Originally Posted by
nativetexan
my Sister said once she never washed her dishes before putting them into the dish washer. I asked her what she thought all those food particles did... disappear? there should be a filter or trap you must clean out if you do that. I always washed mine first. now the house i'm in has an old dish washer and i just wash my dishes by hand now.
septic tanks are tricky. i don't believe bleach is a good idea. i hope you find another alternative.
Older dishwashers usually have a grinder (which is why they can be so loud). It grinds any leftover food up just like a disposal would. Then it just simply goes down the drain. Newer (quieter) dishwashers usually have a filter that you have to clean.