What is your favourite way of washing dishes? Virginia Satir, the famous American psychologist and writer – author of the ageless book “The Peoplemaking” – did a little research and found out that there were no less than 250 distinct ways to tackle dirty dishes. It all depends on who you are and what you use. Whatever it may be, it will most likely involve a sponge, washing-up liquid, lots of water and maybe a song… I don’t know – do you sing while washing dishes? If so, I may conclude that you’re a creative person, however, that doesn’t automatically make you environmentally friendly.
Many people believe that washing-up by hand is the simplest and cheapest way. Nevertheless, a dishwasher is capable of beating us humans on both time and resources. Dishwashingexpert.co.uk has had a more thorough look at the age-old man vs. machine problem and they’ve come up with a very interesting web-tool. Give it a spin and you might be surprised of the findings. For example, a family of four regularly eating in, can potentially save close to £100 per year by switching to a dishwasher.
The time and environmental resources that are saved along the way are difficult to estimate – they’re priceless. Because dishwashers only use very little water and electricity, this imaginary family of four would save 13,000 litres of water and 145kWh of energy. Not bad!
If you’re convinced and have started looking for the best dishwasher deals, there are a couple of points to keep in mind. Firstly, dishwashers come in a wide range of different shapes and sizes. Make sure you know exactly how much space you have in your kitchen.
Pardon! What did you say?
Another thing to look for is the noise level. Considering that it can take up to 2.5 hours for the appliance to complete its washing cycle (especially if it’s a low-temperature eco cycle) you don’t really want the dishwasher to be heard from across the street. A good (or shall we say average) noise level for a domestic appliance is 50db, however, even a couple of db below that will sound significantly quieter. If you find a model with 40 – 42db noise level, you’re either very lucky or you’re looking at a high-end model that is priced accordingly.
Prices
Another factor is the price. Going for a cheaper one is often tempting, however, the more advanced models will usually save you more money because they’re more economical, and they will last longer.
Are You Covered?
What about the warranty? I’ve seen dishwasher deals offering up to 10 years anti-rust warranty. It sounds good, but in most cases it won’t cover the moving parts. So, it’s very important to understand what is and what isn’t covered. A properly made dishwasher can last for many years and you really want to make sure you get a good one.
Cooler is Better
A closer inspection of the appliances on offer is always a good idea. You should look for one that is clever enough to wash dishes at low temperatures. Did you know that a more advanced low-temperature dishwasher consumes only three quarters of electricity that an average high-temperature dishwasher would consume? Over a couple of years it adds up to a significant sum of money, which again, brings it all down to the price. In fact, buying a slightly more expensive machine today makes more sense both economically and environmentally in the future.
We may have found the 251st way of washing dishes and it seems that this is the most eco-friendly one.
