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The answer is easy for me. Whether I'm using my super efficient brand new dishwasher (at our old apartment) or our dinosaur-beast-thing (at our new apartment) I ALWAYS end up having to re-wash them afterwards. Or, more accurately, I put them through a cycle, then my husband peeks into the dishwasher, sees scattering pieces of oatmeal or some other sludge that didn't get rinsed properly (thanks kids) and turns it on again. Then I go check, think it's a dirty load, and turn it on. Rinse, repeat. ;) Eventually one of us clues into the fact that we have a Serious Dishes Backup, and realizes we have to empty the dishwasher to soak the load in hot hot hot soapy water to remove the cemented on bits of food before hand washing everything.

So what's more environmentally responsible in our house? Hand washing, hands down.

I was SO excited to have a dishwasher in my apt when I moved in... but 10 months have passed and I've never used it. Only when I saw this post did I remember that I have one.

I like hand washing, because like Speakaboo said, dishes get clean the first time around. I also try not to let the water run while I'm washing, and use 7th Generation soap, so I feel pretty good about it.

Dishes in the dishwasher. Pots and pans in the sink. There are exceptions involving starchy dishes, though. Rice, oatmeal, or polenta typically means that the dishes need to be washed in the sink after a soak.

And if one of my guests comments, that guest is doing the dishes.

I like quercus comment rule.

Since my apartment doesn't have a dishwasher, that decision is already made. I know that I need to do better about using a basin for my rinse water, however.

I'm wondering, however, about more eco-friendly dish soap options. I've tried something from Trader Joe's (can't remember the brand now) that just didn't seem to get a decent suds going or at least pooped out pretty quickly, which resulted in my using more than conventional brands. So for those of you who hand wash, what eco-friendly brands do you recommend? (I haven't tried 7th Heaven. I have started buying Mrs. Meyers cleaning products but since I have plenty of Palmolive on hand right now, I haven't tried the Mrs. Meyers dish soap.)

one of the best water- and energy-saving devices i've seen for handwashing is a faucet aerator with an on-off switch:

http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/09-0224

six bucks. eliminates that problem of not wanting to turn off the water because you've found the perfect temperature; also just easier to do while wearing rubber gloves and holding soapy sponge.

Dishwasher for anything that is dishwasher-safe. We actually spent more than I would have liked on it, but it does get my dishes clean if I select the correct setting (e.g. Normal vs Pots&Pans). I've found that the keys to "only need to run stuff through once" are:

1. don't overcrowd. Make sure that dirty surfaces are directly exposed to the jet sprays.

2. scrape off all possible food so that it doesn't get crusty in the dishwasher. It takes us ~1wk w/o guests to fill the dishwasher, so stuff can dry up and get stuck during that time. If you run the dishwasher every couple of days, this probably isn't an issue for you.

3. let starchy-dirty dishes soak before going in the dishwasher. We eat a lot of rice-based meals, so bowls & silverware soak in the sink for a day before going in the dishwasher. We're running water anyway to wash our hands, so I don't consider this to be extra water consumption.

I'm also a "let the water run while I rinse dishes" kind of person, so there's defintely more water waste by me if I wash dishes by hand.

FWIW, our dishwasher is a Miele, and we use Seventh Generation powdered detergent.

I agree with a lot of what's above-- let crusty dishes soak a little or wash them by hand. We have the occasional bowl that must be rewashed, but never a whole load. (and we don't do a lot of rinsing)

After many years without a dishwasher, I'd say that my dishwasher does a MUCH better job at cleaning than I did on my own. I also appreciate not having to think about attacking a pile of dishes after dinner.

Bohemiangirlpdx- I have used both 7th Generation and Ecover. I had similar experiences with the 7th Generation dish soap: no suds. Ecover is much better, in my experience. (though 7th Generation dishwasher powder seems to work just fine.)

