There is certainly a large number of articles, arguing on what's greener — utilizing a dishwasher or hand washing the dishes. In line with the latest studies, employing a dishwasher saves more energy and water. But for those who have a dishwasher or are just planning to obtain one, below are a few tips and tricks to hold that dishwasher running green and lasting long.
1. Kitchen management
Don't place your dishwasher close to the refrigerator, and other large appliances, because it could make the fridge work harder (because of the heat of the washer).
2. Time matters
Start your dishwasher in off-peak utility hours, to cut back energy rates. There is a low-rate energy time in all the countries, but usually, it's during the night hours.
3. Follow the instructions
In the event that you see on the Bosch dishwasher Error e15 code — open the manual. Keep calm, there is nothing that can’t be fixed, just do not invent the solution yourself.
4. No rush
Delay starting your dishwasher until you get enough dishes for a complete load because it will minimize the consumption of electricity, water, and detergent the washer uses.
5. Do not rinse by hand
Pre-rinsing your dishes by hand is just a waste of water, as most of the dishwashers today are sufficiently powerful to be able to clean your plates without any prewashing.
6. Air-dry the plates
Leaving the dishes dry with the open machine’s door can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.
7. Choose the right cycle
There is a detailed description of all the dishwashing cycles on the Reviewed. In most cases, a good result is achieved using a standard cycle (or eco). But if the dishes are really dirty, comes the intensive mode — it washes well but consumes a lot of electricity and water, so it is better to start it at night.
A few more tips can help make the dishwashing process more ecological. You can replace the detergent by baking soda, which will help get rid of the funky smell if you add a few drops of lemon to it.
Wash your sponges and dish brushes in the dishwasher once a week, it will kill all the harmful bacteria and help the sponges last longer. Don’t forget to squeeze all the detergent off before putting them into the machine.
Clean your machine at least once a month. It only sounds complicated, but you can only add a glass of white vinegar to the bottom rack and let your dishwasher run one complete cycle empty. Yes, you will waste some energy and water, but still less than when you have to reward the places and glasses after they are taken off the dishwasher.
A broken dishwasher is a nightmare, as dishes need to be cleaned on a daily basis. Problems like a leaky dishwasher, one that doesn’t clean dishes, or doesn’t fill with water may have you worried about having to run out and buy a new unit. A dishwasher that doesn’t clean dishes is not even a dishwasher. So in order to avoid such problems, keep your machine clean.
Remember that not everything can be washed in the machine. Do not place wooden chopping boards, antique dishes, porcelain, copper and bronze objects in the dishwasher. When exposed to hot temperatures and detergents, they fade, deteriorate and lose their shape.
Glasses, brittle glass dishes have to be placed on the top level without touching the machine’s walls. As for the dirtiest dishes — place them on the bottom tray and turn them dirty side down, as there are the strongest water jets.
Those are some of the simplest tips and tricks to make your dishwasher run longer and more efficiently. And they are all worth following, as these machines keep needing less water and energy with every new model, and it gets almost impossible to beat them through old-school handwashing, especially those with the Energy Star certificate.
