Do Dishwashers Really Clean Enough?
Electric dishwashers offer a convenient way to keep dishes washed without the need for laborious hand cleaning. However, many older models didn't always remove all food from the dishes. Lower-temperature dishwashers could also leave germs behind after their cycles had finished. Newer models, especially Energy Star-approved high-efficiency dishwashers, clean effectively and kill germs. This makes them more cost-efficient, environmentally friendly and healthier than hand washing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cleaning Power
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Most dishwasher owners still pre-rinse their dishes before loading them into automatic dishwashers. This habit stems from using older machines, which weren't always capable of handling dishes covered in food. However, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy now recommends simply scraping plates and other dishes, since machines made in the past 5 to 10 years are capable of cleaning even heavily soiled kitchenware.
Disinfection
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Washing dishes by hand can allow germs to stay put, even after all food residue is washed off. Make sure your dishwasher can supply water 140 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter to ensure disinfection. Some newer models include a sanitizing cycle for extra disinfection power. While older dishwashers used water at the temperature of a household water heater (usually about 120 degrees Fahrenheit), nearly all models made since the 1990s have a heat booster that ensures full disinfection.
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Efficiency
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Automatic dishwashers not only clean more effectively than hand washing; they're also more energy and cost efficient. Washing dishes using an Energy Star qualified dishwasher can save more than $40 per year and use around 5,000 fewer gallons of water than doing the same work by hand, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as of 2011. More efficient dishwashers with Energy Star certifications must also offer more effective cleaning cycles in order to receive the certification.
Considerations
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To clean dishes effectively, dishwashers must be loaded and operated according to manufacturers' instructions. However, according to "The New York Times," most dishwasher owners use too much soap, potentially damaging the machine and leaving behind residue on the dishes. Incorrect loading can also result in poor cleaning. Keep larger items at the back and sides of the machine to encourage proper water flow, and place the dirtiest side of dishes toward the middle of the machine. Most dishwashers completely dry dishes. However, some plastic items may still come out wet, despite being completely clean, due to the lower heat levels in modern dishwashers' drying cycles. Simply hand or air dry these dishes.
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References
- Consumer Reports: Dishwasher Guide
- Palm Beach County; Washing Dishes in the Dishwasher Helps Fight Germs; November/December 2004
- U.S. Department of Energy; Residential Dishwashers; June 2010
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; Dishwashing; June 2010
- "The New York Times"; For the Dishwasher's Sake, Go Easy on the Detergent; Alina Tugend; March 12, 2010
- Energy Star: Dishwasher vs. Hand Washing Dishes
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
