Our dishwashers work best when dishes are lightly rinsed off before loading. The detergent will work best when it has bits of food and grease to cling to. Scrape off large piece of food in most cases. It is a good idea to run the hot water until it gets hot, in your sink, before starting the dishwasher because this will activate the detergent faster. Make sure nothing like utensils or dishes are blocking the spray arms and detergent dispenser. Clean the filter periodically according to manufacturer’s instructions. Your dishes should be sparkling clean!