4 Reasons You Shouldn't Run Your Dishwasher Every Day, According to Experts

More Wear and Tear

Think about it this way: When you wear a pair of running shoes out on a quick 4-miler, it’s not going to be the end of the shoes. But you are inadvertently wearing down the components of those sneakers—especially if you run routinely. The sole might give less support, the overlays wear down, and the outsole’s tread can go bald like a pair of tires. 

Similarly, a dishwasher has a variety of moving parts (think filters, pumps, and seals), and the more they’re used, the quicker they wear down, dish care and appliance expert Mark McCann explains. This means those daily dishwasher runs can shorten the lifespan of your dishwasher and its internal components over time. To keep your machine running smoothly, give it a break occasionally.

Higher Utility Bills

If you’re looking to cut down on your utility bills, you might want to look at how often you’re actually running your dishwasher. Although you’re not going to save thousands, the more you run your dishwasher, the higher your water and power bills will be, says home improvement expert Douglas Conner.

If you have an Energy Star dishwasher, you’re probably using roughly three gallons of water per cycle, according to the US Department of Energy. However, if you have an older dishwasher (even one with an older Energy Star rating), you could be using up to 15 gallons of water per load. And daily use adds up over a year-long period. 

Wasted Water in Partial Loads

Unless you have a big household or cook prolifically at home, chances are your dishwasher isn’t full every night. “Partial loads are a waste of resources and may result in uneven cleaning,” says Conner. Instead of sparkling dishes, you might end up with food residue stuck on plates or cups that never got rinsed properly.

If you truly need to run your dishwasher frequently (because you’re cooking three meals a day at home), there are still ways to reduce water waste. According to Connor, “When the household requires regular runs, one should wait until the dishwasher is full enough or apply the eco or light-cycle mode, which is set to accommodate smaller loads.”

Increased Maintenance Needs

Running your dishwasher every day means you’ll need to stay on top of maintenance, similar to how you need to regularly service your HVAC unit for optimal performance. 

"Typical problems that can arise with frequent dishwasher usage when regular maintenance isn’t performed," McCann explains, "can range from a clogged filter, smells from food residue and particles, and even full blockages of the spray arms or the drain."

The more often you run the machine, the more often you’ll need to clean filters, descale buildup, and keep food debris from hardening in hidden spots. Need to do a full-scale clean? We’ve got you covered with our easy guide to cleaning your dishwasher.