I've been doing it wrong for years...

tzhu07 · Dec 22, 2012, 06:42 PM

I used to pre-wash all dishes before running the dishwasher.

Recently I tried loading up the dishwasher without pre-washing and they came out just as clean. I cannot tell you how many total hours of my life and how many gallons of water I've wasted all this time pre-washing everything.

dinggus · Dec 22, 2012, 06:46 PM

Wasted water and money, lol.

I just rinse them off, then place in the dish washer.

Dagless · Dec 22, 2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzhu07

I used to pre-wash all dishes before running the dishwasher.

Recently I tried loading up the dishwasher without pre-washing and they came out just as clean. I cannot tell you how many total hours of my life and how many gallons of water I've wasted all this time pre-washing everything.

I've never prewashed them. Maybe it's new washing machines that get the job done better? Don't think of it as wasted. Think of all the countless hours you had smooth hands.

Jessica Lares · Dec 22, 2012, 08:04 PM

Hahaha, we pre-wash AND rinse before we use stuff. Our dishwashers have been horrible.

ucfgrad93 · Dec 22, 2012, 08:18 PM

I always prewash. Keeps the caked on food from gunking up the dishwasher.

puma1552 · Dec 22, 2012, 08:30 PM

prewash or rinse off? if prewashing then why have a dishwasher? i would rinse though to keep chunks of food from clogging up somewhere

quagmire · Dec 22, 2012, 08:45 PM

Yeah rinse any food so it doesn't clog up the dishwasher, but that's all I do.

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 22, 2012, 09:06 PM

Why wouldn't you pre-wash your dishes? You've gotta scrub the junk off the plates/cups with a sponge -- things that the dishwasher most likely won't clean off by itself.

I figured everyone followed this method.

pcmxa · Dec 22, 2012, 09:29 PM

Some dishwashers (newer ones) specifically recommend against pre washing.

QuarterSwede · Dec 22, 2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard OSX

Why wouldn't you pre-wash your dishes? You've gotta scrub the junk off the plates/cups with a sponge -- things that the dishwasher most likely won't clean off by itself.

I figured everyone followed this method.

My in-laws have a Maytag that requires no prewashing. They put all their dishes and pots in without rinsing anything and they always come out squeaky clean and sparkling. Modern high end dishwashers with a stainless steel tub do an amazing job. Unlike the piece if crap contractor grade GE I currently have.

SkyBell · Dec 23, 2012, 01:10 AM

With my brand new, terrible dishwasher (thank you, whomever furnished these apartment kitchens - the fridge sucks too) you must pre-wash, or everything is coming to come out looking like it did when you put it in.

Moral of the story - if you have a decent dishwasher, you can be lazy. Otherwise, grab a sponge.

MacRy · Dec 23, 2012, 03:39 AM

I don't understand why you would have a dishwasher if you're going to prewash your dishes. Surely the point of having one is so that you don't have to wash up? I just run stuff quickly under the tap so that the big bits are off and then whack them in.

You wouldn't prewash your clothes before sticking them in the washing machine would you......or would you?

Jaffa Cake · Dec 23, 2012, 04:21 AM

I've never pre-washed anything I've put in the dishwasher.

I live life on the edge, me.

samiwas · Dec 23, 2012, 09:40 AM

My wife grew up with an industrial-grade dishwasher in her house, so they put anything and everything in there without even a rinse.

I've had to "train" her to at least remove the big bits. We have a standard contractor-grade unit in our town home. It does a good job, but it won't remove glued-on dried scum off of a heavily-loaded unit.

We do a little bit of pre-rinse, but not nearly as much as I used to.

mscriv · Dec 23, 2012, 10:15 AM

Our dishwasher does a pretty good job, but I still scrape plates into the trash and then pre-rinse to put any left over "big stuff" in the garbage disposal. I figure a quick rinse is better than a repair bill for a jacked up dishwasher. I'm probably being over cautious, but oh well, that's just my routine.

maflynn · Dec 23, 2012, 10:22 AM

If I have to prewash a dish, I just go that extra step and finish cleaning it.

I usually just rinse and put it in the dishwasher.

snberk103 · Dec 23, 2012, 11:02 AM

We just scrape the big bits off, and dump them. If the plates are terribly bad, the dishwasher still takes care of them. We don't put pots in though. Mostly because we will likely need the pot to cook with before it comes out of the dishwasher.

