaning will help you avoid using multiple cycles for the same load.

• If it’s possible, you should also aim only to use the dishwasher when it’s completely full, as running a full cycle on a half-empty load can be wasteful. This will also help to save on your electricity bills.

• Many people opt to pre-rinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, but this isn’t necessary. In fact, skipping this step could save around 1,115 litres of water per year!

For more advice on water bills, including more tips on ways to save water and cut costs, read our blog on How to Save Money on Water Bills.

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If you’re exploring dishwashers for the first time or looking to upgrade your existing model, look no further than the Hoover collection!