Loading your dishwasher incorrectly could cost you hundreds and one button could save you money
ENERGY experts have revealed how to get the most out of your dishwasher for less money.
The appliance experts explained that everything, even the way you stack your plates, can cost you money.
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The experts of Useful Energy revealed two common washing up habits that are costing households £63 a year.
The energy company estimates the errors could cost UK residents a total of £171 million a year and significantly increase carbon emissions.
According to Utilita, you can save your money and the planet with two simple adjustments.
First, the company has addressed a common problem when it comes to loading your dishwasher.
“The most expensive of the two bad habits is running the dishwasher when it is only half full, with 21% of dishwasher owners guilty of this,” they explain.
Utilita estimated that the habit costs 75p a week, or £38.84 a year. In total, this costs £116 million to all UK households.
A fifth of dishwasher owners in the UK admit they start their machine when it is only half full.
The company noted that most dishwasher owners not only load their appliances incorrectly, but also select settings that are not economically viable.
According to Utilita, 73% of households admit not using eco mode on their appliances.
By not using this saving mode, households are missing out on 47p a week or £24.30 a year. That’s a total of £55 million for all UK households.
Households guilty of both mistakes throw away £63.14 every year.
Ella Jones, Sustainability Manager at Utilita Energy, spoke about the mistakes.
“We are all creatures of habit when it comes to our behaviour at home, but by revealing the cost and environmental savings we hope to help people make more informed decisions,” she said.
According to Utilita, the combined CO2 emissions caused by the two errors are equivalent to a diesel car driving around the Earth’s equator 20,000 times.
And the amount of water wasted by households guilty of this habit is equivalent to 34 full baths per year per household.
Vampire devices that suck your money dry
Appliance expert Ian Palmer-Smith has revealed the eight electrical products that could be running up your household bills, even when they’re on standby.
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Tumble dryers
- Televisions
- Microwaves
- Computer monitors
- Printers
- Coffee makers
This could equate to 94 million baths a year for all UK households.
Ella shared her top tips for reducing your dishwasher costs.
She recommends that you read the instructions for your machine first, as stacking systems may vary.
These systems are specifically designed to wash as many garments as possible effectively per wash. If you do not load your machine correctly, you will never wash 100% efficiently.
Ella also stressed the importance of using eco mode on your device.
“It may take longer, but it’s always the cheapest option,” she explains.
She also advised dishwasher owners to wait to run their machine until it is full.
“If you find yourself running the dishwasher half full to get rid of the smell, purchase an air freshener that will mask any food odors until the dishwasher is done,” she advises.
“If it lasts more than a day, rinse away any food particles. That will help.”
She also reminded dishwasher owners that they can save money by running their dishwasher overnight, at the lower rate.
And finally, Ella recommended leaving larger items, such as kitchen utensils or dishes, outside the machine, as this can cause the spray arm to get stuck and the machine will have to be washed over and over again.
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