With a Little Help from My Friends: The Role of Detergents for Energy, Efficiency, and Hygiene in Domestic Dishwashing

Domestic dishwashers have become an integral part of modern households, offering convenience and effective cleaning. However, efforts to reduce energy and water consumption have resulted in longer wash programmes, which, despite their high cleaning performance, are not well accepted by consumers due to their long durations. While these eco-programmes are presumed to be well-optimized in terms of their structural components, the role of detergents has been somewhat overlooked, despite their significant contribution to both the cleaning and hygiene performance of domestic dishwashers. Beyond machine parameters, the chemical composition of detergents is crucial in improving the cleaning, drying and hygiene performance of household dishwashers, as they contain various components - such as surfactants, enzymes, and bleaching agents - that interact with soil residues to improve cleaning effectiveness. This review will focus on recent scientific efforts to optimize programme structures concerning cycle durations and energy consumption and the role of detergents in this interrelationship between cleaning, drying and hygiene.