The Often Overlooked Dishwasher Setting That Could Save You Money

Being more economical has almost become an Olympic sport for homeowners and renters, with internet tips and tricks constantly popping up to help save a few dollars here and there. From the saving money when renovating your kitchen, to upcycling hacks for your old pillows (which will also aid your wallet), there are thousands of ways to be more frugal and keep costs down around the house. When it comes to your appliances, while it's hard to figure out which settings ensure you're paying less for energy, there are some options that will help lower your bills. 

Your dishwasher may feel like a money pit at times, but one simple setting might keep this particular fixture from draining your pockets. The eco mode can be found on many dishwasher models, and it helps to optimize your cycles, so that the machine uses no more water and electricity than necessary while still getting the items clean. By using eco mode regularly, you could cut costs over time ... and who doesn't want that? As with many eco settings, this means your dishwasher will have a longer cycle, but believe it or not, the longer run time doesn't translate into higher energy use. Instead, the lengthier cycle gives the dishes more time to soak, so the food residue comes off easily without the water temperature being excessively high.

Standard dishwasher cycles use hot water to get everything off your dishes, utensils, and cups. The eco mode uses less electricity to heat water, so your overall costs will go down despite the longer washing time. The downside of the eco mode is waiting for your dishes to be cleaned. The upside of saving money is obviously a big perk of using this setting, and the standard cycle usually goes on as long as two and a half hours, anyways. 

Expect to save around 20% to 30% on your dishwasher energy consumption when using the eco mode. However, how much you save depends on how often you use this setting. It's also wise to only do full loads rather than turning your appliance on for fewer dishes. In fact, using the smaller load settings can actually use more energy, meaning you are paying more for shorter cycles. While using a dishwasher is certainly more economical than handwashing, consistently putting on energy-consuming loads defeats the purpose. To enjoy the money-saving benefits of the machine, try to stick to the eco mode and schedule your cycles when the longer time doesn't affect your daily routine. Between the eco mode and these electricity-saving tricks for your oven, you might become the most cost-effective household around!