Eco Wash: Low Temperature, Long Duration

Eco programs run at lower temperatures – typically 45-50°C – for much longer periods, usually 3-4 hours. The lower temperature uses less energy to heat water, while the extended wash time and multiple rinse cycles compensate by giving detergent more time to break down food and grease.

Eco cycles also use less water overall. The dishwasher recirculates water more efficiently, filtering and reusing it through multiple spray cycles rather than constantly filling with fresh water.

Quick Wash: High Temperature, Short Duration

Quick wash programs run at higher temperatures – typically 60-65°C – for much shorter periods, usually 30-60 minutes. The higher temperature requires more energy to heat water quickly, and the shorter duration means detergent has less time to work, so water volume is increased to compensate.

Quick wash is designed for lightly soiled dishes that don’t need intensive cleaning. Most quick wash programs skip the drying phase entirely to save time, so dishes come out wet. The short cycle can’t handle baked-on food, heavily greasy items, or full loads with mixed levels of soiling.

Eco wash: Lower running costs

Eco programs typically use approximately 0.7-0.9 kWh of electricity and 9-11 litres of water per cycle, though this varies by dishwasher model and capacity. This makes eco wash the most cost-effective program for regular daily use.

Quick wash: Higher running costs

Quick wash programs typically use approximately 1.2-1.5 kWh of electricity and 12-15 litres of water per cycle, though this varies by dishwasher model. This means quick wash costs approximately 60-80% more to run per cycle compared to eco wash.

Long-term impact: If you run your dishwasher daily, using eco wash instead of quick wash can reduce your annual dishwasher running costs by approximately 40-50%. Over a dishwasher’s typical 10-year lifespan, that’s a substantial saving in energy and water costs.

Use ECO wash for:

• Your main daily loads with normal food soiling
• Full loads that can wait 3-4 hours
• Overnight cycles (run before bed, dishes ready in the morning)
• Maximum cost savings and lower environmental impact

Use QUICK wash for:

• Lightly soiled dishes when you’re in a hurry
• Items needed urgently (hosting guests, need dishes for cooking)

Use INTENSIVE wash for:

• Heavily soiled pots, pans, and baking dishes
• Baked-on or burnt food
• Greasy roasting tins and oven dishes
• Mixed loads with both lightly and heavily soiled items

Common mistake: Using quick wash for heavily soiled dishes because you’re in a hurry. This doesn’t work – the short cycle can’t handle baked-on food, and you’ll end up running the cycle again or hand-washing items, wasting more time and money than using the right program first time.

Lower energy consumption

Eco wash uses significantly less energy per cycle compared to quick wash. For households running their dishwasher daily, this adds up to substantial energy savings over the year, reducing both running costs and environmental impact.

Reduced water consumption

Eco programs use less water per cycle than quick wash. Over time, this makes a meaningful difference to household water consumption and costs.

Critical point: Energy ratings are measured using the eco program. If you buy an A-rated dishwasher but then use quick wash and auto programs all the time, you’re not getting the efficiency you paid for. The energy rating becomes meaningless if you don’t actually use eco wash for your main daily loads.

Avoid time saver options (unless you need quick turnaround)

Many dishwashers offer “time saver”, “speed perfect”, or “express” options that reduce cycle time. These work by increasing water temperature and reducing wash duration, which negates the energy and water savings eco cycles are designed to achieve. However, if you need dishes ready quickly, these options are still more efficient than running a full quick wash program.

Run eco wash overnight

Most people run their dishwasher in the evening or overnight – and this is exactly when eco wash makes perfect sense. The 3-4 hour duration doesn’t matter if you’re asleep. Load the dishwasher after dinner, run eco wash before bed, and dishes are clean and dry in the morning. This also takes advantage of cheaper overnight electricity if you’re on a time-of-use tariff. Since you’re in no rush, there’s absolutely no reason to use quick wash or time saver options.

Don’t pre-rinse dishes

Modern dishwashers and detergents are designed to handle food residue. Scrape off large food particles but don’t rinse dishes under the tap – this wastes water and removes the food residue that enzymes need to activate properly.

Always run full loads for maximum efficiency

Whether you use eco or quick wash, always run full loads. A half-empty dishwasher uses nearly as much energy and water as a full one, so you’re paying per cycle regardless of how many dishes are inside. Loading your dishwasher fully before running it maximises the efficiency benefits of eco programs and gets the most value from every cycle.

Use quality detergent and rinse aid

Eco programs work at lower temperatures, so good detergent is essential. Use quality tablets or powder designed for eco cycles, and always use rinse aid – particularly in hard water areas where it prevents water spots and streaking.