Eco homes

Wednesday 6 June 2012

WHO knew dishwashers were so eco friendly?

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While most people expect the dishwasher to be responsible for a major share of water usage, it only uses about 1%, a tiny fraction considering a washing machine accounts for 20%, toilet flushing 31% and showering 29%.

According to a quirky dishwasher infographic compiled by Ikea, the approximate cost of the water used in a dishwasher cycle is five pence, compared to two pence each time the loo is flushed. The world's first hand-powered dishwashing device was patented in 1850, but it wasn't until 1888 that wealthy US citizen Josephine Cochrane declared: "If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I'll do it myself." And did. Cochrane unveiled a more advanced machine at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and in 1913, the Walker brothers of Philadelphia launched the first electric dishwasher. And did you know dishwashers can also be used for cooking? If you have a full or almost full dishwasher it makes sense to maximise the heat and energy and tuck a few foil-wrapped parcels of food in between the dishes. Ikea offers three suggestions: lasagne in a bag, steamed salmon, and poached pear. Apparently it is perfectly possible to cook a 5lb supermarket chicken – sealed in several oven bags – in a dishwasher without even a hint of eau de detergent. Ikea dishwashers range from £199 to £299 and the company also has the following dishwasher efficiency tips:Do not rinse dishes beforehand unless absolutely necessary as it wastes water.Load the dirtiest items in the lowest basket.Run the dishwasher only when full.Try avoiding the dry cycle – after a hot wash the water normally evaporates once you open the door.

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