Do different programs use different amounts of water and electricity?
We’ve tested dishwashers on their main program, which washes dishes at the hottest temperatures, and their eco or energy-save program, which uses less water and electricity but washes for longer and at lower temperatures. Because Eco programs like this wash dishes at lower temperatures, they usually need a little bit longer to get the dishes clean. The good news is there isn’t a huge amount of difference between washing results on the main program and the eco program with our Best Buys, but the eco program will use significantly less water and electricity than the main program. Intensive programs are designed to clean extremely dirty pots, pans and dishes that would normally need soaking, rinsing and extra wash cycles to get them sparkling and clean. Intensive results are generally impressive but come at a price – intensive programs use more energy and water than either the main or the eco programs.
