FORKARIUMPETTY COURT
FORKARIUM

CASE #006: The Pre-Rinse

Should you rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?

The parties are fictional. The evidence is real.

VERIFIED FACTS

Every sentence here links to an official source you can open.

The verdict

NOT GUILTY

No. ENERGY STAR, the US government program for energy efficiency, says rinsing dishes before loading them increases the total water and energy used. Scrape food off instead, and if dirty dishes sit overnight, use the dishwasher's rinse feature.[1]

1 official source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA and DOE)Checked Oct 29, 2026

The evidence

An open dishwasher full of scraped plates with a rubber scraper on the door

Exhibit A

ENERGY STAR: rinsing dishes before loading them in the dishwasher increases the total water and energy used.

Exhibit B

ENERGY STAR: scrape, don't rinse. Just scrape food off the dishes.

Exhibit C

ENERGY STAR: if dirty dishes sit overnight, use the dishwasher's rinse feature.

Questions people ask

Is using a dishwasher better than washing by hand?

ENERGY STAR says a certified dishwasher uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand.

What if dishes will sit in the dishwasher overnight?

Use the dishwasher's rinse feature instead of rinsing by hand, ENERGY STAR advises.

DRAMATIZATION

This part is made up for fun. Names, people and events are fictional.

The case

A proud roommate rinsing a plate under a running tap and an unimpressed roommate holding a scraper
PlaintiffThe Roommate Who Rinses
DefendantThe Roommate Who Scrapes

Timeline

  1. Sun 7:40 PMDinner ends. Six plates, two pans, one heroic lasagna dish.
  2. 7:45 PMThe defendant scrapes each plate into the bin and loads the dishwasher.
  3. 7:46 PMThe plaintiff takes every plate back out and rinses it under the tap.
  4. 8:02 PMSixteen minutes of running water later, the plaintiff files a complaint about dirty dishes.

The claims

Plaintiff: The Roommate Who Rinses

He puts dirty plates in the dishwasher. Unrinsed. Like an animal.

Defendant: The Roommate Who Scrapes

Washing dirty plates is literally what the dishwasher is for.

A pug judge in a powdered wig hears a dishwasher dispute between a rinser in an apron and a scraper with a rubber spatula

The court's sentence

NOT GUILTY. SCRAPE, DON'T RINSE.

SentenceThe plaintiff surrenders the sponge and is sentenced to one week of scraping only. The faucet is ordered to rest.

Sources

  1. Source 1

    ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA and DOE)

    Dishwashers

    www.energystar.gov/products/dishwashers

    Published Jul 19, 2023Checked Oct 29, 2026

    Rinsing dishes before loading them in the dishwasher increases the total water and energy used. ... Scrape don't rinse ... Save yourself the rinsing - just scrape food off dishes. If your dirty dishes sit overnight, use your dishwasher's rinse feature. ... uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand
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