Did you know that two common dishwasher habits could be quietly costing you £63 a year?
Yep, that’s right! According to new findings* from Utilita Energy, many UK households are guilty of two simple mistakes that add up to big bills and even bigger environmental damage.
But don’t worry, the good news is that with a few easy tweaks, you can save both cash and the planet.
Here’s how you’re probably wasting your hard earned money – and a few ideas for how to stop!
I was shocked at how much I could be saving so so easily, so I’ll definitely be changing a couple of things from today.
Bad Habit #1 – Running Your Dishwasher Half Full
Are you guilty of running the dishwasher when it’s not even full?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone – 21% of us do it!
But here’s the catch: this sneaky little habit is costing you a whopping £38.84 a year.
That’s around 75p a week, just because you’re too impatient to wait for a full load.
And across the UK?
That adds up to a jaw-dropping £116 million wasted every single year!
Instead of running a half-empty dishwasher, wait until it’s properly packed. If you’re worried about smells or dirty dishes sitting too long, try using a dishwasher freshener to keep things smelling fresh.
Better yet, give those dishes a quick rinse before loading them in. Problem solved, money saved!
Bad Habit #2 – Ignoring the ‘Eco Mode’
The second biggie? Not using your dishwasher’s eco mode.
A staggering 73% of households admit they don’t use it, and it’s costing them.
By skipping this setting, you’re throwing away £24.30 a year – money that could be saved just by pressing one simple button.
Eco mode might take a bit longer, but it’s designed to use less hot water, making it far more energy-efficient.
Plus, let’s be honest, what’s a little extra time if it means saving some cash and helping the environment?
And talking of the environment…
The Environmental Impact is Shocking Too
It’s not just your wallet that’s suffering – the environment is taking a hit too.
The energy and water wasted by these two habits are equivalent to the carbon emissions of a diesel car driving around the equator 20,000 times a year.
Yes, you read that right!
And if that’s not enough to make you pause, the water wasted across the UK could fill 94 million baths.
That’s 34 baths per household!
So, What Can You Do?
Here are some top tips from Ella Jones, Utilita Energy’s Sustainability Manager, to help you break these bad habits:
- Read the Instructions – Believe it or not, most people have never even read their dishwasher manual. Learn how to load your dishwasher properly for maximum efficiency. It could change your dishwashing game!
- Use Eco Mode – This one’s a no-brainer. It saves water, energy, and money, and all it takes is the press of a button.
- Wait Until It’s Full – Resist the temptation to run the dishwasher half full. Use a freshener or rinse off food residue if you’re worried about smells.
- Run It at Night – If you’re on a tariff with lower night-time rates, set your dishwasher to run after hours to save even more.
- Check Your Crockery – Avoid plates or kitchenware that’s too big for your dishwasher – it could stop the spray arms from working properly, leaving you with dirty dishes and extra washing.
Related: You Won’t Believe How Hard Home Appliances Are Working For You…
By following these simple tips, you can slash your dishwashing costs and help reduce your household’s carbon footprint.
So, next time you’re about to press ‘start’ on that half-full load, think twice – your wallet (and the planet) will thank you!
* Utilita Energy’s dishwasher study uses data collected from a nationally representative OnePoll survey of 2,000 dishwasher users from 9-12th August 2024.
