The Best Place In Your Kitchen For Your Dishwasher

When you're considering adding in a dishwasher, the quality of the appliance and water usage might come to mind first, but location also makes a difference. According to Entergy, 80 million homes in the United States have a dishwasher, but 20% of people that own one rarely use it. Surprisingly, using this appliance actually requires less water than it takes to hand wash dishes, so placing it in a convenient spot can encourage usage and help you save water in your home.

The most convenient spot for a dishwasher is obviously near the sink, in close proximity to the necessary water hookups, but there's one more important choice to consider: right or left. There's actually a correct answer to this question, and it all depends on you. Keep reading to learn more about how proper dishwasher placement can help you streamline your routine and get the chore of doing the dishes out of the way faster.

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and three meals a day multiplied by however many members of your family there can add up to a massive stack of plates, pans, and bowls. According to Conagra Brands on Cision, the average American spends about 25 minutes a day washing dishes. This statistic adds up to over six days each year. Even slight adjustments to streamline this process can add up to a lot of saved time and energy over time.

Proper placement next to the sink can also save on installation costs. Installing a dishwasher anywhere is technically possible, but hooking up to your sink's existing plumbing is much more convenient and inexpensive. It's also the best spot to transfer dishes from the sink easily. Anywhere else, and loading the appliance would require much more legwork than necessary. So unless you're stuck with limited options, choosing one side of the sink is the best bet.

The final call on where to place the dishwasher lies in your hands. No, really. Your dominant hand should determine the best place for your dishwasher. For example, if you're right-handed, your dishwasher should go to the left of the sink; if you're left-handed, to the right. Right-handed people make up about 90% of the population (via MedlinePlus), so it's more common to see dishwashers on the left side of the sink if they're properly placed. This is so you can scrape food or debris off plates with your dominant hand and then place the plate in the dishwasher without switching sides.

It's a minor consideration, but when we spend so much time in the kitchen, it can shave off a few seconds that compound over time. If you have the choice, make your kitchen setup work the best it possibly can for you. Small switches can add up to big differences.