Five expert-approved reasons it's time to put down the sponge and embrace the dishwasher
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wash Dishes by Hand
Updated on Nov. 26, 2024
Hand-washing dishes is a wet, messy slog, but after 20 years without a dishwasher, I got used to it. My house at the time was built in the late 1800s, and the kitchen barely had room for a refrigerator, let alone some newfangled dishwashing machine. At one point, I called a contractor to see about upgrading the kitchen, and when I saw the price tag I just threw myself into history. If the pioneers could hand-wash, I could too.
These days, I have a gleaming new kitchen and a dishwasher to boot, but I have to tell you it’s not easy to change ways. I actually like washing my dishes by hand. I can zone out, look out the window and feel slightly superior about the fact that I’m a better dish-scrubber than my spouse.
But experts say it’s actually better to use a dishwasher. So should I give up my hardscrabble ways? I asked cleaning expert Alicia Sokolowski, founder and co-CEO of AspenClean eco-friendly cleaning products and cleaning services, to set me straight. The answer was as clear as a glass from my KitchenAid. Read on to find out what she had to say.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more cleaning, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Why is it better to use the dishwasher vs. hand-wash?
There are multiple reasons, according to Sokolowski. While it’s tempting to think a quick hand-wash of a few dishes is better than loading the dishwasher, when you look at the overall picture, the dishwasher wins hands down. Keep reading to find out why.
It saves water and energy
Dishwashers use significantly less water and energy than hand-washing, especially if you run full loads and use an energy-efficient dishwasher, Sokolowski says.
“On average, a dishwasher uses about 3 to 5 gallons per washing cycle, while hand-washing can easily use up to 27 gallons per session, depending on how long you let the water run,” she says. It’s easy to lose track: Kitchen faucets manufactured after 1994 must have a flow rate of 2.2 gallons or less per minute, so you can rack up 27 gallons in just over 12 minutes.
All that water runs up your energy bill too. Switching from hand-washing to an Energy Star dishwasher saves 8,400 gallons of water a year, reducing your utility bills by $3,200 over the life of your dishwasher.
If you do have to hand-wash your dishes like I did all those years, save water and energy by using two sink basins or dishpans instead of letting the water run continuously. According to a University of Michigan study, washing dishes in one basin and rinsing in the other cut greenhouse emissions by two-thirds over traditional hand-washing.
It gets dishes cleaner
Do you ever pull a hand-washed dish out of the cabinet and notice a speck of dried food or a big stripe that you missed with your kitchen sponge or dish wand? Or maybe your other half just completely forgets that the backs of plates also need to be washed. You know what doesn’t have that problem? A dishwasher.
Dishwashers have one job: Get dishes clean, which is more than I can say for our two hands. Powerful jets, scalding water and highly potent and abrasive dishwasher detergents physically scrub your dishes better than a kitchen sponge and elbow grease ever could.
It saves on labor
“Using a dishwasher frees you from repetitive scrubbing, rinsing and drying the dishes, ultimately saving your time,” Sokolowski says. Just load, press a button and come back a few hours later. That’s a lot of time spent doing things other than standing at the sink. How much time are we talking? Try 10 days a year, according to Energy Star.
It sanitizes better
Got a sick kiddo in the house? Time to wash those gross dog bowls? When it comes to germ reduction, the dishwasher is the better choice, and it’s not even close.
That sponge you use for hand-washing can be home to 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter, according to researchers at Duke University. In fact, the structure of a sponge, with its interlocking cells filled with food and water, means that it grows bacteria better than a Petri dish!
Instead, see if your dishwasher has a sanitize setting. If it’s certified by the National Sanitation Foundation and the American National Standards Institute, it will have a final rinse temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and guarantee a 99.999% reduction in bacteria.
Even regular cycles have hotter water than your sink. “Dishwashers can heat water to higher temperatures than what’s comfortable for hand-washing,” Sokolowski says. That’s why the dishwasher is the logical choice for sanitizing baby bottles, pet bowls and dishes used by sick family members. (Throw those kitchen sponges in there too.)
