As a proud dishwasher owner for the last four months, I obviously qualify as an expert. I’ve even learned a few more tricks since my initial dishwasher post. According to the Energy Star website, an Energy Star dishwasher uses 5.8 gallons of water or less per load. Most studies indicate that using the dishwasher will save money and water compared to hand washing. However, remember that  this is not the case if you pre-rinse dishes (wasting up to 20 gallons of water per load!) or use the heat dry option! The estimated energy usage that you see on that Energy Star tag are based on running loads on the normal cycle and letting the dishes air dry.

What else can you do to save water and energy?

I’ll say it again: scrape, but don’t rinse! Today’s dishwashers and detergents are made to do that for you. The Energy Star website says to use the “rinse” cycle (rather than rinsing in the sink) if you let the dishes sit overnight, but I have never done that, and my dishes have always come out sparkling clean—even after two or three days.

Use the lightest cycle option. I was using the “normal” cycle until I read this tip. I tried the light (or “fine china” cycle). Guess what? The light cycle was forty minutes faster than the “normal” cycle and cleaned everything just fine—including a jar coated in peanut butter.

Use an eco-friendly detergent. Regular detergents use ingredients that damage our water supply and harm aquatic life. And Biokleen doesn’t cost any more than Cascade, wash per wash.

Skip the rinse agent. Who knows what’s in Jet Dry? They won’t tell you. Skip it—or use white vinegar instead. I crack open the dishwasher when it’s done washing, shake off any excess water, and let the dishes dry naturally. Even in the drizzly Pacific Northwest, they dry just fine on their own. I haven’t had any problems with spotting.

Run full loads. It may be worth it to buy more plates (make them secondhand to be totally carbon neutral!) if you find yourself unable to stuff the dishwasher to capacity. Otherwise, there’s no reason to run the dishwasher before it’s full.

Any more tips for saving water and energy with a dishwasher? Let us know!