If I had to pre-wash dishes first, I'd get a new dishwasher. The whole point is to not have to wash them at all. Though I do remember my parents old dishwasher needed plates to be practically clean before using it. But that was in the 1970s. Now, any decent dishwasher should be able clean a stuff straight from the table, imo.

grapes911 · Dec 23, 2012, 11:21 AM

If you have to prewash then it's probably time for new dishwasher as yours sucks.

mobilehaathi · Dec 23, 2012, 11:27 AM

What an amusing idea....wash your dishes before you wash them!

Jaro65 · Dec 25, 2012, 01:02 PM

I think a lot depends on how good the dishwasher is, as they vary quite a bit in effectiveness. We just do a very quick rinse to get rid of the pieces of food on the plate. Works for us.

Apple fanboy · Dec 25, 2012, 02:26 PM

And there was me thinking this thread was about sex....

sparkyms · Dec 25, 2012, 03:13 PM

I don't have a dishwasher.

dukebound85 · Dec 25, 2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRy

I don't understand why you would have a dishwasher if you're going to prewash your dishes. Surely the point of having one is so that you don't have to wash up? I just run stuff quickly under the tap so that the big bits are off and then whack them in.

You wouldn't prewash your clothes before sticking them in the washing machine would you......or would you?

As my dad likes to say, dish washers are not disposals, they are sanitizers

wrkactjob · Dec 25, 2012, 05:28 PM

Don't wash dishes it adds a surprising flavor to the following meal and imagine how much water you will save!

wordoflife · Dec 25, 2012, 06:34 PM

I always take out the left over food with just water only. So it looks clean, except it isn't. But you can't see anything. Not sure if its necessary or not, but I don't think my dishwasher is strong enough.

Dec 22, 2012, 06:42 PM	#1
tzhu07 macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle, WA	I've been doing it wrong for years... I used to pre-wash all dishes before running the dishwasher. Recently I tried loading up the dishwasher without pre-washing and they came out just as clean. I cannot tell you how many total hours of my life and how many gallons of water I've wasted all this time pre-washing everything.
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 08:04 PM	#4
Jessica Lares macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA	Hahaha, we pre-wash AND rinse before we use stuff. Our dishwashers have been horrible. __________________  Have You Hugged Your Mac Today? Daily Expressions \| Power Mac G5 \| Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro \| iPod Nano (7G) \| iPod Shuffle (2012) \| iPad Mini
	1

Dec 22, 2012, 08:45 PM	#7
quagmire macrumors 601 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Celestial Being	Yeah rinse any food so it doesn't clog up the dishwasher, but that's all I do. __________________ Crimes against US History: CV-6 USS Enterprise Yankee Stadium Penn Station-New York
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 09:06 PM	#8
SnowLeopard OSX macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California	Why wouldn't you pre-wash your dishes? You've gotta scrub the junk off the plates/cups with a sponge -- things that the dishwasher most likely won't clean off by itself. I figured everyone followed this method. __________________ iPad 4th gen Black/ 32GB/ iOS 6.1.3 iMac G4 1.0 GHz/ 1.25 GHz PPCG4 (7445) iPod \|Classic Black/ 80GB\|U2 edition 20GB iPhone \|4S White/16GB/ iOS 6.1.3\|3G White/16GB iOS 4.2.1
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 09:29 PM	#9
pcmxa macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: ABQ	Some dishwashers (newer ones) specifically recommend against pre washing. __________________ Mac Pro 5,1 Quad 2.8 24GB RAM 4x1 TB HDsATI 5770, Macbook Pro (2009) 15" 8GB RAM 500GB HD, iPod Touch 4g 64GB, Mac Mini (Mid 2010) 2.4 GhZ 4GB RAM 320GB HD
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 06:46 PM	#2
dinggus Banned Join Date: Jan 2012	Wasted water and money, lol. I just rinse them off, then place in the dish washer.
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 08:18 PM	#5
ucfgrad93 macrumors G4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado	I always prewash. Keeps the caked on food from gunking up the dishwasher.
	4

Dec 22, 2012, 08:30 PM	#6
puma1552 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2008	prewash or rinse off? if prewashing then why have a dishwasher? i would rinse though to keep chunks of food from clogging up somewhere
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 01:10 AM	#11
SkyBell macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas	With my brand new, terrible dishwasher (thank you, whomever furnished these apartment kitchens - the fridge sucks too) you must pre-wash, or everything is coming to come out looking like it did when you put it in. Moral of the story - if you have a decent dishwasher, you can be lazy. Otherwise, grab a sponge. __________________ MR's PowerPC Fangirl eMac 1.42 GHz - 10.4.11 Pink iPod mini 2G 4 GB R.I.P Apple Computer, 1976-2007
	1

