Stop Doing This If You Want Your Dishwasher To Work

There are few places more contentious than the kitchen in any household, especially when it comes to housekeeping.

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Friends, the kitchen is a minefield. From how to fold the towels, to if you're even allowed to use those towels, couples can find lots to argue about -- and if they can't take the heat, well...you see what I did there.

But this is about the dishwasher, and blessedly, not how to load it properly. I'm a mess with spatial relationships, I suck at Tetris, and I don't want to be challenged right now, so let's move from cup stacking to modern appliance engineering.

Stop washing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher.

Just. Stop.

Modern dishwashers have a sensor that detects how dirty the dishes are, and applies washing force accordingly. Meaning, you might not be getting that sterilized steam clean power wash on your flatware as you thought.

Also, chemistry.

Dishwashing detergent requires grease to work. So if you're rinsing that delicious bacon slime off the plate before it hits the rack, who cares that you bought the expensive dishwashing packets because you had a good coupon? It's all for nothing.

"Enzymes in Cascade detergent are designed to attach themselves to food particles," the Wall Street Journal reports. "Without food, the enzymes have nothing to latch onto, says P&G."

And, all that extra unnecessary rinsing wastes water. Your dishwasher can do it! It's literally in the appliance's name. Have faith.