Don’t rinse your dishes before putting them in the machine. Not only is this a waste but it’s also counterproductive. For your machine and detergent to produce truly sparkling results, they need some dirt in the mix. Simply scrape excess food off each plate and your job is done.

Your machine is at its most economical when full. Otherwise, you’re consuming the same resources but getting fewer clean items at the end of the cycle. For this reason, appliance size and the number of place settings per load are important factors to consider in your choice of machine.

Descaling your dishwasher a few times each year is important, especially if you have hard water with a high mineral content. Tap water with lots of calcium and magnesium leaves white marks on glasses, unless you use rinse aid. Over time, similar deposits build up on heating elements and insulate them. As a result, your appliance uses more electricity to get the water to the appropriate temperature. Cleaning your machine ensures it operates as efficiently as when it was fresh out the box.