Let your Dishwasher Save you Money

Feeling guilty for running that dishwasher so much during the holidays, thinking you're wasting energy? Think again. Did you know that it costs less than a postage stamp to run your dishwasher? It may surprise you that running your dishwasher actually costs less than doing a load of dishes by hand in the sink. You might also find it surprising that when you wash your dishes in the dishwasher, 80% of your energy costs are associated with heating the water, while only 20% is from actual machine energy usage. And because hand washing your dishes can consume 9 to 24 gallons of water each time you wash whereas your dishwasher only uses 6 to 10 gallons, you can actually save energy, money, and time by using the dishwasher.

You can also save more than $30 a year in energy costs by replacing a 10-year old dishwasher with an Energy Star® qualified dishwasher. Energy Star is a government-backed program that helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star qualified dishwashers consume 25% less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption.

Because it's the season for giving, Energy Star and Home Made Simple would like to inform you about some other steps you can take to give back to the environment this holiday season, while also saving yourself some time and money (And we know everyone loves saving money, especially this time of the year!). Here are some quick tips for helping yourself and the environment at the same time.

Energy-Saving Dishwasher Tips

• Save water and energy by not prerinsing or soaking your dishes-just scrape away excess food and load dishes in the dishwasher.

• Load similar-sized plates together on the bottom rack, and keep similar-sized glasses, cups, and mugs together on the top rack.

• Don't put any large dishes or pots over the water distribution mechanism.

• Don't pack dishes too tightly-this ensures good water distribution.

• For fine china that you're not sure if you have to wash by hand, check the bottom of a plate to see if the manufacturer recommends using a dishwasher. If there is no mention, try washing one piece of china with the regular loads for a few weeks to check for wear and tear. This will save energy, as well as hours of washing china by hand in the future.



Home Made Simple hopes that by taking some of these tips into consideration this holiday season, you can start getting the most out of your dishwasher. To help, we'd like to provide you with some information on one of the best dishwashing detergents available, Cascade.

After you go straight from the table to dishwasher (remember, no prerinsing!) be sure to use Cascade Complete. Cascade Complete has a Clean Dissolve Formula that not only helps remove tough food, it also dissolves food particles so they don't get stuck on other dishes or trapped in your machine. Another Cascade product, Cascade 2-in-1 ActionPacs, is infused with the power of Dawn to give you two great cleaners in one easy-to-use pac, and give your dishes an outstanding clean and shine. And don't forget about the great line of Cascade dishwashing additives, and how they can help when cleaning your holiday dishes. To help save some time and energy, check out Cascade Crystal Clear-it has outstanding drying power, which cuts down on the time your dishes spend in the heat dry cycle of your dishwasher. Don't forget Cascade Plastic Booster if your goal is saving some extra money this holiday season. Most of us use a lot of plasticware during the holiday season-to pack up leftover party treats or for ease of use during holiday buffets-and Cascade Plastic Booster helps to remove any red stains and odors from your plasticware, saving you money by allowing you to use it longer.

Home Made Simple and Energy Star hope that you can use this dishwashing information to help have a Holly, Jolly, Energy-Efficient Holiday this year.