Never Do This Again: The Dishwasher Mistake That Everyone Makes

Absolutely! Here’s a clear, informative, and engaging article for the topic:

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# ⚠️ Never Do This Again: The Dishwasher Mistake That Everyone Makes

Your dishwasher is supposed to save time, water, and effort — but what if it’s not doing its job as well as it could? Worse yet, what if **you’re unknowingly making a mistake that’s damaging your machine, your dishes, and even your wallet**?

You’re not alone. This **common dishwasher mistake** is one that *almost everyone makes*, and the fix is so simple, you’ll wonder why no one told you sooner.

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## ❌ The Mistake: Pre-Rinsing Your Dishes

Yes, that’s right.
**Stop pre-rinsing your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.**

It might seem counterintuitive — we’ve been trained to believe that scrubbing off every bit of food is the “clean” thing to do. But modern dishwashers (and detergents) are **specifically designed to work best with dirty dishes**.

Let’s break down why.

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## 🔍 Why Pre-Rinsing Is a Problem

### 🧪 1. Detergents Need Dirt

Dishwasher detergents contain **enzymes and surfactants** that are activated by food particles. When there’s nothing to “grab onto,” the detergent is less effective, and dishes may actually come out **less clean**.

### 💸 2. Wastes Water and Energy

Pre-rinsing under running water can use **up to 20 gallons** per load — more than what the dishwasher itself uses.

> 💡 **Fun fact:** Most Energy Star dishwashers use **less than 4 gallons per cycle**.

### 🔧 3. Confuses Your Dishwasher’s Sensors

Modern machines are smart. They have **soil sensors** that detect how dirty the water is and adjust the cycle accordingly. If you pre-rinse, the sensors assume dishes are clean and may run a **shorter, less intense cycle** — leaving grease and film behind.