Verdicts / Pre-rinsing dishes
Should you rinse dishes before the dishwasher?
NAH
No. ENERGY STAR says pre-rinsing raises your total water and energy use. Scrape, load, run it.
The details
ENERGY STAR says rinsing dishes before loading raises your total water and energy use. Modern dishwashers and detergents are built to handle food residue.
If dishes will sit overnight, use the dishwasher's rinse cycle instead of the sink.
Questions
Is pre-rinsing bad for the dishwasher?
The issue is waste: ENERGY STAR says it adds water and energy use. Just scrape off food.
What if dishes sit overnight?
Run the rinse cycle. That is what it is for.
Sources
Last checked October 26, 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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