Dishwashers - but don't you have to rinse/wash dishes first for them to be clean?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Have never had a dishwasher but was away last week and the house we rented had one. I have been longing to get a dishwasher but was a bit disappointed. You really have to get the food off before you put the dishes in which is a bit like washing them first really, isn't it? Sometimes the dishes didn't come out clean. And if you don't rinse the dishes off straight after a meal so can't get the food off by holding them under a running tap you need to soak them before putting them in. Is it still worth longing for a dishwasher?

shouldbeironing - yes that was me about the cutlery - I should have been clearer, I only put ordinary "eating" knives that way up, the sharp knives have a special tray on mine where they lie flat, but otherwise I'd put them point down. I know that one woman has died from falling into a sharp knife pointing upwards, and I'm sure there have been many more injuries, so important to never do that with sharp ones.

You need to wipe the muck off the plates and to rinse things that are really dirty or glued on. The quality of both the dishwashing machine and the products you use will make a huge difference, however.