Posted By: Tay Roberts
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Posted On: 7/6/2025
It’s the debate as old as dishwashers themselves: do you really need to rinse before dishwashing?
You’re thinking, of course, we have to rinse dishes before every load. While your partner tells you skipping prerinsing is OK. How do you know who’s right?
We’ve broken it all down so you can spend less time debating prerinsing dishes and more time enjoying clean dishes.
Dishwashers don’t need your help
Today’s dishwashers are engineered to work smarter. Most models use soil sensors to detect how much grime is on your dishes at the start of a cycle.
If you pre-rinse your dishes, glasses, and silverware, those sensors can be tricked into thinking they’re already clean. The result? Your dishwasher automatically uses a less-intense wash, which can actually make your dishes come out dirtier than if you’d skipped prerinsing before you put them in the dishwasher.
In the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, dishwashers began to become more energy efficient and include these smart soil sensors. To know if your dishwasher has them, find your model number—it should be on the inside of the dishwasher’s door or in your user manual—and look it up on the manufacturer’s website.
Dishwasher detergent formulas need food particles to work
These days dishwasher detergents are formulated to break down food particles as part of the cleaning process. As a result, they work best when there’s actual residue to cling to. It’s true: Your dishes need to be dirty to get clean in the dishwasher.
Truly Free Home’s Dishwasher Soap, for example, uses powerful natural enzymes to cut through grease and grime. Without food soil to dissolve and carry away, the soap can’t do its job as well.
Prerinsing dishes wastes water and energy
While it’s likely you should skip the prerinse, there are a few exceptions:
Older or less efficient dishwashers: If your machine struggles, a quick rinse for heavily soiled dishes might help.
Caked-on or dried-on food: For large, stuck-on messes, a brief presoak can boost results.
But keep in mind that adding Truly Free Home's Dishwasher Booster & Rinse Aid to heavily soiled loads means you can skip the prerinse and wash your dishes more sustainably.
Finally, loading matters! Here’s how you load the dishwasher.
Scrape Dishes, Don’t Rinse: Just scrape solid food off of dishes into the trash or compost.
Face Dirty Sides Inward: Position soiled surfaces toward the center, so spray arms reach debris directly.
Don’t Overload the Dishwasher: Space items for water and detergent flow.
Lower Dish Rack = Heaviest Loads: Pots, pans, and large plates go on the bottom, where jets are strongest.
Top Dish Rack = Glassware & Plastics: Lighter, fragile, or heat-sensitive items up high.
Mix Utensils: Alternate handle up and handle down to prevent “nesting.”
Keep Dishwasher Sprayer Arms Clear: Avoid blocking with oversized dishes or trays.
The Bottom Line
Unless you’re using an extremely old or inefficient model, prerinsing your dishes is unnecessary and can actually keep your dishes from getting sparkling clean.
Truly Free Home Dishwasher Soap is strong enough for loads full of real food residue—no pre-rinsing required. Even better, our safe & powerful formula is tough on grease and stuck-on messes without exposing your family to toxic chemicals.
Even better, unlike toxic dishwasher pods, our Dishwasher Soap is biodegradable, rinses clean, and is phosphate- and plastic-free. So your family never has to eat any harmful chemicals.
With the answer to the great prerinsing debate answered, now’s the time to make dishwashing easier, safer, and greener for your family.
Shop Truly Free Home Dishwasher Soap now and discover a better way to clean.
Tay Roberts, a mom of two and Northern Michigan native, is a non-toxic living advocate, sustainability enthusiast, and holistic wellness champion. As a social media manager and product educational specialist at Truly Free, Tay blends her personal values with professional expertise to inspire others towards healthier choices. Through engaging content and strategic campaigns, she educates and empowers individuals to make informed decisions that prioritize well-being and the planet's health. Tay's commitment to fostering a community centered around conscious living shines through in her digital presence, making her a beacon of inspiration for a healthier, happier tomorrow.
