Guess what I learned yesterday...not at all budget friendly!

[dfchelbay]

I learned yesterday that the average dishwasher uses 15 gallons of water to wash a load of dishes. I also learned that to wash a load of clothes, the washing machines uses between 35-55 gallons of water...for ONE load...yikes!

Not to mention the electricity, and for some the gas/propane, it takes (hot water) to run the machines. It makes me think back to the olden days, just after college, when heat and water were free with the apartment...ah the good old days.

 

[shelly3girls]

When we bought our house we replaced the dishwasher and washing machine with models that advertised low water usage. We also replaced our toilets and shower heads. Our water bill is half of the previous owners. It is shocking how inefficient some things are! We live in a neighborhood of older homes and our neighbors are shocked at how low our utilities are compared to theirs.

 

[delmar411]

and a person hand washing dishes uses a lot more water. So the dishwasher is the better choice and more budget choice at that.

Not sure why the dishwasher wouldn't be more budget friendly? And I don't have a comparison for the washing machine as hand washing clothes is not an option! LOL

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an average five-minute shower takes 15–25 gallons of water. Hand-washing dishes uses 12–20 gallons of water. An automatic dishwasher load uses 9–12 gallons.

 

[plummer925]

and a person hand washing dishes uses a lot more water. .[/I]

Not necessarily.

I fill a plastic tub with about 1 1/2 gallons of soapy water and another with the same hot water. I wash in the soapy, rinse in the plain and let drip dry. If the plain water gets soapy, I dump and refill (I don't often have to do this because I do not overuse soap). So that's 3 to 4 1/2 gallons a day that I use for dishes.

And yes, my dishes get clean and there is NO soap residue.

I do have a dishwasher that I use sometimes too (like this week since I've been so sick). But we do not pay for water/sewer (do pay electricity for our electric hot water heater though).

 

[badblackpug]

We have energy efficient appliances. We don't do dishes every day. We only run the dishwasher when it is absolutely full. We only do full loads of wash....but with four kids it's no too hard to get full loads!

 

[DawnM]

We have efficient appliances too and we are on a well, so, although we do pay for the electricity for the pump, we don't get a water bill.

Dawn

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Not necessarily.

I fill a plastic tub with about 1 1/2 gallons of soapy water and another with the same hot water. I wash in the soapy, rinse in the plain and let drip dry. If the plain water gets soapy, I dump and refill (I don't often have to do this because I do not overuse soap). So that's 3 to 4 1/2 gallons a day that I use for dishes.

And yes, my dishes get clean and there is NO soap residue.

I do have a dishwasher that I use sometimes too (like this week since I've been so sick). But we do not pay for water/sewer (do pay electricity for our electric hot water heater though).

For my family I would have to hand wash dishes daily (twice a day when the kids are home for the summer) because I couldn't leave dishes from 7 people sit in the sink all day, but I only need to run the dishwasher every other day so I think even using your method I would end up using more water not using the dishwasher.

But I don't use your method, I don't like to rinse the dishes in standing water (just my preference, it feels to me like they aren't getting rinsed well enough) so I would probably use more water and electricity to heat the water that way.

I do wait until I have full loads to wash both dishes and laundry.

 

[indimom]

Not necessarily.

I fill a plastic tub with about 1 1/2 gallons of soapy water and another with the same hot water. I wash in the soapy, rinse in the plain and let drip dry. If the plain water gets soapy, I dump and refill (I don't often have to do this because I do not overuse soap). So that's 3 to 4 1/2 gallons a day that I use for dishes.

And yes, my dishes get clean and there is NO soap residue.

I do have a dishwasher that I use sometimes too (like this week since I've been so sick). But we do not pay for water/sewer (do pay electricity for our electric hot water heater though).

I'm with you. I also find dishwashing to be relaxing work. Go figure.

 

[delmar411]

Not necessarily.

I fill a plastic tub with about 1 1/2 gallons of soapy water and another with the same hot water. I wash in the soapy, rinse in the plain and let drip dry. If the plain water gets soapy, I dump and refill (I don't often have to do this because I do not overuse soap). So that's 3 to 4 1/2 gallons a day that I use for dishes.

And yes, my dishes get clean and there is NO soap residue.

I do have a dishwasher that I use sometimes too (like this week since I've been so sick). But we do not pay for water/sewer (do pay electricity for our electric hot water heater though).

I run my dishwasher every other day or every 3rd day(normally every 3th day unless I'm cooking a large meal). So in your scenario I am saving water/breaking even and now on top of that I'm saving time. We do pay for water/sewer and for the gas to heat the hot water heater. Very inexpensive though, IN has some of the lowest utility costs in the country, so while I try to save water, it's more a conservation effort than a financial one.

 

[plummer925]

I run my dishwasher every other day or every 3rd day(normally every 3th day unless I'm cooking a large meal). So in your scenario I am saving water/breaking even and now on top of that I'm saving time. We do pay for water/sewer and for the gas to heat the hot water heater. Very inexpensive though, IN has some of the lowest utility costs in the country, so while I try to save water, it's more a conservation effort than a financial one.

