When it comes to cleaning dishes, less than half of Americans use the dishwasher. It is not that they don’t have one, they just prefer hand washing.

There are a number of reasons you want to start using your dishwasher. According to the Sierra Club, washing dishes by hand uses 27 gallons of water per load; dishwashers use about 3 gallons. Plus, dishwashers are more hygienic and can use less soap.

If you still aren’t convinced that a dishwasher can clean better than you can, it is possible that you just haven’t found the right detergent or setting. Try using tablets or powder instead of liquid detergent and make sure you aren’t overloading the machine. Also run with hot water if possible and make sure your drying cycle uses heat.

But even with all these tips, there are still going to be times when you need to hand wash something simply because there isn’t enough room in the machine (unless you have one of these tiny dishwashers). With that in mind, here are 8 things you can do while your dishwasher is running:

1. Clean up your kitchen: Wipe down the counter tops, sweep the floor or even wipe down your appliances while you wait.

2. Get some exercise: Do some push-ups, squats or jumping jacks while the dishwasher is running.

3. Make a grocery list: Check what you have on hand and make a list of what you need for the upcoming week.

4. Dust: Grab a duster and tidy up your living room or bedroom quickly (preferably in a room that is not near the kitchen.)

5. Organize your bills: Sit down with all of your mail, and sort it into piles: bills to pay, junk mail, etc.

6. Plan your meals/get ahead on meal prep: If you know what you’re making for dinner tomorrow night, get it ready tonight! Chop vegetables or marinate meat ahead of time.

7. Wash some laundry: Throw in a quick load of laundry while you’re waiting for your dishwasher to finish its cycle.

8. Read the news: Catch up on current events by reading local and national newspapers online or peruse through a magazine or book while you wait for your dishwasher to finish up its cleaning cycle.

We’re sure there are hundreds of things you could be doing while you’re waiting for your dishwasher to finish. Here are a few that we came up with.

1. Take out the trash

2. Fill up the trash with the empty boxes from all those new things you just had delivered

3. Check on your online order delivery status

4. Play a game of Solitaire on your phone

5. Fold some laundry

6. Learn a new skill, like juggling or magic tricks

7. Clean out the fridge, making sure to save that half eaten jar of mayo and questionable cheese nubbin’

8. Have a glass of wine…you deserve it!

While you’re waiting for your dishwasher to finish doing its job, here are some things you can do:

1. Clean your sink. While your dishwasher is running, clean the inside and outside of your sink with a sponge or cloth.

2. Clean the dishwasher itself. Use a sponge or cloth to remove any gunk from around the door and gasket of your dishwasher.-

3. Wipe down kitchen counters and appliances.

4. Wipe down kitchen cabinet doors.

5. Spot clean walls and baseboards.6

6. Empty the trash can in your kitchen as well as other trash cans in the house that need emptying.7

7. Sweep or vacuum the floor in your kitchen and any other hard floor surfaces in the house that need it.-

8. If you use a compost container for food scraps, empty it into an outdoor compost bin or pile.

1. Breathe.

2. Smile more.

3. Read a book.

4. Call your mother.

5. Say ‘I love you’ to your partner, children or pet.

6. Pay bills online (and complete all other household tasks).

7. Put away clean dishes that have waited for a few days (or weeks).

8. Cook dinner, and prepare for tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch – this one may be a stretch for some of us!

1. Brush your teeth

2. Do the laundry

3. Wash your hands

4. Get a head start on the kids’ bedtime routine

5. Set the table

6. Check on homework assignments and upcoming tests

7. Unload the dryer while it’s running

8. Clean out your fridge