# Do dishwashers actually work?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 7, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880 "2013-07-07T17:52:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/61 "2013-07-12T21:54:29Z")
Today’s dishwashers are all “energy efficient” and “water saving”. This logically translates into appliances that don’t work as good as they used to. You have to “prewash” the stuck on stuff and the chunks, but that’s not to say that dishwasher’s don’t work at all, because they certainly do. At least, IMHO.
Soft water is also the only way to go.
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### Author:  [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/62 "2013-07-13T01:57:53Z")
You just let the dogs lick the plates! No scraping or pre washing needed and the dogs are happy as well.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/63 "2013-07-13T02:01:18Z")
And they’ll lick it so thoroughly that you can dispense with the dishwasher altogether really.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/64 "2013-08-26T20:10:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Actually, I remember someone suggesting preparing a fish fillet in a foil packet, putting it on the top rack and running it through a cycle, to steam cook the fish.
Ohh, a timely [article](http://consumerist.com/2013/08/26/heres-how-to-cook-in-the-dishwasher-get-a-load-of-dishes-done-at-the-same-time/)on both washing and cooking at the same time!
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/65 "2013-08-26T23:12:00Z")
I have a new dishwasher that does not clean even mildly chunky dishes. It is good for getting rid of greasy film, though.
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### Author:  [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2013, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dishwashers-actually-work/662880/66 "2013-08-27T07:12:26Z")
> [@Colophon](#):
>
> And bicycle chains (and other parts) come up a treat in the cutlery rack. (Don’t tell my wife this.)
Yes, even car engine parts, and you can tell my wife. I put a dishwasher in my shop. I got it off a curb during spring clean-up week. Actually I got two figuring at least one was broken. They both work fine.
I also remember the 1960s ones and boy were they terrible! My folks got one and we just never used it, it was easier to just fill the sink with dish water and get-er-done! Three of us would trade off washing, rinsing, and drying. We solved the worlds problems while doing the dishes. Good times!
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