Does a Dishwasher Really Use Less Water than Washing Dishes by Hand?

You might think it’s faster to just wash the random cup or fork after you use it. Or maybe you’re worried about the amount of water it takes to wash a load of dishes.

The ATK Reviews Team delves into this question and more in their new book Kitchen Gear. It turns out, running the dishwasher only feels like a colossal waste of water. In fact, it’s actually more efficient than hand-washing. 

All those splashing and gurgling sounds a dishwasher makes as it goes through a cycle make it seem like a lot of water is being used, but the amount is actually less than you might think. 

Interestingly enough, any standard-size model made since 2013 uses no more than 5 gallons per cycle, and current Energy Star–rated models use 3½ gallons or less. By contrast, because faucets run at 1½ to 2 gallons per minute, hand-washing dishes under running water for 5 minutes can add up to 10 gallons of water down the drain.

Some items, such as knives and wood cutting boards, are best washed by hand. However, this process (any handwashing, really), can be streamlined in the following ways:

• Install an aerator in your faucet if it doesn’t already have one.
• Invest in good kitchen sponges and scrubbers to tackle stuck-on grime. Clean/replace them often.
• Marinate your dishes with hot, soapy water to give those grease-busting surfactants a head start.

Remember, your dishwasher is a kitchen tool in need of specific cleaning and care. We cover many best dishwasher practices in Kitchen Gear, but here are a few to get you started:

• Scrape any bigger chunks of food off your plates, but don't prerinse them. The enzymes in dish detergent need something to hold onto.
• Load your dishwasher properly; make sure that nothing is blocking the spray arms and don’t overcrowd.
• Clean your dishwasher regularly, including the filter.