{"id":447688,"date":"2026-01-30T16:25:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/447688\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:25:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:25:20","slug":"common-dishwasher-mistake-aussies-make-that-leads-to-still-dirty-plates-dont-need-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/447688\/","title":{"rendered":"Common dishwasher mistake Aussies make that leads to still dirty plates: ‘Don’t need to’"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are generally two types of people who use a dishwasher<\/a>. One group whacks everything in just as it is, while the other group prefers to rinse all their pots, pans, plates, and cutlery<\/a> before loading the machine and turning it on.<\/p>\n

Appliance expert Ashley Iredale has a message for those in the latter camp: you’re doing too much. Ashley told Yahoo Lifestyle dishwashers are impressive machines<\/a> that are designed to do a lot of the grunt work for you.<\/p>\n

“You don’t need to pre-rinse,” he said.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

“If you’re pre-rinsing everything, you’re showing a lack of faith in the dishwasher’s ability to do the one thing that you paid all that money for in the first place.”<\/p>\n

While it might make sense to get all your dishes, pots, pans, and glasses pretty much spotless before loading them in, Ashley said this actually “tricks” your dishwasher.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com<\/p>\n

“It will think everything’s cleaner than it actually is, so it might not actually wash as well,” he added.<\/p>\n

This is because of a little-known device hidden inside most modern dishwashers called a turbidity sensor.<\/p>\n

“It detects the amount of soiling present in the first rinse cycle and adjusts power and washing accordingly,” Ashley revealed.<\/p>\n

“So, if you’ve rinsed everything off, it’s not going to pick up that there’s any dirt on the plates at all, and it just thinks, ‘Oh, great, they’re already clean. I don’t need to wash as hard.'”<\/p>\n

You should still get rid of the big chunks of food and material as that can block the dishwasher’s filter and the drain hose.<\/p>\n

Let’s get technical: what is a turbidity sensor?<\/p>\n

A turbidity sensor measures the amount of light that’s scattered by solids suspended in water.<\/p>\n

That means, if the light gets scattered every which way, the sensor realises that the water could be dirty.<\/p>\n

If the light doesn’t get deflected, it means the water could be clean.<\/p>\n

These sensors are used in loads of other settings like testing rivers, streams, and wastewater.<\/p>\n

Sears Parts Direct called the turbidity sensor your dishwasher\u2019s “quality control department”.<\/p>\n

\"First<\/p>\n

Loading a dishwasher with rinsed pots, pans, dishes, and cutlery could actually backfire on you. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n

(Lucy Lambriex via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Ashley said dishwashers will typically perform at least two wash cycles when you flick it on.<\/p>\n

The turbidity sensor will examine the water after the initial cycle to determine how intense the next few cycles will have to be to get everything inside nice and clean.<\/p>\n

Imagine if you have 75 per cent of the items inside your dishwasher pretty much clean, and the remaining items needing a good rinse.<\/p>\n

Those latter items might not get what it needs because the machine thinks the whole load is already in good nick.<\/p>\n

SHOP:<\/p>\n

The machine might increase the number of cycles or the temperature for the wash if the sensor keeps detecting dirty water.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, the dishwasher might cut the wash cycle short and conserve energy if it detects the water is clean early on.<\/p>\n

If the water\u2019s clear early in the cycle, the dishwasher might cut the cycle short and save you energy.<\/p>\n

So not only does the turbidity sensor aim to get your dishes and items perfectly clean, it can also reduce water, detergent, and electricity.<\/p>\n

Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure to follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram, <\/a>and TikTok<\/a>. <\/p>\n