I use the dishwasher for anything dw-friendly that will fit. I'm ok with the Trader Joe's powder detergent so far, and I cook enough that if I scrape well but usually don't rinse we rarely have problems with stuff not coming out clean. I am an incredibly inefficient hand-washer (or so I believe) and am never a fan of having to wash up after a dinner party by hand (but they can all help load the dishwasher!) but I have NEVER had anyone comment on my dishwasher-use (as I am usually feeding them!), and that seems pretty rude to me.

Oh, also our dishwasher is one of the new low-energy ones and I always try to open it up when there is about 20 minutes left in the drying cycle because it is kind of overdoing it and I've never figured out how to turn it down. But it's all always mostly dry by then and I figure that saves some energy. Also there is an air dry setting that uses less energy than the heated dry setting.

If it can go in the machine, it does go in the machine. I don't pre-rinse or pre-soak, and we've never having dishes come out anything but sparkling clean. This dishwasher and the last one are whatever new-but-inexpensive model comes with standard middle-class apartments.

Guests are welcome to critique my homemaking as long as they understand that once they've shared their criticisms, all future rendezvous will be at their place or at restaurants.

green detergent. everything goes in the dishwasher and comes out clean. i have a mini ge model that has pretty good energy ratings. i can't spend time scrubbing

Dishwasher! Life is too short--I'll never live without one again! Pretty much everything comes out clean the first time--no rinsing, except occasional soaking if something's really stuck on--except maybe some pots and pans, but I will usually try them in the dishwasher first anyway, since washing them tends to hurt my hands. I waste far, far more water washing by hand than any dishwasher known to humankind (mine is Energystar, however). I haven't found a green dish detergent that really does the job though :( If anyone has found one that really cleans, let us know.

I'm in the planning phases of renovating or resurfacing my kitchen and whether or not to install a dishwasher is one of the choices I have to make. Since my kitchen is small, it has to be a smaller model. I'd prefer it to be an energy star compliant model.

However, I currently live on my own, and even when my boyfriend is over, I don't feel I would use a dishwasher enough to justify the cost of building a kitchen around one. I've also become pretty efficient at hand washing dishes. Most of the time, I only have a dish, some cutlery, a glass and a cooking pot to clean after dinnertime anyway.

Environmentally friendly detergents certainly do not sud as much as most commercial brands. But then again, you really don't need it to. I'm happy with the brand I use (can't recall the name offhand *blush*)

Dishwasher. When my son was born we were still hand washing and since I was going through cancer treatments, we bottle fed. There was no choice- my husband couldn't keep up with all the bottles a newborn needs and take care of me. (have I ever told anyone what a saint my husband is?) Once we had the dishwasher we realized how much easier it was to keep the kitchen clean- and how much cleaner the dishes were. We have a well, so I have no idea how much water we use- but I know we use far less with this dishwasher than when I handwash.

I'm with Wende in Phoenix. In my last residence the Bosch DW got things sparkling, no or minimal rinsing. The DW in my new house doesn't work and I'm certain I'm posioning myself doing my dishes by hand. I can't wait until I can remodel the kitchen and get back to my sanitary dishes. The just can't be getting clean enough in the sink - and I'm from the "If you can put your bare skin in the rinse water, it isn't hot enough school."

I wash anything that fits into the dishwasher in the dishwasher. Maybe it's not perfectly environmentally friendly, but I figure it's better than using paper plates & plastic cups, which is what I'd end up doing if I didn't have a dishwasher. I only wash our good pots & pans & kitchen knives by hand, oh, and delicate glasswear.

The dish drawers by Fisher & Paykel are a good solution if you don't need to run huge loads every day. But I also think that my time and energy are important, and I can look for other "green" solutions. AT seems oriented to households of one or two, but once you have a family, dishes stack up.

And, whoever filled that dishwasher in the picture - you need a lesson! Filled correctly it will hold at least 1/3rd more than you would be able to fit in there as it is going now. Also, the DW can work better if things are in there properly.

dishwasher, but without heat dry. Just let them wash, then open it up and let it dry naturally. That'll save you some green points.

