11 Easy Tips to Use Less Water While Washing Dishes

As you’re loading up your dishwasher or scrubbing away at those dishes by hand, it’s hard not to think about all the water that goes down the drain. And, while everyone has opinions about handwashing versus using a dishwasher, regardless of your method, you can conserve water. Small changes—like skipping the pre-rinse cycle or using less detergent—can add up to major water savings. 

Here are a few tricks to conserve water and still get your dishes sparkling.

1. Scrape Dishes Thoroughly

While it might be tempting to let the sprayer do all of the work, hold off on using water at first and scrape your plates when they're still dry. Then, simply put the solid scraps into the trash, or better yet, the compost pile (if they're compostable). You'll save the water you would have used to run the disposal by never letting food clog it up in the first place.

2. Use Warm Water

There’s something to be said about hot water’s ability to remove waste and old food particles from your dishes easily. Knocking any additional stuck-on food loose with the power of warm water can save you some time, effort, and even water.

3. Keep the Dishes Close

You know what they say: Keep your friends close and your dishes closer. OK, while this isn’t quite how the saying goes, you get the idea! When handwashing your dishes, instead of starting your water and then reaching for dinnerware one at a time, place your scraped dishes in a pile right by the sink. That way, you won’t be spending extra time reaching for all the plates lying around while your faucet goes and goes.

4. Choose the Right Cleaning Tools

Scrubbing away at your plates after a spaghetti dinner is that much harder when you don’t have efficient sponges, brushes, scrubbers, and soap. Not to mention, proper cleaning supplies are key to cleaning dishes safely. 

Your soap should be concentrated enough to not wash away within seconds of scrubbing a dish, and you want an absorbent sponge that:

• Holds onto soap without it quickly rinsing away

• Allows soapsuds to build up

• Is tough enough to scrub off stubborn food particles

• Is gentle enough not to damage your dishes

It’s also a good idea to have a bottle brush on hand for water bottles and deeper cups that are hard to clean with a standard sponge. Having the proper cleaning equipment shortens your dishwashing process, saving you water. 

5. Turn Off the Tap

If you're handwashing your dishes, it can be helpful to wet a few plates at a time, then turn off the tap while you scrub them. When they’re ready to be rinsed, you can turn on the faucet again and repeat as necessary.  This saves the gallons of water that go down the drain while you scrub.

And all of this effort can really add up: The EPA WaterSense program says you can save 200 gallons a month by turning off the tap when it’s not in use.

6. Use the Correct Amount of Soap or Detergent

We’ve all been guilty of loading up our sponges with a big dollop of soap, but more isn’t always better. If you're using too much soap, you'll need more water to wash away the suds. To prevent this from happening, read your dish soap's label and follow the instructions. If you’re wary, use less and less until you've found the perfect balance of squeaky clean and minimal detergent usage.

7. Skip the Pre-Rinse

This one is sure to spark some household debates, but it’s true. If you use a dishwasher, then a pre-rinse is usually unnecessary. Your dishwasher can handle a little bit of residue, so scraping the solids off is enough. In fact, your detergent may be designed to cling onto food and may work better if you don’t rinse. 

8. Load Your Dishwasher the Right Way

When you're loading your dishwasher, keep water flow in mind. The easier it is for water to reach each dish, the less time it will take to clean (which means your machine will use less water). Load larger items on the sides and in the back of the dishwasher so that they don't block water from those tough-to-reach dishes. Face the top or dirtier side of the dish toward the center of the machine, so detergent hits it directly.

9. Run Full Loads

If you've enjoyed a dinner for one, there's no need to run your dishwasher after you eat. Each dishwasher cycle uses the same amount of water, even if it's only cleaning one or two dishes. Wait until it's full—even if that means putting your favorite cup on hold for a few days or handwashing it. Running full loads is a simple move that can save you $40 on your energy bills per year and over 400 gallons of water a month, according to the EPA.

10. Test Your Dishwasher

When your dishwasher is full and ready to go, run your appliance on the absolute lowest setting and shortest cycle. If your dishes aren't clean, test a cycle that's a little bit longer. After a few tests, you'll find the sweet spot that will clean your dishes with the least amount of water possible.

11. Maintain and Replace Your Dishwasher If Needed

Last but not least, even the most determined effort can be rendered ineffective if your appliance isn’t up-to-date. Leaks, faulty mechanisms, and outdated dishwashers will be sure to waste water, making it imperative that you regularly inspect and maintain the dishwasher. 

The EPA recommends replacing any dishwasher that is over 10 years old. When it’s time to make the change, discuss energy-efficient options to be sure you’re getting a unit with water and energy conservation in mind.

For issues that warrant a more complicated repair, be sure to contact a local appliance repair company for dishwasher issues in models that haven’t quite reached that 10-year mark.