Dec 23, 2012, 03:39 AM	#12
MacRy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: England	I don't understand why you would have a dishwasher if you're going to prewash your dishes. Surely the point of having one is so that you don't have to wash up? I just run stuff quickly under the tap so that the big bits are off and then whack them in. You wouldn't prewash your clothes before sticking them in the washing machine would you......or would you? __________________ "You will go bra shopping with her or I will internet punch you in the junk" - Teh Don Ditty
	1

Dec 23, 2012, 04:21 AM	#13
Jaffa Cake macrumors Core Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hull, Englandshire	I've never pre-washed anything I've put in the dishwasher. I live life on the edge, me.
	2

Dec 23, 2012, 09:40 AM	#14
samiwas macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA	My wife grew up with an industrial-grade dishwasher in her house, so they put anything and everything in there without even a rinse. I've had to "train" her to at least remove the big bits. We have a standard contractor-grade unit in our town home. It does a good job, but it won't remove glued-on dried scum off of a heavily-loaded unit. We do a little bit of pre-rinse, but not nearly as much as I used to. __________________ A lack of planning on your part should not constitute an emergency on mine.
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 10:15 AM	#15
mscriv macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas	Our dishwasher does a pretty good job, but I still scrape plates into the trash and then pre-rinse to put any left over "big stuff" in the garbage disposal. I figure a quick rinse is better than a repair bill for a jacked up dishwasher. I'm probably being over cautious, but oh well, that's just my routine. __________________ I'm a professional therapist. If I deem our forum interaction to be professional in nature then I will bill you. Prompt payment is expected.
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 10:22 AM	#16
maflynn Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston	If I have to prewash a dish, I just go that extra step and finish cleaning it. I usually just rinse and put it in the dishwasher.
	1

Dec 23, 2012, 11:02 AM	#17
snberk103 macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: An Island in the Salish Sea	We just scrape the big bits off, and dump them. If the plates are terribly bad, the dishwasher still takes care of them. We don't put pots in though. Mostly because we will likely need the pot to cook with before it comes out of the dishwasher. If I had to pre-wash dishes first, I'd get a new dishwasher. The whole point is to not have to wash them at all. Though I do remember my parents old dishwasher needed plates to be practically clean before using it. But that was in the 1970s. Now, any decent dishwasher should be able clean a stuff straight from the table, imo. __________________ My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - Jack Layton
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 11:21 AM	#18
grapes911 Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Citizens Bank Park	If you have to prewash then it's probably time for new dishwasher as yours sucks. __________________ twitter
	1

Dec 23, 2012, 11:27 AM	#19
mobilehaathi macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA	What an amusing idea....wash your dishes before you wash them! __________________ Of crimes---none is greater than having things that one desires; Of disasters---none is greater than not knowing when one has enough. Of defects---none brings more sorrow than the desire to attain.
	1

Dec 25, 2012, 01:02 PM	#20
Jaro65 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA	I think a lot depends on how good the dishwasher is, as they vary quite a bit in effectiveness. We just do a very quick rinse to get rid of the pieces of food on the plate. Works for us. __________________ rMBP \| MBP \| MBA \| ACD \| iPad \| iPhone \| ATV \| iPods \| Senn HD 650
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 02:26 PM	#21
Apple fanboy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United Kingdom	And there was me thinking this thread was about sex.... __________________ Late 2012 21" iMac 2.9GHz i5, ITB Fusion drive, 16GB RAM, 2 TB TimeCapsule, iPhone 5 32GB, iPad 4 32GB, iPad 2 16GB, apple TV 2, iPod touch 4th gen 8GB, Xbox 360 120GB. Macrumors Scavenger Hunt IV 2
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 03:13 PM	#22
sparkyms macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southampton UK	I don't have a dishwasher.
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 05:28 PM	#24
wrkactjob Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England.	Don't wash dishes it adds a surprising flavor to the following meal and imagine how much water you will save! __________________ iP5 + iPm4G.
	1

Dec 25, 2012, 06:34 PM	#25
wordoflife macrumors 604 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Republic City, URN.	I always take out the left over food with just water only. So it looks clean, except it isn't. But you can't see anything. Not sure if its necessary or not, but I don't think my dishwasher is strong enough. __________________ "When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."
	0

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