Why does the eco cycle of a dishwasher take long?
What's the eco cycle?
Almost all dishwasher have an eco cycle nowadays, which you can use for your daily dishes. With this cycle, the dishwasher uses less water and a lower washing temperature. Most of the costs come from heating up water. So with the eco cycle, you save both water and energy. You averagely save 30% more than with a standard cycle, and the wash and drying performance is the same.
Less energy, more time
An eco cycle takes about 3.5 hours, which is a lot longer than a standard cycle. This is because the dishwasher uses less water, which is also colder than with a short or more intensive cycle. To properly soak your cups and plates, the dishwasher needs more time. You'll still have clean dishes as a result, but at lower costs. Think of it like a 1-hour car ride. At 120km/h, you're faster. But you also use more fuel compared to driving 100km/h and it taking longer to get there.