That's great! I absolutely wasn't saying it was best for anyone -and like I said, I run my dishwasher too sometimes!

 

[herdtoDisney]

5 years ago this month, I had to buy a new washer/dryer because our old set went with the home we had just sold-I went to Sears not intending to buy a 'fancy' front loader but he quoted similar statistics to me-and said the front loader uses like half as much water. I ended up buying it, and 5 years later, I have likely already saved the extra cost, in water and utility savings. My washer gets heavy useage with a family of 7. (I do use the clothesline whenever seasonally possible).

When we got this house 1.5 years ago, I had to buy applliances (minus the washer/dryer which by this point I had already moved twice ) and I again invested in slightly more expensive Energy Star rated fridge, dishwasher and deep freezer. I'm confident they will also pay for themselves. We run our dishwasher daily, if not more-but, I always let them air-dry rather than the heated dry...I have among the highest utilities in the nation!

 

[JustGot2BMe]

...I have among the highest utilities in the nation!

I hear you I live in CT too...They are

 

[dfchelbay]

5 years ago this month, I had to buy a new washer/dryer because our old set went with the home we had just sold-I went to Sears not intending to buy a 'fancy' front loader but he quoted similar statistics to me-and said the front loader uses like half as much water. I ended up buying it, and 5 years later, I have likely already saved the extra cost, in water and utility savings. My washer gets heavy useage with a family of 7. (I do use the clothesline whenever seasonally possible).

When we got this house 1.5 years ago, I had to buy applliances (minus the washer/dryer which by this point I had already moved twice ) and I again invested in slightly more expensive Energy Star rated fridge, dishwasher and deep freezer. I'm confident they will also pay for themselves. We run our dishwasher daily, if not more-but, I always let them air-dry rather than the heated dry...I have among the highest utilities in the nation!

You're exactly right. I did learn that too yesterday. The front loading washing machines use far less water than the top loading machines. I'm still a little fearful of the front loaders though. I can't help but keep thinking, "What happens if the rubber seal breaks, cracks, or gives way, won't all that water leak out onto the floor". I've not heard of it happening yet, but seals won't last forever, and water will always fall downward.

 

[CC12005]

We have energy efficient appliances. We don't do dishes every day. We only run the dishwasher when it is absolutely full. We only do full loads of wash....but with four kids it's no too hard to get full loads!

Your dishwasher must be gigantic not to have to run it everyday for a family of 6. I only have two little ones right now & have 1 1/2 loads a day. Then again, maybe my family just eats a lot.

 

[minnie1928]

I've found that if the dishwasher is full of normal dishes, not dished I baked or cooked with, that I can run the 30 minute cycle and that works just fine. FWIW, I do not pre-rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Not sure if it saves water, but I'm pretty sure it saves electricity.

 

[herdtoDisney]

You're exactly right. I did learn that too yesterday. The front loading washing machines use far less water than the top loading machines. I'm still a little fearful of the front loaders though. I can't help but keep thinking, "What happens if the rubber seal breaks, cracks, or gives way, won't all that water leak out onto the floor". I've not heard of it happening yet, but seals won't last forever, and water will always fall downward.

I understand-I was leery of that too. To date, I've had no repairs or leaks-I consider myself very lucky! My laundry is in the basement, so it would not cause damage if it did leak, but if the machines were in the house, I'd probably want to put a washer-pan (not sure what it is called, it's some kind of big pan made to go under washers) and a drain in the laundry. I agree, someday, the seals will go. The top-loaders would go on like forever, but the front-loaders are more vulnerable. I'm not sure I'd want it in the house, without the pan and drain.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

You're exactly right. I did learn that too yesterday. The front loading washing machines use far less water than the top loading machines. I'm still a little fearful of the front loaders though. I can't help but keep thinking, "What happens if the rubber seal breaks, cracks, or gives way, won't all that water leak out onto the floor". I've not heard of it happening yet, but seals won't last forever, and water will always fall downward.

Our rubber seal did break after about 5 years of use. It wasn't a terrible amount of water that leaked. My dh was able to replace the part himself so no serviceman fee. Something to keep in mind is that I do at least 3-4 loads of laundry a day. So it gets used almost constantly. It was one of our best investments.

 

[Swimalie]

I've found that if the dishwasher is full of normal dishes, not dished I baked or cooked with, that I can run the 30 minute cycle and that works just fine. FWIW, I do not pre-rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Not sure if it saves water, but I'm pretty sure it saves electricity.

We always run our dishwasher on the "speed cycle" - works great, saves water and time. My friend has 5 people in her family, never waters her lawn and has a higher water bill than I yet I water my lawn and yet my 3 people have a lower water bill.

When we replace our washing machine it will be with a top loading high efficiency model. I've heard way too many problems with the front loaders that make them not worth it. My mom has a top loader that is awesome.