Picture this: it’s the end of a delicious meal and you’ve licked your plate clean. But UGH, now it’s time to do the dishes! Well, if you’ve got a dishwasher, this is the Eco-Activity for you! We’ll show you that when it comes to dishes, being lazy is the greener way to go!
Did you know that using your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand? In fact, Energy Star certified dishwashers use 15 L of water every cycle—you’d use the same amount by just running your tap for about 2 minutes!
Most dishwashers are powerful enough to take food residue off dishes so washing them beforehand is unnecessary and a waste of water. Just choose a quality detergent that is formulated to skip the pre-rinse. You should also make sure to not overcrowd the dishwasher. If there are too many dishes close together, the jets can’t clean all the surfaces.
Run your dishwasher during off-peak hours when the demand for energy is lower. Some energy companies will even give you a discount! Check with your energy company to see when your on- and off-peak hours are.
Unless you need the dishes right away, try turning off the heat-dry setting on your dishwasher. This means your dishes will drip dry on their own, and that’s energy-free!
Don’t have a dishwasher? No problem! There are tons of tips online that can help you be a green dishwasher too! Work with your parents or guardians to make a plan!
Cool!
I’ll do that next time I have to do the dishes
I just did that before I logged in