Experts from a dishwasher firm say we could save cash and the environment by using our household appliances differently. They say bad habits are still being used by householders
Householders are using their dishwasher incorrectly and could save money by ditching two habits.
Experts say cash could be saved by adopting energy-saving ways which are better for the environment. Utilita Energy says there are two bad habits which people continue to do when they use a dishwasher which can add up and cause carbon emissions which can be prevented. The firm said there are two tweaks which can help save you cash and help the planet. The costliest of the two bad habits is turning the dishwasher on when it’s only half full, which 21% of dishwasher users still do. This habit costs 75p a week, or £38.84 a year.
Research found 73% of households admit to not using ‘eco mode’. By not using economy mode, households are missing out on 47p a week or £24.30 a year – £55m across all households. Households that still do both, half fill and choose power-intensive settings, bosses say are throwing away £63.14 a year.
Ella Jones, sustainability manager at Utilita Energy said: “We are all creatures of habit when it comes to our home behaviours, but by revealing the cost and environmental savings, we hope to help people make better informed decisions. “Our latest dishwasher study has revealed that 75% of people who use a dishwasher haven’t read the manufacturer instructions, which explain the energy and water savings associated with eco mode.
“Watching a video on how best to stack the dishwasher you own can also be eye-opening, enabling you to get more in, or better results, each time.” The environmental impact of the carbon emissions generated by the electricity and water wasted by the habits can be devastating. And combined, the carbon emissions are equivalent to a diesel car travelling around Earth’s equator 20,000 times.
The water wasted by households guilty of each habit is equivalent to 34 full baths a year per household, or 94m baths across all households annually. She added: “Around half of the electricity we all use at home – which comes from the National Grid – is still being generated by dirty, polluting fossil fuels today. By reducing energy waste at home, we put less pressure on the National Grid and with that we can avoid fossil fuels and consume cleaner energy generated by low carbon technologies such as wind, solar and hydro.” To cut dishwasher costs she recommends dishwasher users
1. Read the instructions
If you, or those who stack the dishwasher, don’t know how to load it properly, you’ll never get 100% efficiency on every wash.
2. Use ECO mode.
This mode is specifically designed to deliver the best results but uses less hot water. Although it may take longer, it will always be the cheapest option.
3. Wait until dishwasher is full.
If you find yourself putting a half-full dishwasher on to get rid of the smell, get a freshener which will mask any food smells until it’s ready. If it’s going to be more than a day, rinse of any food residue, which will help.
4. Consider time of cycle
If you are on a higher day rate and a lower night rate for your electricity, put it on a timer or use the dishwasher’s ‘delay’ option to come on at night to save money.
5. Avoid using incompatible kitchenware
If a dinner plate is too large it will stop the spray arm from spinning, so you’ll be forever rewashing items.
