The frequency of running a dishwasher can vary depending on the size of your household, your daily dish usage, and your personal preferences. In a 3-person household where you mostly wash bowls, plates, and utensils, running the dishwasher twice a week seems reasonable and efficient.
Here are a few factors to consider when determining how often to run your dishwasher:
Number of Meals at Home: If your household frequently eats at home and cooks multiple meals each day, you may find yourself running the dishwasher more often to keep up with the dishwashing demand.
Dishwasher Capacity: The size of your dishwasher and its capacity also play a role. If your dishwasher has a larger capacity, you may be able to run it less frequently since it can accommodate more dishes in a single cycle.
Water and Energy Efficiency: Running the dishwasher only when it's full can be more water and energy-efficient than running it with a partial load. So, if you can accumulate enough dishes to fill the dishwasher, it's better to wait until it's full before running a cycle.
Pre-Rinsing and Soaking: If you pre-rinse or soak heavily soiled dishes before loading them into the dishwasher, you might be able to wait longer between cycles, as the dishes won't be sitting with dried-on food particles.
Space Constraints: If you have limited space to store dirty dishes or if you prefer to maintain a tidy kitchen, you might choose to run the dishwasher more frequently to avoid clutter.
Ultimately, there's no strict rule for how often to run a dishwasher—it's a matter of finding the balance that works best for your household's needs and lifestyle. Running the dishwasher twice a week for a 3-person household sounds reasonable, especially if you're primarily washing bowls, plates, and utensils. However, you can always adjust the frequency based on your changing needs or if you notice that the dishwasher is consistently running with only a partial load.