Dishwasher: how to choose it and how to use it in a more ecological way. You have often wondered whether using the dishwasher is more or less ecological than washing dishes by hand. the water and energy savings that your dishwasher can guarantee depends on the age of the appliance. If your dishwasher dates back to the early XNUMXs, it may consume more water and energy than new models. Energy-saving dishwashers use smaller amounts of hot water in their cycles. Here are some tips on how to make the use of the dishwasher green.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
You have often wondered whether to use the dishwasher is more or less ecological than washing dishes by hand. the water and energy savings that your dishwasher can guarantee depends on the age of the appliance.
If your dishwasher dates back to the early XNUMXs, it may be consuming more water and energy than new models. The dishwashers energy saving they use smaller quantities of hot water in their cycles. Here are some tips on how to make the use of the dishwasher more ecological.
Index
If you are planning to buy a new dishwasher:
Drying
There are dishwashers equipped with a drying program, which can operate both with air and using heat. The air drying option guarantees greater energy savings. If possible, prefer a dishwasher model that includesair drying.
Model
More dishwasher models compact they use less energy because they require less hot water to complete their cycle. However, they are suitable for smaller families. The model must be chosen based on the daily quantity of dishes to be washed, so as not to have to carry out more than one wash a day, so as to save energy.
Energetic class
The highest energy class dishwashers guarantee lower electricity consumption. Also check for short cycle wash options and precise information on the amount of water used for each wash, so you can choose the most efficient model.
If you already own a dishwasher:
Pre-wash
If you need to rinse the dishes and dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, use cold water. If you can, avoid the pre-wash of dishes and pots with running water, trying to eliminate the residues to be thrown into the organic waste with a spoon. Avoiding the hand prewash you will save almeno 70 liters of water. Instead of the actual prewash, when necessary, you prefer to soak the dishes in a basin with soap and water.
Drying
If your dishwasher has a program for drying dishes, avoid using it and leave them air dry opening the door and pulling out the baskets for dishes. Try to finish drying the dishes by hand. Avoiding the drying program will allow you to save from 5% to 15% of energy.
Short cycles
Always try to use the shortest and most environmentally friendly cycles for washing dishes, except in cases where the dishes are very dirty. Short cycles require less water e less energy, usually guaranteeing the same results as normal cycles. By choosing fast or low temperature washing programs and always running the dishwasher at full load, you can save up to 1500 liters of water per year.
Temperature
If your dishwasher allows it, try to adjust the minimum use temperature for hot water, in order to further reduce energy waste. If possible, adjust the temperature to 50 degrees. This will save 84 kilowatt hours per year, corresponding to 80 washing cycles in the dishwasher.
Ecological descaler
La maintenance of the dishwasher must be regular, in such a way as to always allow efficient operation of the appliance and avoid large repair costs. It is therefore useful to frequently check the cleanliness of the appliance filter and use a ecological descaler. The descaler for the dishwasher gets ready dissolving 150 grams of citric acid in 1 liter of distilled water. It is used by pouring it into the rinse aid compartment, setting the indicator to the maximum. Carry out the treatment once a month with the dishwasher empty. As with the descaler, prefer a dishwasher detergent ecological.
READ also: Dish soap: 5 do-it-yourself recipes
Finally, the more daring could try to try their hand in the kitchen with the dishwasher which is becoming a real must among green addicts.
Marta Albè
READ also:
- How to cook with the dishwasher
- Bio-ecological detergents: here is the first liquid for dishwashers
