[fendrak]

I used to have this problem, and found it to be caused by a combination of two factors:

1) Growing up in a house with low water pressure. If the machine doesn't have much pressure to work with, it seems to do a bad job more or less regardless of what you try to do

2) Given you have sufficient water pressure, using cheap detergent. After switching to a "top of the line" dishwasher detergent packet, a dishwasher went from "borderline useless" to "more clean than I can get them by hand".

Number 2 was by _far_ the most impactful thing I've done; I can essentially now scrape dishes of large food chunks then put them straight in the dishwasher, and have a >= 98% confidence they'll come out completely clean.

[tropdrop]

Very interesting. Can you tell me what specific brand this is?

[adrr]

I’ll second the cascade platinum recommendation. I though my dishwasher was broken when we used another detergent brand. I took it apart to see if the filter was plugged and even put a GoPro camera and led light in it to make sure the washing arms were spinning. Turns out it was because we used a cheap detergent.

[kxrm]

Not the person you asked, but Cascade dry powder detergent is all I need. No pre-washing necessary.

If you use a modern dishwasher and your plumbing is up to spec your dishwasher will be far more efficient then hand washing.

[fendrak]

Cascade Platinum, thought I've gotten similar results from the "Complete" version one step down.