Is it more cost efficient for a home to use paper plates and solo cups or actual dishes and glasses?
Answers:
Actually dish washers use less water than washing dishes by hand, to increase savings, you should look for a dish washer that has the "Energy Star" logo on it, as this will also save you money off of your energy bill.
I know washing dishes can be a pain, but think about it this way, the 10 minutes combined, it takes to load and unload a dish washer, are better than the hour or more spent at the grocery store buying paper plates. Because it is bad for the environment, we all really should stop calling it "annoying" to take a few minutes or a few small steps, to decrease our harmful impact on the environment. I'm not trying to preach to you, just wanted to comment on that, because a few answers use that excuse.
If you decide to stick with the paper plates, maybe there are other areas where you can cut down cost, as the main point of your question, was about cost efficiency. I would suggest going to the Energy Star web site.
Other answers:
disposable for short term costs
disposable for short term costs
no it's much cheaper to buy the real stuff and wash it i was watching tv and they added it all up
Glasses and dishes are more cost effective in the long run. Unless you throw them out like paper plates.
i just like using them because you dont have any dishes to do. and when you are on the run all the time and tired you dont have time to do the dishes
Why not split the difference and clean in the sink?
Go paper and plastic because washing is annoying.
USE DISHES AND GLASSES OR BY INVIARMENTALY FRENDY
Paper plates. We have been for years.
Saves water and electricity to as we dont use the dishwasher as often
no, it's silly to think you'd save money by not washing your dishes... and you are right, it is horrible for the environment.
if you pack the dishwasher really well, then you don't use as much water and electricity.
Using a dishwasher actually uses less water than you would if you were washing dishes yourself. It costs a great deal of energy to produce the cups and plates and yes, you are filling up the landfills. Calculate how many cups and plates you use per month and the cost for that and compare to how much dishwashing detergent you actually go through in a month. I'd bet that it's much cheaper to use real plates and glasses and fill up the dishwasher.
I use paper plates often because it saves me time. I do use the dishwasher for glasses etc.
If you have a house full of kids and they use glass after glass, paper might help. I figure my time is worth money so it is a trade off on using paper at times. I use paper that is recycleable, not styrafoam.
according to the guy on Wife Swap..real dishes ~~~
Don't use a dish washer. Wash the plate or cup as you dirty it. That way it's only a few dishes at a time and you aren't wasting gallons using a dishwasher.
Actual dishes and glasses. If you really want to save on money, forget about the dishwasher and wash by hand.
No, it is not cost effective, just very convenient.
I use disposable only when i know I am not going to have tim to wash dishes......but other than that, most of the time i use the real stuff
cost efficient?- probably not
just helps with not having to do dishes every minute.
Depends on how much your city charges on the water meter! I use a combination.
We must care for the world. It is advisable to wash your cup and dishes.
Dishes and glasses, because yes you do have to spend time to wash them but you only have to pay for them once. But with paper products you have to throw them out after only using them once, and then have to buy them again. So I think that actual dishes and glasses would be more cost efficient!
i think that buying the real things will cost less. i know of people buying paper plates all the time and it cost a lot. of course you could always just not use plates but thats pretty gross.
Paper plates, etc.. perhaps more efficient if you had a large number of CLOSE friends over for an outing.. yes but for the regular family.. I would tend to say NO.. NOW.. when it comes to the dishwasher.. one should save water and electricity so if you do use the dishwasher.. make sure it is FULL of dishes and not just a few in order to make proper use of water, etc.
i'd say depends on where you live i live in an APt and water is included in the rent so for me its cheaper to use water and soap and wash them myself but if you have a dishwasher they do use lots of water and if you think about it paper plates are most likely cheaper
real dishes
It is better to use proper plates / cutlery - plastic / paper only add to the waste production we already have a problem with - yes they can be recycled - but this too costs money.
A small amount of water and washing up liquid - can do a large amount of washing up - but not in a dishwasher - as this also wastes electricity!!
its better for the envirnment to use realy plates, think of the envirnment...not he cost. GLOBAL WARMING.
Stay with real dishes and glasses. You have to pay for the paper plates and glasses, that costs money. Of course you have to pay for elect for the dishwasher and a litttle soap. Any cost savings of the paper stuff won't justify the disposable stuff, to hurt the environment. Besides, the paper stuff is horrible and uncivilized to use.
hand washing dishes is cheaper even more than dishwasher, electricity, water, special soaps and drying agents are expensive!!
I think you are still going to have things to clean from a meal so there will still be washing going on. Since it uses less energy to clean by dishwasher than to run a lot of water in your sink you are probably going to use a dishwasher anyway.
Unless you have a way to deal with the rest of what needs cleaning (maybe paper pots and pans or doing only takeout) then the dishwasher wins.
If you want to help the environment in this way you might try using the solo cups if you just want a sip of water or something - that will avoid running it often just for a bunch of almost-clean glasses. That would be some saving at least.
It would be cheaper to use dishes and glasses provided you will wash them manually. It will be more expensive if you will use dishwashers. Between dishwashers and disposable plates and cups - go for the disposables.