How Much Water Does A Dishwasher Use?

Tests conducted by Which? revealed, on average, a full-sized dishwasher uses 2.2 litres of water and a slimline dishwasher uses 2.7 litres of water to wash 2 place settings. This is significantly less than handwashing, which may come as a surprise for many households!

Modern dishwashers are much more energy efficient than their predecessors, so the amount of water your dishwasher uses will depend on the make and model. However, for this report, Which? tested all the dishwashers they have tested in the past 10 years.

Do Dishwashers Use More Water Than Washing Up?

Surprisingly, no! Washing up uses on average 9 litres of water to wash 2 place settings compared to dishwashers which typically only use 2.2 – 2.7 litres. Obviously, for more place settings, more water will have to be used but, with a dishwasher, you can wash more place settings with comparatively only a little more water.

More Water Saving Tips for Your Dishwasher

Choose the Right Size Dishwasher

Before purchasing a dishwasher for your household, it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. If you are a small household, a compact model will be much more efficient than a large one and vice versa. Running a smaller model several times a day will be inefficient, so assess your requirements first and how much you will need to regularly wash before making a decision.

Skip the Pre-Rinse

Your dishwasher should be powerful enough to remove most stubborn dirt, so you shouldn’t need to rinse your dishes before loading the dishwasher. All you need to do is scrape any remaining food into the bin and wipe them with a damp cloth or sponge. This will save water and time in the long run. Some dishes may require soaking before going into the dishwasher, but this uses less water than rinsing.

If your dishes are coming out dirty, then it could be that your dishwasher is not working as it should be and could do with a clean. There are dishwasher cleaners on the market but you can also clean your dishwasher with standard household products such as vinegar and baking soda.

Only Wash a Full Load

Make the most of the water used for one cycle by only running when the dishwasher is full. However, be careful not to overload it as this can hinder its washing performance and waste water washing the dishes again. Make sure to load bigger items at the back too, so the water can reach the detergent dispenser.

Choose an Eco-Setting

Most modern dishwashers will have an eco-setting which will help use less water, whilst still retaining the washing performance of a normal cycle.

How Does Hard Water Affect Your Dishwasher?

Limescale build-up through hard water can affect your dishwasher’s performance. Limescale blocks the water flow into your dishwasher and makes it run less efficiently. Also, it will leave your dishes and glasses cloudy with deposits on surfaces. Your dishwasher will last longer and require less maintenance and repairs when using soft water.

Dishwashers have a small inbuilt water softener which, with the addition of salt, will create soft water to prevent deposits of limescale during usage. If you have a water softener fitted in your home, then check if your dishwasher feed is plumbed into the soft water feed after the water softener.

If connected to your soft water feed, this will mean you don’t need to add salt directly to your dishwasher. If you live in a hard water area and do not have a water softener, or your dishwasher is plumbed into the hard water feed before the softener, then dishwasher salt is imperative for sparkling dishes and glasses.

At PureSalt, we supply high quality dishwasher salt in cost-effective quantities, so you can rest assured your dishwasher is always running efficiently and your dishes are always sparkling. Shop today or get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.