Dallas, Texas (WiredPRNews.com) — You load the dishes from dinner, pour in the powder or liquid of choice to get off all of the stuck-on food particles, close the door and set the dishwasher to wash so the work is done, correct? Not so fast. If your aim is to create a greener lifestyle for you and your family, read on to find out how to go green when dishwashing.

If you think about it, washing dishes uses a great deal of natural resources. As a matter of fact, dishwashing uses valuable water, energy, chemicals in the soaps and your valuable time! In these modern days, the vast majority of households use appliances to wash their dishes. Once you put pen to paper and calculate the dishwasher’s usage, one will find that a dishwasher can eat up a large chunk of your overall electricity usage. Make sure to maintain your dishwasher with proper maintenance and you can extend the life of your energy and your washer.

Wash in off-peak hours of the day
Try to only use your dishwasher in non-peak utility hours or even use the built-in timer if you have an Energy Saver dishwahser. This will save money in the long run.

Only run the washer with a full load
The rule of thumb is to only use the dishwasher when you have a full load (much the same rule as with a clothes washing machine.) This helps utilize water, energy and the soap more efficiently.

Be picky with your dishwasher
As per Yahoo Green, “Choose a dishwasher that is rated for energy and water efficiency. In the U.S., you can start by looking for Energy Star rated appliances, which use 25% less energy than the mandated minimum. Also, know how to read the yellow EnergyGuide sticker you’ll find on all new dishwashers–as well as other appliances.”

Go green with the soap you use
Opt for dishwashing liquid or powder that is all natural, biodegradable, and free of petroleum and phosphates.

No need to pre-rinse
Most of us use a dish brush to wipe away the large debris from our plates before the go into the dishwashers and don’t give our washer the benefit of the doubt that they can do the job to get all of the food off. Turn off the pre-rinse setting to save water.

Turn off the heat setting
Turn off the booster heater on your dishwasher that heats the water coming from your home’s water hater. To eliminate this unnecessary step, turn the water heater’s thermostat down to 120 degrees. This saves energy and still cleans your dishes. Or, better yet, let your dishes air dry!

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