We are all thinking more and more about making sustainable choices at home. We separate our waste, try to use less plastic and look for ways to make our household more sustainable little by little. Our dishwashing skills also have to be taken into account. Because what is actually better: old-fashioned hand washing or the dishwasher? Marcel explains.
HAND WASH VERSUS DISHWASHER
The big battle has begun. Who will win the prize for most sustainable option? Well... if only it were that simple! Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not so black and white. Why? Because this is related to the quality of your dishwashing skills. Let's dig into that a little deeper.
Research by Milieu Centraal shows that if you put all the dishes in your dishwasher, you use 2 to 3 times as much energy per year than if you wash all the dishes by hand. Now you're probably thinking: isn't that the answer? But this is all a bit more complicated. Sometimes washing dishes by hand is actually worse for the environment. For example, if the water for your hand washing comes from an electric hot water appliance, you pre-rinse with plenty of hot water or wash dishes under the running tap. If this is the case, a dishwasher is better. How does that happen? The environmental impact of washing dishes is mainly due to heating the water: this requires gas or electricity. And we all know: the use of fossil fuels exacerbates climate change. The effects of water use and dishwasher or dishwashing liquid are relatively minor, but of course not unimportant.
Conclusion: old-fashioned hand washing is not so bad after all! Marcel also thinks old-fashioned hand washing is the best. Then you really feel in charge of the dirt. But after reading the text above, it might also be a good idea to take a closer look at your dishwashing skills. This way you can be sure that you are doing the dishes in the most economical way.
WASH BY HAND AS ECONOMICALLY AS POSSIBLE
Are you, like Marcel, a fan of hand washing and want to try to make your dishwashing moments as economical as possible? Then Marcel has a few tips for you:
- Use as little hot water as possible. For example, rinse your dishes first with a little cold water and then do the real thing with a fresh suds of hot water.
- Always wash your dishes at the lowest possible temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the energy consumption.
- Do not wash your dishes under a running tap, but fill your sink or a tub and use only the water you left in it.
- Do not use more detergent than necessary. You only need to add a little detergent to the water to get your dishes clean. For average dishes, a teaspoon is enough! Unless you do the dishes of the whole neighbourhood, of course.
- Nice to know: if you really want to make a green choice, go for the tips above in combination with a solar water heater. Because the water is heated by the sun, you save a lot of energy. Super-efficient!
And finally: don't forget to enjoy doing the dishes! Doing the dishes is the perfect time to lose yourself in thought after a busy day at work, listen to your favourite music or discuss the day with your dishwashing buddy.
MARCEL'S GREEN SOAP FOR THE DISHWASHER
Before you think we totally reject that dishwasher: of course, we also understand the convenience-seeking fellow man. That's why you'll also find dishwasher tablets at Marcel's Green Soap. The dishwasher tablets are packed in a soluble foil. The foil dissolves during washing. Fantastic, right? But of course, there is always room for improvement.
USE YOUR DISHWASHER AS ECONOMICALLY AS POSSIBLE
Yes really, even with a dishwasher you still have influence on how efficiently you do your dishes. If you want to use your dishwasher as economically as possible, read Marcel's tips below:
- Wait until your dishwasher is completely full before running. This way you don't have to wear it as often. Make it a fun challenge to load your dishwasher as neatly as possible. Think of it as a game of Tetris ;-)
- Perhaps a no-brainer, but set your dishwasher to the eco program. According to the Consumers' Association, this even saves you around €20 per year compared to the main program. Also good for your wallet. And if you have caked pans, first soak them in a small layer of water.
- Do not rinse your dishes under a running tap first! Then you use twice as much water. Simply wipe the food residues off your plate and then your plates can go straight into the dishwasher. This way the filter will not clog and your dishes will be better cleaned, which in turn prevents unnecessary extra washing.
- If you are about to purchase a new dishwasher, check carefully whether you choose an economical one. Preferably one with an energy label A+++, then you can be sure you are in the right place.
