Washing all of the dishes manually or using the dishwasher? In this day and age, washing dishes by hand is still surprisingly common despite the abundance of dishwashers that one can easily obtain on the market. And in the grand scheme of things, both methods get the job done. But which is actually better? Science aims to answer.
Manual Dishwashing vs. Dishwashers
This is the same question that a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Communications set to find out and ultimately answer which method is more effective and more efficient in terms of energy and water use.
However, it’s also worth noting that while the study itself is carried out by independent researchers from the University of Michigan, the study was partially funded by appliance manufacturer Whirlpool. Furthermore, the research was conducted in a “Whirlpool lab” of 38 Whirlpool employees, who were asked to manually wash dishes and load a dishwasher. (It seems safe to assume these employees probably load a dishwasher better than the average American). With that in mind, the independent researchers also tested the findings that previous studies made, the majority of which stated that using dishwashers are much more effective and efficient than manual washing.
Furthermore, the study findings also came to the same conclusion, revealing that dishwashers are much more efficient than traditional handwashing.
I – Word Understanding
Idiomatic expressions:
strong>In this day and age – at the present time / in the modern era
In the grand scheme of things – considering everything
II – Have Your Say
1. Are you using a dishwasher? What are the pros and cons of using a dishwasher?
2. The development of home appliances is tied to the disappearance of full-time domestic servants and the desire to reduce the time-consuming activities in pursuit of more recreational time. Let’s discuss the impact of the following appliances to our daily lives:
a. Washing Machine / Clothes Dryer
b. Microwave oven
c. Cleaning robot / Robot Vacuum
d. Coffee maker / Coffee grinder
e. Air conditioners
f. Electric kettle
g. Rice cooker
3. The effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions starts at home. To lower our carbon footprint, we must look to the electricity-hungry appliances in our homes with a critical eye. What are your tips to lower down your home’s carbon footprint?
717 Traditional Handwashing vs. Dishwashers: Which Is More Effective?
