Electronic vs. Manual Appliances

Photo by Dan4th

The Amish could teach us a lesson or two about using old-fashioned construction and cooking methods.  According to a Wall Street Journal article over 600 Amish contractors working in more than 12 states can save homebuyers up to 30% employing simple, yet stable, building techniques and few tools.  

Not everything with a cord will make life easier--and it doesn't usually simplify things either.  While we come a long way from barn raising sans electric tools and churning our own butter, it's worth a second glance to comparing manually driven tools and their electronic counterparts.  After all, saving money speaks across the decades.

Clothes Dryer
Assuming your dryer, which is 5,000 watts, runs for 4 hours every day of the month, you'll spend roughly $60 per month on drying costs alone!  Most of us don't use our dryer that much, but you have to factor in wear and tear on your clothing and the age of your machine.  Older, less efficient units take longer to dry the clothes and you'll end up with faded darks if you over dry.  On the other hand, running a 48" fan for 12 hours each day on hanging clothes will only run you about $2.50 for the month.  Using a drying rack and natural air to get the job done will keep your clothes brighter longer and save money on your dryer.
The Winner: Drying rack with a fan

Can Opener
Forget the electric can opener--I want my hand crank.  The electric gigs run off track so often and unless you spend a bit of money they don't give a smooth cut.  Plus when the electricity goes out and you need to break into the pantry cordless is a necessity.  My pick is the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Manual Can Opener.
The Winner: Hand crank opener

Toothbrush
Here's the deal.  If you don't brush your teeth regularly, it doesn't matter if your brush is gold-plated with diamond studs--teeth don't brush themselves.  I tend to get lazy about how long I brush and I get bored.  The electric toothbrush is fun for me to use.  There are a few studies roaming around that say using an electric brush reduces plaque build-up, but most are dependent upon users.  While you can easily dish out over $100 for a rechargeable brush, the Oral-B Vitality costs just under $20 and does and excellent job.  It doesn't have a built-in timer and only has one-brush motion, but it is rechargeable and you can't beat the price.  Consumer Search rated the Oral-B Vitality the Best No-Frills Electric Toothbrush and the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice found that using this brush is comparable to receiving a dental prophylaxis followed by a manual toothbrush.  
The Winner: Electric for lazy operators, manual for diligent scrubbers

Beater
I have both sitting side by side in my pantry.  While I like the feel of my manual beater, it is nearly impossible to beat baked goods (especially cookies which need to take an extra whipping) long enough without a complete forearm workout.  I'll use the whisk on light jobs, but most recipes need a simple electric (not necessarily the giant Kitchen Aid) beater.  I purchased mine for under $20 and it has lasted for five year.
The Winner: Electric beater

Dishwasher
Although the average cost to run the motor in your dishwasher is about $.10 per load according to Lincoln Energy System, you must factor in your water heating costs.  Most of us don't just toss spaghetti encrusted casserole dishes straight into the washer.  We scrub it first, usually letting the hot water run over it, and then use the dishwasher as more of a sanitizer.  If that hot water is running non-stop while you prep your dishes for the wash cycle, just put a bit more elbow grease into the labor and let them dry on a rack.  It will not only shave off a bit from your monthly bill, but will save your back from bending down to load the appliance.
The Winner: Wash them by hand

Coffee Pot
If you've ever made a fresh cup-o-Joe at home and noticed oily grease clumps at the top, your water heater in the coffee maker has heated the water more than it should.  Unfortunately most electric coffee pots do this and there is no way to adjust the temperature.  If you opt for a manual drip coffee pot, there are many to choose from and you have much more control over the temperature of your water--plus many of them are cheaper.  I especially like Melitta and Toddy for price and quality.
The Winner: Manual drip coffee makers

Lawn Mower
Since every lawn is unique, your mowing needs will vary greatly in landscaping needs.  If you can get away with a push reel mower, go for it!  The Scotts Green Classic 2000-20 is not only quiet but it's fun to use.  For flat lawns with thin, upright grass a five-blade push reel is fine.  Larger, bumpy yards will need something more substantial like the Toro Recycler 20333.  I've pushed enough manually propelled mowers in Texas heat to not invest another $150 for the self-propelled variety.
The Winner: Small flat laws will benefit from push reel, larger yards need self-propelled gas mowers

Baby Stuff
The best rule of thumb to follow when considering baby gear is limit the amount of energy sucking devices.  Don't get a wipe warmer--rub the wipe between your hands for a few seconds to warm your own.  Bottle sanitizers?  Use your dishwasher or sanitize by boiling to reclaim your counter space.  Noisy toys?  They'll annoy you and eat batteries like candy.  In Babyland, if you can do it manually it will save you money.
The Winner: Avoid as many plug-in and battery gadgets as possible