A trusty dishwasher can help to massively improve the flow and efficiency of any kitchen. But for as handy as these appliances are, they do have something of a reputation. Dishwashers have long been considered a luxury. Thanks to the fact that they used to consume a lot of electricity.
Nowadays, dishwashers are much more efficient than they once were. But they’re still having trouble shaking off that sticky reputation. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help make your own dishwasher much more efficient.
You might have even heard rumours that running your dishwasher at night is a great way to cut down on operating costs. But is there actually any truth to this? Or is it all just unfounded nonsense? That’s what our Reliant tech experts are here to find out!
Want to know if it’s worth running your dishwasher at night? Join us down below to find out!
Why Should You Run A Dishwasher Cycle At Night?
One of the reasons it’s recommended to run your dishwasher at night is because it cuts down on energy costs. During the night, most people are sound asleep, and thus electronic devices aren’t being used. As a result, there is much less demand placed on the power grid. During this off-peak time, electricity costs much less to access, and thus it costs less to run a dishwasher cycle.
At night, fewer people are using electrical devices. This lessens the demand for electricity, which in turn results in lower costs. Running a dishwasher at night could save you some extra pennies!
Is It Safe To Run A Dishwasher Cycle At Night?
While running a dishwasher at night can be a great way to reduce operating costs, it’s not the safest option. Unfortunately, leaving any electrical equipment operating while you are asleep is quite risky, as you cannot readily attend to it.
Dishwashers, much like tumble dryers and washing machines, generate heat while in operation. While dishwashers are built to be as safe as possible, you will still want to monitor them while in operation. This way you can help mitigate any risk of fire or another incident.
It’s also best not to run your dishwasher at night, for the sake of your dishes. While you don’t need to empty your dishwasher the second a cycle has finished, it’s best not to leave them sitting there. The tub of a dishwasher is a hot and moist environment. This means that if your dishes are left sitting in that environment for too long, they are exposed to bacteria and mould! Leaving your dishwasher on overnight will leave them exposed for hours after the cycle has finished!
How Long Can You Leave Dishes In The Dishwasher?
If you’re loading your dishwasher ahead of running a cycle, you should try not to leave dishes in there for more than a day. Dirty dishes are often covered with leftover particles of food. If left lying around for too long, these bits of food can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.
The longer you leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher, the more bacteria and mould have a chance to spread around. This could mean that even the cleaner dishes in the dishwasher could be rendered dirty!
You should also make sure to unload your dishwasher within 24 hours of the cycle finishing. This is because the moist and warm environment of the dishwasher tub might prove attractive to bacteria and mould.
What Is The Cheapest Cycle On A Dishwasher?
A much safer and more efficient way to cut down on dishwasher operating costs is to make use of an eco-mode cycle. Eco-mode is a specially programmed cycle that helps to minimise your environmental impact, while also cutting down on operating costs.
Essentially, eco-mode operates by lowering the temperature of the dishwasher water just slightly. Much of the electricity consumed by a dishwasher is dedicated to heating up your water. Thus, using slightly cooler water is a great way to cut down on overall operating costs. In order to make the most of this cooler water, eco mode is a slightly longer cycle than others. However, despite taking much longer, this mode helps to massively cut down on operating costs in the long run.
The cheapest dishwasher cycle is the eco-mode cycle. This is specially programmed to effectively use much cooler water. This saves on electricity, as the water does not need to be heated to a high degree!
It also has a positive impact on the environment, as less demand is placed on the power grid, and thus less electricity needs to be generated!
However, you should make sure to wash heavily soiled dishes using normal or much warmer cycles. Much higher temperatures are necessary for effectively killing bacteria and mould!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should You Run Your Dishwasher At Night?
The idea behind running your dishwasher at night is that it will reduce the cost of operation. At night, electricity naturally costs slightly less to use, because there is less demand placed on the grid. However, it is not the safest option to run your dishwasher at night. When you’re asleep, you can’t readily attend to any potential problems!
Is It Cheaper To Wash Up By Hand Or Use A Dishwasher?
This depends on how many dishes there are to wash. If you only need to wash a few dishes, such as for a single person, then washing by hand is more cost effective. However, if you need to wash multiple dishes, such as enough for a family, then it’s more effective to run the dishwasher. A full dishwasher actually uses water more effectively than you would by hand!
