UK households could save £163 a year by pressing 1 dishwasher button

With household costs still at the front of mind for many UK homeowners, you may be looking for a way to save some extra cash. However, it may not have occurred to you that your dishwasher is guzzling hundreds of your hard-earned pennies a year.

Appliance experts at Marks Electrical are encouraging households to rethink how they use their dishwasher, as everyday habits could be quietly increasing running costs unnecessarily. While modern dishwashers are designed to be energy efficient, Marks Electrical says the setting households use most often can still make a noticeable difference to long-term energy and water bills, particularly for families running multiple loads each week. Marks Electrical analysed average dishwasher running costs based on households running one or two dishwasher cycles per day.

It found running one dishwasher cycle per day cost an estimated £109.17, two a day cost £218.34 annually, and one every other day costs £54.59 annually - meaning using it less could automatically save you £163.75.

For households running one dishwasher cycle per day, that equates to a saving of around £11 annually compared to earlier this year. However, appliance experts say programme choice and usage habits can often have a bigger impact on overall efficiency over time.

Michael White, appliance expert and Head of Buying and Marketing at Marks Electrical, says there is often confusion around dishwasher settings because different programmes are designed for different types of cleaning.

White said: “There's a lot of mixed information out there when it comes to dishwasher settings, and the reality is it’s not always a like-for-like comparison."

According to White, the key is pressing that neglected eco button on your dishwasher. He says: “Quick wash cycles are designed for speed and convenience, while intensive settings are designed for heavily soiled dishes. Eco cycles, on the other hand, are specifically designed to clean a full load more efficiently using lower temperatures over a longer period of time. It’s a bit like running 100 metres flat out versus walking it. You’ll finish quicker, but you’ll typically use more energy to get there.”

Michael says eco mode is generally considered one of the most efficient settings for everyday household use because it is specifically designed to reduce unnecessary energy consumption while still delivering a thorough clean.

He continues: “Eco cycles are designed to use lower temperatures and less water over a longer period of time, helping reduce overall energy usage. For most households running full loads, eco mode is generally the most efficient setting to use day to day.”

Manufacturer cycle-level data published by Fisher & Paykel found heavy wash programmes used around 28% more water and up to 85% more energy than the equivalent eco setting on the same appliance.

White says one of the biggest mistakes households make is using heavy or intensive cycles more often than necessary. He says: “Those settings are useful for tougher loads like baked-on food, but using them regularly can quickly increase running costs unnecessarily. Simple habits like waiting until you’ve got a full load, stacking efficiently, and choosing the right setting for the job can make a noticeable difference over time.”

He also advises households to avoid running multiple smaller loads where possible, as frequency of use can quickly increase annual running costs.

For households considering upgrading their appliance, Marks Electrical recommends checking the energy rating when comparing dishwasher models.

“Dishwasher energy ratings are based on how efficiently an appliance uses electricity and water during eco cycle testing, so they can be a useful way for shoppers to compare long-term running costs before buying,” adds White.