Do You Need to Rinse Your Dishes?

We’ve all heard it before: “Make sure to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher!” But is this old advice really necessary or just a kitchen myth? Let’s get to the bottom of it.

Is Rinsing Necessary?

The short answer is: No, heavy rinsing isn’t necessary. Modern dishwashers are built to handle dirty dishes. It’s still a good idea to scrape off large food scraps or bones, but fully rinsing every plate and fork before loading? Not needed. In fact, over-rinsing can actually hinder the cleaning process (we’ll explain why in a second). 

Modern Dishwashers: Smart and Efficient

Today’s dishwashers are smarter and more efficient than ever. Modern machines from top brands like Bosch and Whirlpool come equipped with soil sensors that measure how dirty the water is. Based on that reading, they adjust the cycle time, water temperature, and detergent usage to ensure a thorough cleaning. If you rinse your dishes too thoroughly, the sensors may “think” your dishes are already clean, leading to a shorter wash cycle that doesn’t clean as effectively. Lightly soiled plates tell the machine to put in a full effort.

How Good Dishwasher Detergents Help

High-quality detergents like Cascade and Finish aren’t just soap — they’re loaded with powerful enzymes that break down food particles, grease, and even tough residues like baked-on cheese.

These detergents actually need food particles to “activate” properly. Without anything to latch onto, the cleaning agents aren’t as effective. So, leaving a little bit of food on your dishes actually helps your detergent do its job and ensures a thorough clean.

When Rinsing Might Actually Help

While it’s usually not necessary to rinse your dishes, scraping off big food particles is still important. Big chunks of food can clog your dishwasher’s filter or spray arms and cause poor cleaning or appliance damage.

Some dishwasher models, especially older ones, might need a quick rinse if food has dried on, but typically a scrape is enough to prevent your dishwasher from getting clogged.

Final Thoughts

For most modern dishwashers you can skip rinsing and just scrape off excess food from your dishes. If your dishwasher isn’t cleaning without rinsing it might be time for maintenance or an appliance upgrade.

If your dishwasher isn’t performing as it should, or if you notice it’s not cleaning like it used to, our appliance repair techs are here to help!  Contact us today and keep your kitchen running smoothly.