Redemption for Guys

After being told many times that I was doing it wrong (i.e. the dishes won't get clean), imagine my profound relief when I read the following article "Common Myths About the Dishwasher Debunked" in the Dallas Morning News on April 4, 2009.  (For the record, I am not talking about my spectacular wife Ashlee who felt a similar joy when reading this article.)

I couldn't find an online link, and since I think it speaks for itself, I re-typed my favorite passages :)

"One of the most common disagreements among families is whether it's better to wash the dishes by hand or use the dishwasher. Some people think they are saving time, water and energy when washing by hand, but really the opposite is true.  This isn't the only myth about this popular appliance that is misunderstood by consumers...  

Myth: You must rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. 

Reality: Not true.  Rinsing the dishes before loading them can actually hinder a dishwasher's performance. Detergent is engineered to breakdown debris.  If detergent has no food to cling to, it could be abrasive on rinsed dishware, damaging the surface.  There's a reason you use detergent in the dishwasher and the appliance has a purpose; let it do its job.  A quick scrape of large food items before lading dishes into the dishwasher is all that's necessary.  

Myth: Adding more detergent is better.

Reality:  False.  Too much detergent can actually make dishes and glassware cloudy.  The cloudy appearance is often thought to be soap scum or dirt, but it's more commonly tiny abrasions caused by excessive detergent. Follow the directions on the detergent box or bottle and use only as much as directed."

Sure, there's more useful info in the article, but this was the really important stuff!  which is why I was willing to risk carpal tunnel to re-type it verbatim.  

So... next time someone gets mad because you put dishes in the dishwasher without scrubbing them so clean you'd feel comfortable cuddling them in bed, kindly explain that you are honoring the symbiotic relationship the dishwasher implores us to embrace, being kind to the environment by saving water, and point them here for further clarification.