Myth:
Rinsing plates off before putting them in the dishwasher means they will end up cleaner.
Busted:
For some of us this just feels more productive but in reality rinsing plates before you stack them is actually less efficient when it comes to water saving. Dishwashers clean using high temperatures to ensure your plates will be hygienically clean at the end of the cycle.
If you feel that your plates are coming out streaky or have remaining food on them, it may mean that your machine is in need of Finish Rinse Aid, which has five power actions including rinsing food residue and film protection.
An additional thing to consider would be the amount of dishwasher salt that is in your machine - too much salt could leave streaks on your dishes. On the other hand, if you aren’t using salt in your dishwasher at all, spots and watermarks, which occur when the water supply to your dishwasher is hardened, can be a constant problem. Finish Dishwasher Salt is effective at softening water to boost the cleaning efficiency of your appliance.
Myth:
If I don’t pre-rinse my dishes, can they can go straight from the table to the dishwasher?
Busted:
It is still important to remove excess food off plates before stacking them in the dishwasher as it helps to prevent large bits of food debris clogging up pipes. Extra care should be taken with “sticky” foods such as pasta and rice, as well as leafy foods such as salad leaves, as they can get into places that aren’t visible.
However, if you aren’t going to be running the dishwasher straight away you may find that the left over foods can cause your dishwasher to smell, but don’t forget you should be cleaning it once a month with Finish Dishwasher Cleaner to clear grease and remove any odours.
Myth:
My parents always had to pre-rinse dishes before they went in the dishwasher, so should I too?
Busted:
Dishwashers have come such a long way since your parents were younger and modern dishwashers are fully equipped to handle the large amount of dirty items you may have. In previous decades, dishes had to be pre-rinsed to ensure they were clean but with the advanced technology that goes into appliances, they are more efficient than ever. Some dishwashers even have sensors that detect how much they need to wash dishes[1], so by pre-rinsing them you are giving the sensor the illusion that the plate is relatively clean already.
So, now that you’ve read why you shouldn’t rinse before you wash, why not give it a go?
Dishwashers not only save your energy and electricity bills, but they also are much better in terms of water efficiency for the environment (and your wallet)[2]. By rinsing plates before putting them in your machine you are effectively undoing all of the hard work that the dishwasher is supposed to do1.
Lifelong habits are hard to break, but when they are increasing your bills and wasting time, a change will benefit you and your bank balance in the long run. Pre-rinsing is a thing of the past so scrape, don’t rinse. Leave all the dirty dishes to Finish Quantum Ultimate – it’s able to tackle even the hardest to remove, stuck on foods.
