Used to scrub every plate before the dishwasher, now I just scrape

I was a full pre-rinse person for 10 years because my mom said soap couldn't touch food... then my 3-year-old machine broke and the repair guy said the detergent needs something to cling to. Has anyone actually tested this or is it all just habit?

2 comments

2 Comments

evanr791mo ago

I remember a Wirecutter article saying most dishwashers actually sense the food particles and adjust the cycle accordingly, so pre-rinsing can mess with those sensors. The detergent enzymes are designed to eat bits of food, so a little gunk left on helps them do their job. After reading that I stopped pre-rinsing about a year ago and my dishes come out just as clean.

patriciamoore1mo agoOG Member

Honestly @evanr79 that sensor thing got me too, I used to rinse everything like crazy.