How do you use your dishwasher? Is it worth it?

[SquidgersMummy]

So DH is a bit fussy about the dishwasher - he likes to sort of prewash the dishes first so the dishwasher doesn't end up full of food...to be fair we had a friend with a honking dishwasher as they never scraped plates etc - it was grim. So prewashing seems like doing it twice ..so we end up washing the dishes by hand and using the dishwasher as a draining board I have a toddler, a job and a kitchen constantly full of dishes. Surely this is madness. But how do you get rid of the food etc?? Does a dishwasher really save time?? I need MN guidance , giving up 90 per cent of ironing after MN advice revolutionised my life TIA

The filter is usually in the middle at the bottom - the food trap and filter usually both just slot out for cleaning.

Another vote for just scraping into the recycling and running a hot cycle. I usually check the filter every day or two as well and buy dishwasher cleaner when I remember. My dishwasher - Miele - also has a pre-wash cycle although I only use that if I am not running it straight away (waiting for more to fill it up).

YEs just scrape and wash.
Mine is on twice a day and no smells/gunk here

You should scrape the plates, then put them in the machine. Rinsing/washing plates before DW is a waste of water and defeats the object of having a DW. Should always scrape plates before putting the machine as it it exactly that a dishwasher not a garbage disposal unit.