Tip of the Week – Conscientious Dishwashing

If you have a dishwasher and are running it on a daily basis, here are 7 tips you can do to cut down on the energy use, save some money, and be a little greener when you clean.

1- Only run full loads – this will help make the most of the energy, water, and detergent the machine uses.

2- Use the energy efficient setting if available.

3- Don’t run the dishwasher’s dry cycle – let your dishes air dry, or towel dry them.

4- Turn down the water temperature on the dishwasher to 120° F – results in additional energy savings without compromising on cleanliness.

5- Skip the pre-rinse – most dishwashers today are powerful enough to get all the gunk off, so a lot of pre-rinsing by hand is often just a waste of water and time.

6- Use soap that is natural, biodegradable, and free of petroleum and phosphates.

7- Run the dishwasher during off-peak utility hours – some utilities even offer reduced rates for energy used during this period.