Dishwashers vs. hand washing: Do dishwashers save water?

Choosing between using a dishwasher vs. hand washing typically comes down to personal preference, yet both methods offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. Keep reading to discover the benefits of using a dishwasher, understand if it can save water and determine the washing method that best suits your needs.

Do dishwashers save water?

Standard dishwashers typically use 3-4 gallons of water during a typical wash cycle, whereas handwashing can use up to 27 gallons—about 15 gallons for every minute the water is running.

Modern dishwasher models may also offer eco-friendly features, such as soil sensors, filtration systems, optimized rack designs and more. ENERGY STAR^® Certified dishwashers, like this 3rd Rack Flush Dishwasher from Whirlpool brand, exceed government standards to help save money on your utility bills.

Are dishwashers better than handwashing?

Whether or not a dishwasher or hand washing is “better” often depends on your own personal needs and preferences. While dishwashers can be a significant initial investment, they generally use less water than handwashing. However, not all kitchenware is safe to run through the dishwasher. For items like wood, cast iron and certain types of plastic, refer to the underside of the product or its packaging instructions to ensure it’s marked as dishwasher safe.

4 reasons to use a dishwasher

Both hand washing and using a dishwasher offer unique benefits, but dishwashers may have some advantages over hand washing. Keep reading to discover a handful of reasons why using a dishwasher may be beneficial.

Person unloading a water bottle from the dishwasher

1. Convenience

Though the time it takes to run a standard dishwasher cycle can vary, dishwashers can take the tediousness of hand washing off your list of to-dos. Instead of washing each dirty dish and glass by hand, dishwashers only require you to scrape off leftover food, load the dishwasher and start the cycle.

Bowls and mugs inside a dishwasher during a cycle

2. Water consumption

Whereas handwashing can use up to 27 gallons of water, a standard dishwasher cycle uses 3-4 gallons of water. Refer to your dishwasher’s manual for any additional information about the amount of water each cycle uses. If you need to clean dishes fast, consider a Whirlpool^® Dishwasher with a Quick Wash Cycle. This cycle takes care of plates and glasses when you need them done in a hurry.

Stacked plates being cleaned inside a dishwasher

3. Cleaning temperatures and sanitizing capabilities

Some dishwashers’ water temperature can reach higher than 155°F and some models may even offer sanitization cycles to help reduce bacteria left over from food soils. It’s recommended that sink water does not exceed 120°F, so it might be helpful to utilize the dishwasher if you want to achieve a certain level of cleaning power.

Select Whirlpool^® Dishwashers, like this Quiet Dishwasher with 3rd Rack from Whirlpool brand, offer a Sani Rinse Option that sanitizes dishes by eliminating 99.999% of food soil bacteria.

Miscellaneous utensils loaded in a dishwasher’s third rack

4. Heated drying

Save some time and skip towel drying with a dishwasher model that uses hot air to thoroughly dry your load for you. Whirlpool^® Dishwashers that feature the Heated Dry Option let you use a clean, dry dish straight from the dishwasher thanks to added heat for drying.

Explore Whirlpool^® Dishwashers

Spend more time enjoying meals with your family rather than cleaning up afterward with convenient features found on Whirlpool^® Dishwashers. Featured on select Whirlpool^® Dishwashers, the Boost Cycle lets you skip scrubbing and pre-rinsing, while an additional 3rd Rack on large capacity dishwashers makes it easy to load additional silverware and hard-to-fit utensils.