Top Ten Reasons I Hand Wash Dishes

In my attempts to "go green," I've decided to hand wash my dishes, just like my grandmother once did.

I'm doing that despite the fact that there have been studies of the efficiency and energy saving of using a dishwasher vs. hand washing the dishes. According to the Bonn Institute in Germany, a dishwasher uses about one sixth of the water and half the energy it takes to hand wash dishes. In a typical family, I believe that's probably true, and if you have a large family I think the dishwasher is the best solution. But I don't think that research would fly at my house.

I think that I can actually save money and reduce the damage I do to the environment by washing dishes. I'm also finding other reasons to hand wash.

Here are the Top Ten Reasons I Hand Wash Dishes:

1. My dishwasher is an older model, and does not have an Energy Star rating. It's more likely that my dishwasher uses 6 gallons of water per load rather than the 4 gallons that a newer appliance would use. I don't use that much water hand washing the dishes, and we can't afford to replace the dishwasher right now!
2. Because it's not a newer model, I can't put my dishes from the table into the dishwasher without rinsing them first. If I did put them in the machine covered in gunk, when the load was washed I'd find plates with food stuck to them. Have you ever tried to get dried food off of a plate that has gone through the dishwasher? It's like chipping at cement! So, why not go ahead and wash them while I'm at it?
3. There are only two of us, and we don't generate many dishes per each meal. In order to be most efficient with the energy savings of a dishwasher, one should fill that machine at least 3/4 full. I'd run out of dishes if I did that!
4. Most of the pots and pans I use can't be washed in the dishwasher. I have to hand wash them anyway, so if I'm going to be hand washing I can do them all and be done with it.
5. It actually takes me less time to hand wash the dishes than to load the dishwasher. That's right, remember, I have to rinse everything first. I can put the dishes back in the cupboard and have everything tidy before I leave the kitchen. That process takes much less time than rinsing, loading, and then waiting for the machine to wash the dishes before I can put everything away.
6. An Energy Star dishwasher uses 4 gallons of water (and all that water goes down the drain). I use about four gallons, but I use plastic tubs in my sink. When I'm finished washing the dishes, I tote that water out to my yard to nourish my garden. My flowers thank me for it.
7. I'm getting muscles from toting that water! Before you know it, my arms will be as well-toned as Michelle Obama's arms without having to go to the gym!
8. The hot water from washing dishes is soothing to my arthritis.
9. Because I know that I will be hand washing every dish and utensil, I'm a little more conscious about how many dishes I use in making a meal!
10. If my husband jumps in to help me, which he often does, then washing dishes is a "bonding experience." If he doesn't help me, then I consider it a time to meditate as I perform a simple mindless task. Either way, it's good for me.

There are a couple of things I had to teach Mr. Tucker about washing dishes, because he didn't do that chore often as a child. Though they might seem obvious, if you've never had to wash dishes you might forget:

• Wash the cleanest dishes first.
• Wipe all the excess food off of the plate before putting it in the dishwater.
• Save the greasy pots for last.

Because of my attempts to be more friendly to the environment, I now wash the dishes by hand. I will admit, however, that I still use the dishwasher on busy weekends or if company comes for supper.

Although I want to go green, I am trying to be practical about it and I'm certainly not going to make my company feel guilty about helping me wash dishes. I'll use the dishwasher when it is necessary, but most days my dishwasher has become a very expensive drying rack.

© Shelly Tucker, 2009

Comments

[Chameleon]

Funny - I still remember my grandmother rinsing the dishes BEFORE they went into the dishwasher, then washing them when they came OUT of the dishwasher because she didn't believe that a machine could get them as clean as she could. With six of us in the family and two teenage boys doing most of the dishes, I figure that the dishwasher probably uses a lot less water than the two of them having water fights in the kitchen, but I admire your decision to do dishes by hand.

[janeywan]

Shelly.. you pretty much have it covered. Since fresh water will someday become an issue, you can go one step farther, take a gallon jug or two depending on how fast your water gets hot and fill them with the water you use to get it hot. Use this cool water on your indoor or outdoor planets of put in toilet reservoir.
We do this in Westcliffe to reduce the number of times our pump needs to run, which uses power. You sure you'd want to visit?

[Jessica The Rock Chick]

Very cool, Shelly! I'm greatly admiring your Go Green ideas. With four kids and a hubby that seemingly eat non-stop, we have lots of dishes. I usually do two dishwasher loads a day. We also have the pots and pans that can't go in the dishwasher, so I end up hand washing all of those. I actually don't mind hand washing dishes. We didn't have a dishwasher (other than me) when I grew up and I used to love to just stare out the kitchen window into our backyard while I wash dishes. I still do, although, now I have a view of my neighbors brick wall-not as exciting, but there is something mindlessly hypnotic about the chore and the water.

[betmo]

i think your line of thinking is spot on :) although hopefully not on your dishes :) each family needs to evaluate their situation- and as long as we are being mindful and genuinely thinking about how our actions effect our lives- and the lives of the other 6 billion folks on the planet- we will make headway. the key is to have the whole family involved. and it sounds like mr. tucker is there too :)

[Nick Goshen]

Shell; your stats are off; I am not sure where you got your stats but your blog is not helping the enviroment. What is really shocking is to find out how much water a cloths washing machine uses. I recycle my cloths water for the garden and lawn.
As of August 11, 2009, ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers are required to use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less. Older dishwashers use much more water than newer models. A dishwasher purchased before 1994 uses about 8 additional gallons of water in each cycle compared to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model.
http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.phpp_faqid=2539
*If it is not an enegry star qualified dishwasher: the average dishwasher uses 9-12 gallons (34-45 liters)

[Steve Auger]

Nick - to be fair, the Energy Star website states that Energy Star dishwashers use 2 gallons less than new non-Energy Star dishwashers. Dishwasher made before 1994 waste about 8 gallons of water compared to new Energy Star. Shelly didn't state how old her dishwasher is.

I would suggest that Shelly has brought up a lot of good points in favor of hand washing. And you should take Energy Star ratings with a grain of salt. Do you believe the fuel efficiency ratings for the cars you purchase?

In any case, if you are in the market for a new dishwasher then yes buy Energy Star. Otherwise consider seriously the energy required to replace your existing dishwasher. And the other thing is - where does "wasted" water go? I know I'm not going to make a lot of friends with this position but using water isn't like burning fossil fuels. Wasted water eventually makes it's way back into our ecosystem, as water. Where the real problem lies is in soaps - phosphates...

Steve