Little-known dishwasher setting saves money on your energy bill – and it’s better than hand-washing... - The US Sun
Little-known dishwasher setting saves money on your energy bill - and it's better than hand-washing | The US Sun
Little-known dishwasher setting saves money on your energy bill – and it’s better than hand-washing
HAVING the correct setting on your dishwasher is one key to keeping your energy bills manageable.
Many may not realize that their dishwasher may have the option to wash only one half of the machine at a time, which saves water.
On many models, you have the choice to choose a half load, or half rack option, which means only one of the two racks in the dishwasher is washed.
This can be the bottom or top rack depending on the model.
This way you can save not only on water but detergent as well, assuming you use liquid detergent and not individual pods.
Still, the hack will not save you half the water.
You will still use up to 90 percent of the water you would use on a full load, according to the product testing site Which.
Yet, you will still be using less water than when hand washing, at least according to a study done by the dishwashing detergent brand Cascade.
" In a recent study, Cascade found that the average person spends 15 seconds hand washing a dish. In that time, the sink uses half a gallon of water. That’s why running your dishwasher with as few as eight dishes is all it takes to save water," Cascade claimed.
Christopher Doscher, director of communications at the Association of Homes Appliance Manufacturers, agrees with Cascade.
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"It is generally more efficient to use your dishwasher over hand-washing dishes, even if it isn’t full," Doscher told Home & Gardens.
MORE WAYS TO SAVE ON ENERGY
Another trick to lower your electric bill is to pay attention to little-used appliances draining your electricity.
These "vampire appliances" can cost you well over $100 a year according to a recent study.
Common vampire appliances include unused chargers, lights left on and computers left plugged in.
You may also be eligible for energy relief payments provided by your state.
Maine is still sending out $450 checks to most citizens to offset the costs of rising energy costs this weekend.
And many states are currently offering up to $7,500 in energy rebates to ditch your gas car and buy an electric vehicle.
Check out an influencers guide to money saving appliances.
And see which home appliances use the same amount of energy as a Tesla.