What You Can Do To Make Washing Dishes More Sustainable

A squeaky clean stack of washed dishes comes with a few dark secrets — most notably, the energy used to heat the water contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, if you live in a drought-prone area, using all that water is bad for the environment.

The good news is, we can easily make dishwashing more sustainable. “Everyone has an important role to play in fighting climate change,” says Greg Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. “Smarter dishwashing is something we can all do.”

Keoleian is the senior author of a UM study that compared manual and machine dishwashing. Here are some suggestions from him and environmental toxicity specialist Tonya Harris for making dishwashing more sustainable.

Use the Dishwasher, Usually

In most circumstances, using the dishwasher consumes less energy and water than handwashing. Keoleian’s study compared machine washing vs. washing dishes with the tap running. The dishwasher resulted in 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% water savings.

“Most of the emissions are tied to the energy used to heat the water,” says Keoleian. “Some [people] wash their dishes before using the dishwasher, which defeats the advantage of the dishwasher over handwashing.”

Choose an Efficient Dishwasher

Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than their dated counterparts. Many use less than four gallons per load, run quieter and feature more innovations. Beko’s Series 39 dishwashers offer a dedicated spot for cleaning tall bottles, a self-cleaning filter and a spray arm that moves in a square to clean corners more effectively. Here’s how to use a dishwasher properly.

The downside with new dishwashers? They require more patience. “To get the same results as older dishwashers, the more efficient ones need to run longer,” says Harris.

When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the yellow appliance standard labels to determine how much energy and water it will use. Also look for:

• An Energy Star rating;
• Eco-wash, auto-sensing and air-dry settings;
• A large capacity so you can run it fewer times during the week;
• A manufacturing company with an environmental ethos.

Arrange Dishes for Max Efficiency

Each dishwasher is a little different, so check your owner’s manual for guidance. But in general:

• Place dishes with dirty sides facing the center at a downward angle between the tines.
• Keep plastic containers and lids on the upper racks to protect them from heat.
• Use the lower shelf for larger items like plates, pans and bakeware.
• Point silverware handles downward (except for knives, which should go pointy side down for safety).

Also, it’s most efficient to wait to run the dishwasher until it’s full, but not overloaded. “While it might be tempting to cram the dishwasher full until you can’t fit anything more,” Harris says, “this can lead to having to re-wash items because the soap can’t reach all of the dish surfaces if they are overlapping.”

Choose an Efficient Dishwasher Cycle

Newer machines have “eco” cycles. If you don’t have an eco setting, “light” or “fragile” and “normal” are the next best bets.

Try to avoid tougher dishwasher cycles like “pots and pans,” which run longer and at higher temperatures. Keoleian also suggests skipping the dry setting. “Let your dishes air dry to save energy and money,” he says.

Practice Efficient Handwashing Techniques

If you do handwash, don’t continuously run the water. Instead, Harris and Keoleian recommend the “two-basin method.”

First, scrape food scraps into the compost or garbage. (Composting is better, since sending food waste to the landfill raises the level of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.) Then, Harris says, do this:

• Soak dishes with stuck-on food in warm, soapy water. For safety, don’t soak sharp knives.
• Drain the water and refill the sink about halfway with warm, clean water.
• Scrub dishes from the least to the most dirty.
• Dip them into a second basin with cool water to rinse them off. If you only have a one-basin sink, use a small tub for this.
• Allow dishes to air dry, or towel them dry for a spotless finish.
• Use a clean dishcloth each time to prevent bacterial transfer.

Choose Dishwashing Soap Wisely

“It’s easy to think that more soap means cleaner dishes, but more soap is not always better!” says Harris. “Using too much of it can lead to a cloudy film on dishes and glasses.”

Other sustainable considerations include:

• Using concentrated formulas to reduce packaging waste;
• Picking products with minimal plastic packaging;
• Recycling spent containers;
• Buying toxic-free soaps to protect waterways;
• Avoiding dishwashing pods, since there’s emerging evidence they contribute to microplastic pollution;
• If you have hard water, protect your machine by using detergents formulated for low mineral buildup.

Choose a Green Scrubber

Stephanie Miller/Courtesy Karuna Eberl

“You may not realize it, but your run-of-the-mill kitchen sponge is a daily contributor to microplastics pollution,” says green-living author and advocate Stephanie Miller.

“The ones you tend to find in your grocery store are made of plastic, and they release tiny particles that end up in our waterways and oceans. And at the end of their useful life, these sponges end up in landfills.”

Instead, use scrubbers made from natural fibers like cotton, hemp, sisal, coconut fibers, loofah or bamboo.

About The Experts

• Gregory Keoleian is a professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. He co-founded and co-directs the university’s Center for Sustainable Systems, which has been analyzing products, technology and practices for improving sustainability for more than 30 years. He was recently named to the Reuters Hot List of the world’s top climate scientists.
• Tonya Harris is an award-winning environmental toxin expert, the founder of Slightly Greener and author of the The Slightly Greener Method, which offers busy moms simple solutions to reduce toxins. She holds a master’s degree in holistic nutrition and multiple certificates in the environmental health field, and has been featured on numerous national TV shows.
• Stephanie Miller is the author of Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way and founder of Zero Waste in DC. She spent 25 years at the International Finance Corporation, where she was director of climate business, leading teams in finding innovative solutions to climate change. She reaches a wide audience through keynote presentations, learning events and household consultations.