Cleaning
What Dishwashing Style Reveals About Personality
By
Nov 6, 2005, 00:13

(NAPSI)-Forget handwriting analysis-how Americans load the dishwasher could be the next big indicator of character.

"Years of studying how people use their dishwashers taught us that there are a few distinct styles that closely correspond to personality," said Marilyn Strefling, Whirlpool brand's washability supervisor in dishwashing technology. "Now, we've conducted a national survey to quantify just how many Americans fall into each category."

To identify four personality types based on dishwasher-loading styles, Whirlpool® Home Appliances created the following quiz:

1. When loading the dishwasher, I usually: a) scrub all remnants of food off, b) wait until my sink and/or countertop is full of dirty dishes, c) pack the dishwasher to full capacity, even if it means that dishes are jumbled and touching each other, d) make sure the dishwasher is full, but orderly, for maximum efficiency.

2. If someone else loads the dishwasher, I will: a) double-check that it is loaded properly, and rearrange the dishes if necessary, b) be thankful that I didn't have to load it, c) not care how the dishwasher is loaded as long as everything is washed, d) encourage whoever does the dishes to run the dishwasher at night, when energy costs are lowest.

3. I typically run my dishwasher: a) right after a meal, when I clean up the kitchen, b) when something I need is dirty, c) when there is absolutely no room for anything else, d) before bedtime or while I sleep, when a household typically uses less energy.

4. Which items do you put in the dishwasher? a) only everyday items, that I know are "dishwasher safe" c) all dishware and cookware d) anything and everything-including china and crystal, d) most items; I don't like to waste water by hand washing.

5. How full is your dishwasher when you run it? a) full, but orderly, b) full most of the time, c) practically overflowing, d) full-I would never waste energy running a partially full dishwasher.

Answer Key:

If you answered mostly A's-You are Meticulous and take an orderly approach to household details. Those with meticulous habits may be pleased to learn that using a rinse agent like Jet-Dry helps dishes dry faster and reduces spots and film.

If you answered mostly B's-You are a Dishwasher Dodger. Many Dishwasher Dodgers prefer to use a sponge when scrubbing away at caked-on food. Unfortunately, a typical kitchen sponge can harbor more than seven billion microorganisms including E. coli, Salmonella and staph.

If you answered mostly C's-You are a Cram & Jam. Cram & Jams tend to be spontaneous and busy. Cram & Jams often overlook directions for proper dishwasher usage and will take a couple of risks to quickly get the job done. However, this technique can lead to uneven cleaning.

If you answered mostly D's- You are Earth Conscious. The Earth Conscious know that the dishwasher is the most energy-efficient appliance in the home, and that hand-washing uses more water and resources than running the dishwasher-which can save up to 24 gallons of water per load. Using an Energy Star-qualified dishwasher saves money, too. According to the Department of Energy, replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an Energy-Star qualified dishwasher can save more than $25 a year in energy costs.

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