It prevents dry, cracked hands
Chalk up another pro in the dishwasher column. Not only does it clean your dishes more efficiently than hand-washing, but there’s one more perk: “Using a dishwasher also saves your hands from irritation and dryness from hot water and dish soap,” Sokolowski says.
I wholeheartedly concur. Slathering on gallons of moisturizer during my hand-washing years helped, but these mitts aren’t winning any beauty contests.
Should you hand-wash certain items before putting them in the dishwasher?
In general, it’s best not to hand-wash dishes before loading the dishwasher. Today’s dishwashers detect the soil level of the load; if yours thinks the dishes aren’t very dirty, it might not clean them as well as you’d like. Plus, detergents have enzymes and surfactants formulated to interact with food particles, so prerinsing or hand-washing is actually counterproductive.
Of course, there are exceptions. “Some items that can go in the dishwasher may still benefit from hand-washing first, or instead,” Sokolowski says. Think: crusty casserole dishes and greasy sheet pans. “Baked-on food often requires scraping or soaking beforehand to avoid leaving residue behind.”
It can also be a good idea to hand-wash big items that could block the jets or detergent compartment, even if your dishwasher could technically handle them. “Large pots and pans can crowd the dishwasher, reducing its effectiveness for other dishes.”
Which items should you always hand-wash?
As great as the dishwasher is, it shouldn’t be your only cleaning method. As Sokolowski points out, some items just can’t take the heat (or detergent).
- Delicate and fragile items. “Fine china, usually hand-painted, can chip or fade, and crystal glasses can develop clouding or cracking due to detergent and heat,” Sokolowski says.
- Wooden cutting boards and utensils. Water, heat and detergent in a long dishwasher cycle can warp wood and strip it of essential oils, Sokolowski says. Instead, clean cutting boards by hand and allow them to fully dry before storing. For stubborn stains, scrub them with lemon and salt.
- Cast iron pans. “Never put your cast iron pans into the dishwasher, as they can easily lose their seasonings and can develop rust,” says Sokolowski. Instead, hand-wash with a little dish soap and water (yes, it’s OK!), then dry thoroughly. Protect the seasoning with a thin layer of oil.
- Non-dishwasher-safe plastic utensils. “Do not put plastic utensils that are not dishwasher-safe into your dishwasher, as thin or soft plastics may warp from high heat,” Sokolowski says. She notes that dishwasher-safe plastic utensils should be placed on the top rack to prevent damage.
- Knives. Go ahead and run your butter knives through the dishwasher, but leave all other knives out. The detergents can dull sharp (and often expensive) kitchen knives. Plus, the sharp points can damage your dishwasher baskets if you slide them in facing down. Of course, face-up knives are a safety hazard. It’s better to hand-wash.
- Nonstick pots and pans. “While nonstick cookware may be labeled as dishwasher-safe, frequent exposure can wear down its coating, so hand-washing is often a better option,” Sokolowski says.
Is a dishwasher or hand-washing better for tough stains and gunked-up items?
“Hand-washing is typically more effective, especially for baked-on food,” Sokolowski says.
Modern dishwashers are designed to clean without prerinsing: Just scrape the food and load. But some dishwashers, particularly older ones, are no match for old stains or stuck-on, greasy food. “While dishwashers are excellent for removing general food residue, they often struggle with baked-on food and stubborn stains like rust,” she says.
Soak your problem dishes in warm water and dish soap (or use vinegar) to soften residue, then scrub. If you need an extra boost, Sokolowski suggests using an abrasive cleaner like baking soda, which is great for rust and other stains.
About the expert
|
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece, Ally Childress tapped her experience as a journalist who covers home and cleaning for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Alicia Sokolowski, founder and co-CEO of AspenClean; email interview, Nov. 23, 2024
- Duke University: “The Surprising Structural Reason Your Kitchen Sponge is Disgusting”
- Science News Explores: “Kitchen Sponges Are Bacteria’s Dream Home”
- U.S. Department of Energy: “Best Management Practice #7: Faucets and Showerheads”
- Energy Star: “Dishwashers”
- National Sanitation Foundation: “Dishwasher Certification”
- University of Michigan: “Fighting Climate Change at the Sink: A Guide to Greener Dishwashing”
