Hand-Washing vs. Dishwasher: Which Actually Gets Your Dishes Cleaner?
Ahead, we asked food-safety experts to explain how the two methods compare, which common mistakes to avoid, and how to get the cleanest results. Carla L. Schwan, associate professor and extension food safety specialist at the University of Georgia Donald W. Schaffner, Ph.D., professor and food scientist at Rutgers University Ellen Shumaker, Ph.D., director of outreach for the Safe Plates program at North Carolina State University Keith Warriner, Ph.D., professor of food safety in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph Related: Do You Wash Your Dishes by Hand? Here's How to Make Sure They Are Sanitized When it comes to reducing bacteria, a dishwasher has the advantage. Its higher temperatures and longer cycles can provide more consistent results, though hand-washing remains an effective method for cleaning everyday dinnerware when done properly. These steps can help…