On average, what uses less water: washing dishes by hand or in the dishwasher?

Answer 1

Depends on how you wash them by hand. If you fill up a sink with soapy water and another with clean water to rinse then probably by hand is more economical as far as water use goes. If however you leave the faucet running while you wash then the dishwasher will use less water.

Answer 2

I had always washed the dishes by hand with the water running and refused to use my own dishwasher-- under the false notion that the dishwasher used a ton of water and electricity. I've since switched to using just the dishwasher. It takes a few days to completely fill my washer with dirty dishes, so it's only used on average about every third day and what a difference in my water, electricity bill.

Answer 3

Remember that washing dishes is to get them clean and sanitized. The dishwasher can get the water hotter than your hands can withstand.

If you are looking at only saving water, one sink of water would be less than the dishwasher.

Answer 4

The newer dishwashers use about 2.6-3.5 gallons of water. If washing one or two plates and glasses at a time probably by hand if a sink load then the dishwasher would be better

Answer 5

Depends how you wash the dishes when you do by hand. If you let the water run endlessly as you wash the dishes then your wasting water. If you fill both sides with water one with suds and the other with fresh then your saving water. With a dish washing machine its programmed not to waste too much water. There is less maintenance involved and it disinfects the plates much better.

Answer 6

dishwasher

Answer 7

by hand