You might say you don’t mind doing the dishes, but we bet you’d rather they scrubbed themselves clean. And according to National Geographic you can use up to 35 per cent less water by doing a full load of unrinsed dishes in your dishwasher rather than doing them by hand.

Top tips

DO

Take into account how much space you have for a dishwasher before you buy one. Make sure you have enough room to leave some space at the back for ventilation, and on each side to aid installation.

Remember that the more stars the machine has, the better its Energy Rating is. So, a three-star machine is better for the environment than a two-star model.

Realise that price is not a definite measure of quality. Much of what you pay for is the brand name, and you may be forking out for a lot of features you don’t need.

Open up your dishwasher before the drying cycle begins so the dishes dry naturally. It’s good for the energy bill, and the environment.

DON’T

Don’t place your dishwasher next to your fridge — it will cause your fridge to use more energy. If this arrangement is unavoidable, place a sheet of foam between them to lessen the impact.

Don’t worry about pre-rinsing your dishes. Contrary to popular belief, machines will happily clean plates that have simply had the food scraped off.

Clean ‘n’ fresh

Vinegar can be used as a rinse aid to keep dishes streak-free and the machine fresh. Run a cup through a full cycle.

Regularly empty your machine’s filter: it will prevent it getting whiffy and keep it performing at its best.

For more great ideas and practical solutions for your home see http://www.reallivingmag.com.au/