We have the 18 inch Bosch dishwasher - it's awesome. It's quiet (you forget it's on!), it does a great job, and it's the perfect size for 2 people. We use Seventh Generation detergent. Each load only needs a couple tablespoons or so of detergent - our old dishwasher used a lot more, maybe a 1/2 cup? - amazing. It was a bit more expensive than the other 18 inch dw's, but I've been really happy with the purchase.

everything but pots and pans and delicate glassware goes into our dishwasher. if you give things a light rinse before they go in and you run it every other day then the dishes come out clean. we have a baby and getting all of her bottles sanitized is a big deal. we use the ecover tablets. they work great! also, we don't use the heat dry.. just air.

After 10 years without a dishwasher, I finally have one and it is heaven on earth. So much less stress, so much time saved, so much neatness achieved (a great hiding place for dirty dishes vs. them sitting in the sink, and no, I was never good at washing them right away). My tiny ancient dishwasher works perfectly, though I live solo and eat pretty simple fare (don't cook very much). It is way worth the money and/environmental damage (sorry! I only run it about once a month, though, again, living solo!).

I only had a few "musts" when choosing an apartment. #1- It must be affordable on my salary. #2- It must have air-conditioning. #3 - It must have a dishwasher!

There are only two household chores that I absolutely HATE ---handwashing dishes and ironing. I have an older dishwasher, but as I live alone, I only use it every two or three days. I scrape, but don't pre-rinse, and I kick the dial up a notch to immediately go into a wash cycle, rather than the first rinse cycle. My dishes all come clean, except for the occasional lightweight plastic bowl that flips over during the cycle and catches water.

My old-timey apartment had no dishwasher, and I seldom cook, and with the minimal food preparation I DO do (make and serve coffee, serve roast chicken from the store but at least on proper plates, concoct a green-tea-and-pomegranate-juice beverage, scoop ice cream, etc.) it would be crazy for me to use a dishwasher if I had one.

So... I guess if I HAVE to install one in order to find a buyer for the place someday (or when my estate sells it when I'm died in 50 years), then it will be brand new.

For now, since I'm working a vintage look in there with the original stove and sink (albeit new fridge when I moved in), I just wash dishes like an old-timey person would have, and I really don't mind it.

Pixie,

I haven't found a green dw detergent that makes the cut. Being a food person, crystal clear stemware is important and that only seems possible with a phosphate detergent and rinse agent.

I like to think that I've made up for my use of a non-green detergent by using the Fisher and Paykel dishdrawer which has an Eco setting on it. It's small, so it uses less energy and water and the eco setting speeds up the cycle.

I wash by hand. The dishwasher in my rental apartment is very loud and very hot. Because of the heat, I'm convinced it would also suck up a lot of electricity. Also there's only two of us and we don't have that many plates, so would need to run the dishwasher everyday.

I like my dishes and glasses superclean. 4 years of my bosch dishwasher and seventh generation powder later, and my dishes couldn't be cleaner or me happier. I only handwash knives and teflon-coated pans and wooden utensils. I really think it's all about the dishwasher, in terms of both enviro impact and cleanliness. All the evil phosphate detergent in the world can't make up for a really efficient machine-- don't believe the cascade commercials!

we just moved into an old apt. w/no dw. Arrgh! We caculate that we spend about 45 minutes a day on dishes (2 little kids, include washing and putting away), and with a dw we'd get thatdown to 20 minutes or so. When we renovate the kitchen, hopefully next year, we'll get one. I agree that for 2 people who don't cook much, you hardly need one.

When I first moved into my apartment, it had a 80's era dishwasher that was broken. Since I had never grown up with a dishwasher and because my kitchen is smaller than my closet, I decided to use it for pot storage. On a whim (after the thrill of dishwashers in summer rentals) I had it replaced. Though I had to find some other places for my pots, it has really been the miracle cure to a chronically cluttered kitchen. Dirty dishes go right in instead of in the sink or on the counter (I was never a wash as you go person). There is guilt ....but it's fleeting when i see my empty counter. I also only run it when it's packed and it's an energy star. I also try not to use the heated dry which seems to be the big energy zapper.

