I also do glass, then plates, then silver (which were soaking under the plates) then heavier items. Since I use Dawn, I sometimes put a small squish of it on the greasier plastics, it takes out stains and that icky greasy feel. My cast iron I wash after everything. Yes, I use soap and hot water. I HATE the idea of rancid oil or fat rotting and gathering bacteria. My carbon coat is superb, a scrub with hot hot water and a bit of soap doesn't harm it at all! I then dry it over an open flame, and then add a bit of oil to recoat it. Non stick as ever!

I have 2 sinks, so I can put vinegar in my rinse water because it's so hard. No spots on my glass or silver!

And men, if you find the water is too hot for your hands, put on some Daisies/rubber gloves and suck it up! I find women have a higher tolerance for hot water. But germs don't, so get that water as hot as you can stand! (unless the glass is cold or thin, it CAN break!)

I also do glass, then plates, then silver (which were soaking under the plates) then heavier items. Since I use Dawn, I sometimes put a small squish of it on the greasier plastics, it takes out stains and that icky greasy feel. My cast iron I wash after everything. Yes, I use soap and hot water. I HATE the idea of rancid oil or fat rotting and gathering bacteria. My carbon coat is superb, a scrub with hot hot water and a bit of soap doesn’t harm it at all! I then dry it over an open flame, and then add a bit of oil to recoat it. Non stick as ever!

I have 2 sinks, so I can put vinegar in my rinse water because it’s so hard. No spots on my glass or silver!

And men, if you find the water is too hot for your hands, put on some Daisies/rubber gloves and suck it up! I find women have a higher tolerance for hot water. But germs don’t, so get that water as hot as you can stand! (unless the glass is cold or thin, it CAN break!)

Comparing the efficiency of automatic dishwashers and hand-washing of dishes is difficult because hand-washing techniques vary drastically by individual. A 2004 peer-reviewed study concluded that the best automatic dishwashers available at the time, when fully loaded use less electricity, water, and detergent than the average European hand-washer. The most efficient hand-washers in that study, however, were far more energy efficient than the dishwashers. In particular, dishwashers that are capable of heating water internally, like cold fill European models, do not lose heat during transport to the faucet as the quantity of water to be loaded is usually very little, on average of 4-5 liters for each section of the wash. The study does not address costs associated with the manufacture and disposal of dishwashers, the cost of possible accelerated wear of dishes from the chemical harshness of dishwasher detergent or the value of labour saved.

Comparing the efficiency of automatic dishwashers and hand-washing of dishes is difficult because hand-washing techniques vary drastically by individual. A 2004 peer-reviewed study concluded that the best automatic dishwashers available at the time, when fully loaded use less electricity, water, and detergent than the average European hand-washer. The most efficient hand-washers in that study, however, were far more energy efficient than the dishwashers. In particular, dishwashers that are capable of heating water internally, like cold fill European models, do not lose heat during transport to the faucet as the quantity of water to be loaded is usually very little, on average of 4-5 liters for each section of the wash. The study does not address costs associated with the manufacture and disposal of dishwashers, the cost of possible accelerated wear of dishes from the chemical harshness of dishwasher detergent or the value of labour saved.

Also, I can't say I've ever NOT had a dishwasher (except when camping) so I'd never heard of the "order of operations" for washing dishes…

Also, I can’t say I’ve ever NOT had a dishwasher (except when camping) so I’d never heard of the “order of operations” for washing dishes…

My instinct tells me that washing machines spend more energy and water than a person washing up because the machine can't really see the items it's supposed to wash, and therefore just throws jet after jet of hot water and detergent, in an effort to cover the surface of every item.

But some people tells me it's the other way around.

Perhaps they use less water, but more electricity.

Any sources I can read about this?