The best eco-friendly dishwashers are tough on grease, yet light on energy. Your utility bill and the environment will thank you.
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7 Best Eco-Friendly Dishwashers to Save the Environment (and Your Wallet)
Updated on Sep. 30, 2024
Using a modern dishwasher is one of the easiest ways to save money, water and energy. The average Energy Star-certified dishwasher uses less than 4 gallons of water per cycle, compared to the more than 20 gallons people use when hand-washing dishes. What’s more, the best eco-friendly dishwashers only cost about $35 per year to operate. After thorough research, we found the top-rated machines that leave plates spotless while saving the environment—and some money on your next utility bill.
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Best Overall Eco-Friendly Dishwasher
Bosch 300 Series Top-Control Dishwasher
The Bosch 300 Series is one of the best eco-friendly dishwashers, complete with an advanced precision washing system for the optimal amount of water to clean your dishes. The PureDry technology pulls water off plates and cups and onto the stainless steel interior without a heating element, which means it can easily wash and dry plastics, like baby bottles.
Moreover, the dishwasher has five cycle options, including a National Sanitation Foundation-Certified Sanitization cycle to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria. We’re also big fans of the third rack for silverware, and the adjustable upper rack and flexible tines for larger pots and pans.
Pros
- Precision washing system
- Has a third rack
- Includes flexible tines
- Quiet 48-decibel (dB) sound rating
Cons
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No pre-soak cycle
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Best Budget Eco-Friendly Dishwasher
Whirlpool Front-Control Dishwasher
The Whirlpool front-control dishwasher offers great value on a budget. A quick cycle washes and dries dishes in under an hour, and it has enough space to fit 13 place settings. It also features a heated dry option and a soil sensor for a thorough clean each time. Customers were shocked at how well this affordable eco-friendly dishwasher cleaned dishes without pre-soaking.
Two more huge bonus points is you can easily install the dishwasher on your own, and it’s designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.
Pros
- Entry-level price
- Quick setting cleans dishes in under an hour
- Has a soil sensor
- Easy installation
Cons
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55-dB sound rating is on the louder side
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Best Eco-Friendly Dishwasher for Small Spaces
Comfee Countertop Dishwasher
The Comfee countertop dishwasher is the ideal solution for those in studio apartments, college dorms or RVs. Fit up to six place settings (though the dishes can’t be larger than 10 inches in diameter) and choose from eight different cycles. Many shoppers also use this for cleaning baby toys and toddler dishes since it reaches temperatures that inhibit bacterial growth.
Here’s the best part: This best eco-friendly dishwasher is easy to use. Simply place it on a stable surface, connect it to a water source (there’s an optional adapter to connect it to the faucet) and plug it in. Since it only weighs 46 pounds, storing this portable dishwasher is doable when it’s not in use.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Has eight washing cycles
- Features an extra-drying option
- Affordable
Cons
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Can’t fit full-sized dinner plates
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Best Smart Eco-Friendly Dishwasher
Sharp Top-Control Smart Dishwasher
“Alexa, turn on the dishwasher.” That’s how easy it is to start the Sharp smart dishwasher. But wait, there’s more—you can also set up your Alexa, aka Amazon’s virtual assistant, to alert you when you’re running low on detergent. The LED interior lighting is a nice touch, as well.
This modern eco-friendly dishwasher comes with an adjustable upper and third rack to accommodate larger pots and pans. It also has a Power Wash sprayer that eliminates the need for pre-soaking dishes. The fingerprint-resistant stainless steel keeps the dishwasher looking nice—a big plus for anyone with children.
Pros
- Can control via Amazon Alexa
- Includes Amazon Dash replenishment service
- Adjustable upper and third racks
- LED interior lighting
Cons
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On the pricier side
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Best Splurge Eco-Friendly Dishwasher
Miele Top-Control Smart Dishwasher
The customer reviews for the Miele smart dishwasher assure us that this high-end dishwasher is well worth its hefty price tag. Our favorite feature is the automatic dishwasher detergent-dispensing system with PowerDisk, which pulls just the right amount of soap needed for each load (each PowerDisk lasts about a month). It also has a built-in water softener to reduce cloudiness, and an automatic door-opening system for dry dishes. Control the dishwasher through the Miele app, available for iPhone and Android.
Pros
- Automatic detergent-dispensing system
- Door-opening system for perfectly dry dishes
- Can delay washing for up to 24 hours
- Quiet 43-dB sound rating
Cons
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More difficult installation
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Most Quiet Eco-Friendly Dishwasher
Samsung Linear Wash Top-Control Smart Dishwasher
Did you know the Samsung smart dishwasher is so quiet that several customers thought it wasn’t working? Some even say they had to put their ear on the machine to hear anything. It clocks in with a sound rating of 39 dB, which is quieter than most modern refrigerators. Plus, the linear wash system reaches every corner of this reliable dishwasher, leaving no mess untouched. There’s no heated dry option, though the door opens at the end of each cycle to promote airflow to dry dishes.
Pros
- Whisper-quiet 39-dB sound rating
- Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel
- Zone Booster area efficiently cleans caked-on messes
- Flexible third rack
Cons
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No heated drying option
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Best Eco-Friendly Dishwasher for Drying
Frigidaire Top-Control Dishwasher
Say goodbye to water droplets on your plates and glasses with the Frigidaire dishwasher. It has EvenDry technology that’s similar to a convection oven, as it circulates heat around the dishwasher to prevent wet dishes fresh from the cycle. Buyers say there’s no need for a post-wash towel dry with this best eco-friendly dishwasher.
This dishwasher boasts a BladeSpray arm for even coverage, an adjustable upper rack, a third rack for silverware and a sanitizing option. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned that you get all that for a value price.
Pros
- Fan-assisted EvenDry system
- Has a sanitize option
- BladeSpray arm for better water coverage
- Features an adjustable upper rack
Cons
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Tines are not flexible
How much do eco-friendly dishwashers cost?
Eco-friendly dishwashers can cost up to $1,500, depending on their size and features, though they can last for up to 20 years if well maintained.