My husband calls our dishwasher "the marriage saver" so I guess there's your answer!

In an ideal world I'd have two dishwashers. One filling and one emptying, I hate the chore of emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes away. I have a quiet dishwasher only 46db.
I always use eco wash and dry by residual heat. I do rinse first though.

that dinner guest should have offered to wash the dishes by hand instead of criticizing.

In the house where I grew up, our dw was broken nearly all my life. My sis and I did the dishes every night (family of 4, not too bad).

In my subsequent apts and newly purchased house, there is no dw - it doesn't faze me, but when we renovate the kitchen (which is huge), we'll put in a Bosch. I reserve judgement until that time. I look forward to it, since I cook a lot, but it's just for 2, most of the time.

I have lived with and without the dw. my feelings are that it can save water if you don't have to wash the dishes first. I'm almost sure that the amount of water used during handwashing is determined by the quality of the plate.

My take is your guest should not be rude and mind his own business.

Washing dishes by hand is, for better or worse, part of my daily ritual. And I am kinda attached to it. I have not had a dishwasher in the past 14 years, thats just how it worked out. I follow the AT Cure book when it says wash all dishes used that day before going to bed, and I treat it as a way to close down the day, and clean the slate for the day to come. After visiting my sis who has a dishwasher, I realize that I would actually miss this if I got one! I am very conscious about using as little water as possible. There's just me and my boyrfriend, so its manageable, but if we have kids, that will be another story , I am sure!

Dishwashers are wonderful. I don't prerinse and the dishes come out very clean and sanitary.

When I did have to wash dishes by hand, I found it the most miserable chore, worse than cleaning the latrine.

With RARE exception, ALWAYS the dishwasher

My husband and I were always arguing about "who's turn" it was to do the dishes. We have an apartment in a house built in 1920, so there was no dishwasher. We found one of those ones you hook up to the sink from the late 80's on Craigslist. No idea if it's energy/water efficient but it has made our lives so much happier. The good thing is that we don't run it every day - probably only 3 times a week.

That's kind of sad. Why don't you and your husband do the dishes together? You wash, he dries. He washes, you dry. That's quality time right there.

Dishwashers are nice but totally unnecessary. I hate how they feel when they come out of there too. Will probably have one some day but totally fine with dishwashing my own for now.

I have better things to do with my husband than dishes.

Thanks, Bosch!

I totally agree that dishes get cleaner when placed in the dw properly, but I have a question on this.... I alwasy thought the glasses went over the tines so they wouldn't fall over. Then I got a new dishwasher and read the instruction manual and it said "never put glasses over the times". Anyone have any insight on this? Does it really make a difference?

I had dirty dishes for a few months when I used eco friendly detergent. I switched back to regular and they were sparkly again, although I do hear those detergent tabs are bad...

I would never describe washing dishes with my wife as quality time. We don't have a dishwasher, so we wash by hand every night, and it's nothing but a dreadful chore. And if we skip a night it's even worse.

I grew up with a dishwasher, don't have one now and want one. Even though I live solo, I still manage to dirty dishes and such and yes, they sit on my counter and sink until I can get around to washing them, I'm also a stacker so they end up stacked in the drain basket and on a towel next to the drain basket until the next day when I get them put away.

I also want my washing machine to be in my unit too as I have to traipse down to the basement in a 4 story walk up to use the washer and dryer (2 of each) and even then, not have a fully guarentee that my clothes will be fully dry when done.

Some day I will have both.

I end up washing the dishes by hand because it costs almost a dollar every time I use the dishwasher. I have a middle of the line GE dishwasher and I have to wash it on the pots and pans cycle to get everything clean, which means that thing is running for over 80 minutes.

I use the dishwasher occasionally to make sure it still works but these days I'm washing by hand most of the time.

Well it very much depends on the machine model , it's true dishwashers consume more water that the sink but you also get other advantages, you have your free time to use and that is the main purpose of the dishwasher.
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