Rinse the plates, pop them in the dishwasher, press start, and repeat. Washing dishes is one of those monotonous chores that we’ve done so many times, we hardly even think about it anymore. It’s one of those mindless tasks.
However, as it turns out, we have been carrying out this said routine completely wrong – you’re not supposed to pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in the machine.
Believe it or not, but it’s actually more beneficial to not rinse your dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers have sensors inside of them to figure out how long to run a cycle, and even if you press “normal” on the panel, the length and temperature of the cycle can vary depending on how dirty the sensor detects the dishes to be.
Morgan Brashear, a Cascade scientist with Procter & Gamble, says that “the water in the pre-wash will remove any loose soils the same way they would be removed with water alone by rinsing in the sink. The machine will then recognize that there’s food present and will run a more thorough cleaning cycle. If you pull a helicopter cleaner and you rinse all your dishes except for one casserole dish with some baked cheese, nothing will come off in the pre-wash, telling your dishwasher that there’s no food present, and it will run a shorter cycle, leading to a less thorough clean and potentially some cheese left on the dish.”
Some dishwashers get rid of gunk with an internal garbage filter or disposal. If your dishwasher is a newer model, it likely has a filter (if it runs quietly, it’s a filter system), which needs to be cleaned regularly in order to function properly.
However, it’s important to remember that a dishwasher isn’t a garbage disposal. Too much solid residue during a wash can slow things down. So keep up with the habit of scraping off leftover food, but feel free to leave behind plate residue for your dishwasher to tackle.
Instead of giving the plates a full rinse, your best bet is to scrape any large food particles into the trash can before loading and letting the dishwasher do its job. Brashear also points to using the right detergent, ideally one that’s designed to break down food, to help the process run cleanly and smoothly.
And the best part about skipping helicopter cleaning? You don't only save time and money, but you can save up to 20 gallons of water per each load of dishes.
Source: today
Images: depositphotos
Do You Have Arthritis? These Tips Can Help Ease the Pain
Though you can’t always prevent arthritis, there are some things that you can do to help reduce your symptoms if you have it. Here are 8 of them!
If You Have a Dog, Here's How Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help
Not many people are aware that you can use apple cider vinegar for their dog. Here's how!
How to Get Chocolate Stains Off Your Favorite Material
A chocolate stain can be one of the trickiest stains to remove as it’s known as a combination stain. Thankfully, these tips will help!
If You Pre-Rinse Your Dishes, You Need to Stop Right Now
This is why you’re not supposed to pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
Low on Estrogen? Add These 8 Foods to Your Diet...
If you have been told that you need to boost your estrogen levels, here are 8 foods that you should consider adding to your diet.
WARNING: These 10 Common Flowers Are Poisonous!
Flowers add an array of color to your garden, but some of these are actually quite toxic. Here are 10 of that you should be aware of.
5 Non-Toxic Ways to Rid Your Home of Mold and Mildew
Mildew and mold are pesky household invaders. Discover 5 easy ways to get rid of them using natural ingredients.
Easily Create These 8 Natural Sprays
Eight wonderful recipes to make eight natural sprays that can make your life easier and healthier.
Who Knew Vick's VapoRub Was So Incredibly Versatile?
Is there any product in your medicine cabinet that is more versatile than Vick's VapoRub? Here are 7 innovative ways for you to use it.
7 Proven Techniques for Testing & Fixing Christmas Lights
Test your holiday lights with these easy fixes.
WARNING: These 6 Habits Are Damaging Your Teeth!
When brushing our teeth and going about our daily lives, we make mistakes that can damage them. Here are 6 of such mistakes.
Watch This and Become a Knot Expert!
Become a knotting expert with this educational guide. Some of these knots can be life-saving...
These Powerful Questions Can Lead You to a Happy Life
Harness the power of questions to transform your life for the better!
Can One Determine Personality Traits Off Fingerprint Types?
Dermatoglyphics, the study of fingerprints, is so precise that someone's personality type can be determined simply by looking at their fingerprint patterns!
8 Awesome YouTube Channels For Simple At-Home DIY Guides
Become a home renovation expert with these awesome home DIY YouTube channels.
14 Useful Charts and Guides You’ll Want to Save!
We prepared a list of 14 visual guides and charts that will come in handy at home, outdoors, and even when you’re searching for something online!
Woah! Who Knew Baby Powder Was This Useful in the Garden?
If you have excess baby powder lying around your house, you'll be pleased to know that it has plenty of uses in the garden.
Guide: How to Clean Your Car's Side Mirrors so They Shine
This article provides a detailed guide as to how to best clean your car's side mirrors.
