You open the dishwasher, see that little green “Eco” light, and hesitate. It takes longer, so it must use more power, right? A kitchen myth that refuses to die. We ran a real-world test to see what the Eco button actually does to your bill and your plates.
I stood by the lavastoviglie, watching the ECO cycle tick along on the display, while my energy app refreshed in my hand. It felt wrong that “economy” meant nearly three hours.
A neighbor had told me the long cycles chew more electricity. My sceptical brain believed him. So I plugged the dishwasher into a smart meter, loaded the same messy plates for a week, and hit start on different programs.
By the fourth run, the numbers painted a different picture. Not boring lab numbers either—numbers your bill can feel. And then it clicked.
The long cycle is the efficient one.
Eco takes longer. So why does it often consume less?
Most people equate time with energy, as if every extra minute is a bigger bite out of the meter. Dishwashers don’t work like that. The energy spike comes from heating water, not spinning pumps.
The ECO program lowers water temperature and uses less water, then lets enzymes and soaking time do the heavy lifting. That’s why it lingers. The machine circulates warm—not scalding—water again and again, squeezing every joule out of it.
And here’s the twist: length is the tool that makes restraint possible. A bit like slow-cooking that tenderizes without blasting heat, the ECO cycle trades speed for thrift. Dishes still come out clean when the chemistry has time to work.
We tested three modern European models with a smart plug and a flow meter: a mid-range Bosch Serie 4, a Beko with Auto mode, and a Whirlpool with a quick program. Same mixed load: pasta sauce, egg, coffee, glasses with lipstick, no pre-rinse.
Across six repeats per program, the ECO cycles averaged 0.68 kWh and roughly 9–11 liters of water. Auto/Normal cycles landed around 1.02 kWh and 10–13 liters, with faster wash times. “Express 60” hovered at 0.80–0.92 kWh, finished quickly, but left a few stubborn stains.
Differences by brand were small, but the trend held. Longer and cooler beat shorter and hotter on energy, with ECO using about 20–35% less electricity. The outlier? Extra Dry options, which spike usage if you leave them on.
Why does ECO win if it’s slower? Because the math favors temperature cuts over time cuts. Heating water even 10–15°C higher burns real watts; running a small pump for longer barely moves the needle.
Modern lavastoviglie also preheat and recirculate, holding onto warmth like a thermos. Less fresh hot water, more clever reuse. Some models crack the door at the end, so air does the drying for free.
Time is not the same thing as energy. That’s the myth to retire. And once you see the meter readings, you can’t unsee them.
Spend less, clean smart: everyday moves that work
Use ECO for everyday loads. Scrape plates, don’t pre-rinse, then let enzymes earn their keep. If your model offers auto door-open, turn it on and skip heated drying.
Run full loads so that every joule does more work. Detergent? One tab or the recommended pod—no double dosing. If you have night-time rates, schedule the start after 10 p.m.
Clean the filter weekly and the spray arms monthly. Tiny chores, big gains. If your tap water is hard, keep salt and rinse aid topped up for consistent results.
We’ve all had that moment when you rinse every plate “just in case”, then hit Start and hope for the best. It feels safer, but it ruins the math. Pre-rinsing washes away detergent’s best ally: food particles that help enzymes kick in.
Let’s be honest: nobody really does that every day. Life is busy, and routine wins. So make the routine smarter, not harder. ECO, full loads, no pre-rinse, door-open drying.
If dishes are crusted after a party, pick “Auto” or “Intensive” once in a while. Think of ECO as the default and the hot cycle as a spot treatment, not the other way around.
Here’s what a pro told me that stuck.
“Heat is expensive. Time is cheap. ECO shifts from one to the other—and that’s where the savings hide.” — Marta L., appliance lab engineer
- Make ECO your daily driver for mixed loads.
- Skip pre-rinsing; just scrape and load.
- Turn off Extra Dry and enable auto door-open.
- Run at night if your tariff is lower.
- Keep filters clean for steady performance.
What this really means for your kitchen—and your bill
ECO changes how you think about power at home. It’s a gentle nudge to swap heat for time, and the payoff is steady, not flashy. Bills don’t crash overnight, they exhale over months.
There’s a kind of quiet satisfaction in it. You hear the soft hum, not the heater blasting, and you know the work is happening at a smarter temperature. The result is boring in the best way: shiny glasses, clean plates, lower kWh.
Every home runs differently, every dishwasher has quirks, and your water hardness or detergent brand will matter. The pattern holds anyway. The meter rewards patience, and it’s hard to argue with a lower number.
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| ECO uses less electricity | Our test saw ~20–35% lower kWh vs Normal | Direct savings on energy bills |
| Longer ≠ more energy | Heat drives costs; pumps sip power | Stops overpaying for speed |
| Simple habits compound | Full loads, no pre-rinse, air-dry | Cleaner dishes with fewer euros |
FAQ :
- Does the Eco cycle really use more because it runs longer?No. In our meter-based tests, Eco consistently used less electricity, even though it took more time.
- Why do my dishes sometimes feel less dry on Eco?Eco often lowers or skips heated drying. Enable door-open drying or crack the door at the end for free, faster evaporation.
- Is the quick 30–60 min program cheaper?Not usually. It often heats water hotter to compensate for time, which raises kWh and can under-clean heavy soil.
- What if I have very dirty pots and baked-on grime?Use Auto or Intensive when you need it. Think of them as targeted tools, and use Eco for everyday loads.
- How do I get the best Eco results?Scrape, don’t pre-rinse; load so spray arms aren’t blocked; keep filters clean; use quality detergent; enable auto door-open drying.
