In general, it's a good idea to rinse off large food particles and scrape off excess food from your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. However, modern dishwashers are designed to handle dirty dishes and can effectively remove most food residues and stains. Therefore, you don't need to thoroughly wash your dishes with soap and water before loading them into the dishwasher.
The reason for pre-rinsing is to prevent larger food particles from clogging the dishwasher's drain or spray arms and to ensure a more efficient cleaning process. It also helps to achieve better results, especially for dishes with baked-on or dried food.
Here are some tips for loading dishes into the dishwasher:
Scrape off large food particles: Use a spatula or scrape off food remnants into the trash or compost bin.
Pre-rinse lightly: You can quickly rinse your dishes with cold water to remove loose food debris.
Avoid hand-washing with soap: The dishwasher's detergent is formulated to work effectively in combination with the dishwasher's washing cycle. Hand-washing with soap before putting dishes in the dishwasher can create too many suds and affect the cleaning process.
Load dishes properly: Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on how to load your dishwasher correctly to ensure even cleaning and to avoid blocking the water spray arms.
Use a quality dishwasher detergent: Choose a good quality detergent that is suitable for your dishwasher model.
However, it's essential to note that some modern dishwashers come with sensor technology that can detect how dirty the dishes are and adjust the wash cycle accordingly. In such cases, pre-rinsing may not be as necessary, and you can save water and time by placing dishes directly in the dishwasher. Always check your dishwasher's manual for specific recommendations from the manufacturer.