In a recent episode of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast, hosts Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson tackle the age-old question of whether or not we should pre-rinse our dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. They seek advice from Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab, to finally get an answer. Forté explains that with today’s advanced dishwashers, pre-rinsing is often unnecessary if the dishes will be washed right away. Removing large food chunks is enough, as excess food can actually help the dishwasher’s enzymes and sensors do their job more effectively.
Forté emphasizes that some food debris on dishes can help dishwashers work better, as most detergents contain enzymes that require something to work on in order to clean effectively. Dishwashers also have sensors that measure the amount of soil in the wash water and adjust settings accordingly. She advises against “fooling” the dishwasher by pre-rinsing too thoroughly, as some food residue is beneficial for the machine’s performance. If the dishwasher won’t be started immediately after loading or only a few dishes are being washed, running the rinse cycle instead of pre-rinsing can save time and water.
Running the rinse cycle uses significantly less water than hand pre-rinsing and prevents food from drying on dishes, making it harder to remove during the actual wash cycle. Forté also recommends using the rinse cycle to minimize odors in the dishwasher, especially if the door is closed with dirty dishes inside. In addition to discussing pre-rinsing, Forté shares other useful dishwashing tips, such as the correct way to load a dishwasher, a method for removing burned-on food from pans, and a viral dishwashing hack to avoid. Listeners can hear these tips and more by tuning into the full episode of the podcast.
Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to “Am I Doing It Wrong?” to catch every episode, which covers a wide range of topics including tipping, apologizing, online shopping, dental care, and dealing with anger. The hosts address common misconceptions and offer expert advice on various everyday tasks and challenges. Listeners are also invited to suggest topics for future episodes by emailing the show. With insightful discussions and practical tips from industry experts, “Am I Doing It Wrong?” provides valuable information to help listeners navigate various aspects of daily life more effectively.
