Why does the eco cycle of a dishwasher take long?

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.

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.