Home appliances make our lives easier and even do a better job than if we did it by hand. There is one experts say Americans are not taking advantage of and they should.

Here’s more from Clark.com:

Nearly 20% of Americans aren’t using their dishwasher, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and they’re wasting a lot of money.

How much can you really save by using your dishwasher? If you have an energy-efficient appliance, you can expect to:

• Cut your utility bills by more than $40 per year
• Improve the cleanliness of your dishes (dishwashers heat water up to 140 degrees, way hotter than our hands can handle — and our sponges are dirtier than a toilet seat)
• Save nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year

So put down the sponge, load the dishwasher and enjoy the savings. Your hands — and your wallet — will thank you.