There are two kinds of people in the world: those who pre-rinse their dishes before popping them in the dishwasher and those who don't. But it turns out, only one way is correct. Perhaps in the past it was necessary, but today there is no reason to wash your dishes before you wash your dishes. In fact, it's probably counterproductive. The manufacturer of Cascade detergent told the Wall Street Journal that the formula is made to bind to food particles. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports notes that the modern dishwashers have sensors to determine the amount of dirt, and pre-rinsing throws them off. Another huge reason not to pre-rinse is environmental, says Consumer Reports, pointing out that the practice wastes 6000 gallons of water.