Hand Washing vs. Dishwasher: Which is Better for The Environment?

Keeping dishes clean is an essential part of a healthy and organized kitchen, and how you wash them can make all the difference—from the water and energy you use to the hygiene of your household. 

Time, Water, and Energy Use

When you compare the resources used, the results can be surprising. A modern, Energy Star-certified dishwasher is a clear winner in both water and energy efficiency, especially when you run a full load. Hand washing, particularly with a running tap, consumes a staggering amount of water—often up to four times more than an energy-efficient dishwasher cycle.

Dishwashers use electricity but often heat less water overall compared to hand washing. Ultimately, a dishwasher’s controlled water consumption and energy efficiency make it a more eco-conscious choice than washing dishes under a running faucet. 

Which Method Works Best for Different Dish Types

While a dishwasher can be great for plates, bowls, and everyday cutlery, it is not the best choice for everything you have in your kitchen. Some items are just too delicate to deal with the high heat during a dishwasher cycle. 

• Delicate glassware or hand-painted dishes: Best washed by hand to prevent damage from high heat and pressure. Some materials will bend, change color, or get ruined in a dishwasher.

• Heavily soiled cookware: Dishwasher’s high-temperature settings often outperform hand washing for baked-on food.

• Everyday dishes: Choose based on household size and preference—hand washing for small loads, dishwasher for convenience and efficiency.

Environmental and Sustainability Considerations

Comparing Environmental Impact

What’s the most sustainable way to wash your dishes? Evaluating the effect on the environment means looking at both energy use and water consumption for each method of cleaning dishes. Modern dishwashers are typically more water-efficient, using less water per load than manual washing—often only about three gallons. Newer dishwasher models use less electricity and heat water only as needed, making them more energy-efficient than older models or hand washing with continuously running hot water. The carbon footprint is also lower when the dishwasher is fully loaded and operating on eco mode. 

Using eco-friendly cleaning products, like Blueland, can also help optimize your sustainable dishwashing routine. Our Powdered Dish Soap and Dishwasher Detergent Tablets are concentrated, plastic-free formulas that minimize single-use plastic waste and do less harm to the earth.

Cleaning Performance and Hygiene

Are Dishes Cleaned Better in a Dishwasher than by Handwashing?

For a consistent, germ-free clean, the dishwasher takes first place. Dishwashers reach sanitizing temperatures that kill most bacteria, as they can heat water to 140°F or more. That is hot enough to kill most bacteria and sanitize your dishes, and your hands can't stand water that hot. It’s also made to clean efficiently with strong jets and a final rinse. However, when you wash dishes by hand, you get to scrub hard spots yourself and target cleaning for delicate or oddly shaped items.

Maximizing Efficiency and Sustainability

6 Best Practices for Hand Washing

If you want to stick with hand washing, you can still do so in a way that's good for the planet. You can also try these 6 simple steps to help maximize efficiency: 

1. Use the two-basin method instead of a running tap.

2. Soak dishes before scrubbing to loosen food and save water.

3. Wash with warm (not hot) water to conserve energy.

4. Scrape food scraps into the compost instead of rinsing.

5. Don't let the water run while you scrub.

6. Use a basin for rinsing instead of running water.

4 Best Practices for Dishwashers

To get the most out of your appliance, make sure you use it the right way. Follow these best practices for your dishwasher: 

1. Run it only with a full load of dishes.

2. Select eco or energy-saving modes when available.

3. Scrape the dishes instead of rinsing, so the soil sensors can do their job.

4. Use Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets for powerful cleaning with minimal environmental impact.

In the end, the choice to go with hand washing or using a dishwasher depends on your way of living, how many people you have at home, and what you care about most. There’s no one right way to do it. Whichever method you choose, just be sure to use the right product–dishwasher detergent for the machine and dish soap for handwashing. When you know the facts about energy use and water consumption, you can figure out what fits best for your particular household.

Sources

1. University of Michigan. Fighting climate change at the sink: A guide to greener dishwashing.

2. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Dishwashers, Clothes Washers, and Behavioral Impacts: Savings Opportunity by Increased and Better Use.

3. Stanford. Dishwashers: Green Machines: Nitty-gritty.