It is a task that many people fear.
And now it turns out that you’ve probably been using your dishwasher wrong all this time.
Which? has revealed the popular cycle you should never use.
Despite its name, experts say the quick wash cycle can cost you time and money.
‘The time saved by using the quick wash cycle on your dishwasher comes at a price,’ which one? warned.
“In tests, quick wash cycles cleaned and dried worse, used more energy and water, and cost more than main or eco washes.”
The warning comes shortly after Which? threw a 11 step guide on how to load your dishwasher.
From making sure your plates face the middle to mixing plates and bowls, it turns out you’ve probably been doing it wrong this whole time.
It is a task that many people fear. And now it turns out that you’ve probably been using your dishwasher wrong all this time.
All dishwashers have three main cycles: main/auto, eco and quick wash.
On average, the main/auto cycle takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete, while the eco mode takes 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Quick washes vary in length, but typically take about an hour to complete.
Which? Put these cycles to the test by taking an instant test of three models from big brands.
Their analysis revealed that the The quick wash cleaned less effectively than the main program, with a score of 74 percent versus 83 percent.
The quick wash also did a slightly worse job of drying dishes, at 76 percent efficiency versus 82 percent, and left more water marks on items after one cycle.
“It doesn’t clean or dry as well as the main program, it uses more energy and water, and it costs more to run,” which one? saying.
“It really just saves you time.”
Despite its name, experts say the quick wash cycle can cost you time and money.
The consumer advocate also looked at the average cost of running your dishwasher on different cycles.
According to experts, based on five washes a week using the main cycle exclusively, it would cost £62.82 a year, on average.
On the other hand, using quick wash exclusively would cost a little more: £68.07 on average.
The dishwasher is not the only appliance you could be using incorrectly.
Experts warn that quick-dry cycles in dryers also have drawbacks.
“They can often consume more energy per kilo of tissue compared to standard programs”, which ones? explained.
“They also don’t get clothes completely dry, so if your dryer has humidity sensors, you’ll be better off using a standard program.”