The Ownership Effect: Have YOU Fallen Prey to It?
An article about the ownership effect, a psychological effect that causes us to overvalue the things we've owned.
Keep Baldness Away the Natural Way...
How do we stop our hair from falling out and encourage natural growth? I do it by using these tips!
10 Reasons Why Your Nonstick Cookware Is SO Short-Lasting
Here are 10 common cooking and maintenance mistakes that can ruin nonstick cookware for you to avoid in the future!
12 Foods We Bet You Didn't Know Could be Microwaved
Do you think that your microwave is only good for heating frozen dinners? If so, you’re sorely mistaken! Use the following microwave hacks to soften sugar, froth milk, whip up some French toast, and more!
Discover How to Use Turmeric to Remove Unwanted Hair
Turmeric is a wonderful spice from India that has a whole myriad of different applications. Here's how to make 5 turmeric-based masks for unwanted hair removal.
9 Ingenious Q-Tip Hacks for Surprising Daily Uses
We bet you never thought cotton swabs could be so handy around the house!
Wow, I Never Knew it Was This Easy to Check a Battery!
Did you know you can actually find out if your battery is empty or not? This little tip only takes 2 seconds to do.
5 Common Insect Bites You Should Fear and Beware!
Sometimes bug bites can be relatively harmless, and sometimes they can be much more worrying. But how do you know when? Here are 5 bug bites to watch for.
There's a Reason Our Grandmothers Stored Bacon Fat
What are the uses for bacon fat? You'll be surprised what you can do with it.
DIY Secrets: Make Your Own, Home-Made Ziploc Bags!
This video will teach you how to make your own home-made Ziploc bags.
I Just Found the Most Useful Material in the House!
Toothpaste has so many uses - it's truly amazing. Next time you encounter any of these problems, turn to this list to find out how toothpaste can help.
You'd Never Guess These Candles Were Homemade!
Candle-making just got fun and easy, with these tips for making bright and colorful candles, using items around the house,
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean with This Neat Trick
If your sink's garbage disposal has started to smell, this is how you can eradicate it.
Surprising Ways to Use ChapStick You Might Not Know About
Here are some of my favorite uses for this unassuming household product.
10 Signs You Have a High Level of Intelligence
If you find yourself relating to these characteristics, it is possible that you possess an exceptional level of intelligence...
How to Distinguish between Chinese, Korean, and Japanese
After reading this guide, you'll be able to tell the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages apart!
Driving in Bad Weather Needn't Be Dangerous with These Tips
Drive safely in bad weather by bearing in mind these six essential tips.
This Is Why You Should NOT Reboil Your Water!
It can be tempting to reboil water for your hot drinks. But when ordinary water is over boiled or reboiled, the chemical compounds change for the worse. Learn about it here.
6 Simple and Practical Tips To Organize Your Kitchen
A well organized kitchen is the first step to a gratifying cooking experience
Did You Know Vinegar Has a Whole Range of Different Uses?
Watching this video will make you love vinegar more than you ever did before - it has loads of different uses around the house.
Has There Ever Been a Substance As Useful As This?
Vinegar has so many different uses around the house! You should always have a bottle of it handy.
Lost a Key and Need to Pick a Lock? Do This!
Need to pick a lock? Here's how to do it.
Make Your Home Smell Amazing with These 2 Ingredients
You can make your home smell absolutely amazing by using just these two ingredients. This video will show you how to make your own air freshener.
Experience the Beauty Benefits of Palo Santo Oil: DIY Tips
Find out the amazing beauty benefits of Palo Santo essential oil for your skin and hair.
You Can Do So Much More With a Coke Than Just Drinking It!
Coca-Cola is one of the world's favorite sodas, however it can do a whole lot more than refresh you with its sweet taste. Here are 16 of its highly unusual uses
Hey! Did You Know Soap Has So Many Extra Uses?
Soap is much more than something useful for cleaning your hands and face. Here are 21 stunning uses for a bar of soap that I never even knew.
WATCH: Keep These Tips in Mind to Protect Your Art At Home
As everyone does, I'm sure you have pieces of art in your home that are precious to you. Here's how you can protect them for your prolonged enjoyment.
13 Great Ways to Decorate Your Potted Plants
Use one of the methods outlined in the following article to decorate your potted plants in an original way.
A Word from Warren Buffett: Investing for Beginners
Unpack the genius of Buffet's philosophy and get a chance to understand the financial world through his eyes. Tune in, absorb, and let your financial journey flourish.