a multiple - fill dishwasher and method includes a wash chamber having a sump at the bottom thereof , a remotely controlled inlet valve for supplying cleansing liquid into the sump , a drain for draining liquid and entrained soil from the sump , and a recirculating pump having a spraying system receiving the output thereof for spraying liquid onto soiled ware contained within the chamber . a control circuit controls the valve , drain means , and pump to perform a selected one of a plurality of different cleansing cycles which are automatically selected according to the extent of soil on the ware . an operator - actuated switch for commencing operating of the control circuit , and a chamber for collecting soil particles in a concentrated fashion during liquid recirculation , are also provided . the improvement comprises a sensor responsive to a predetermined particulate soil concentration in the soil collection chamber , the sensor being operable during liquid recirculation to cause the control circuit to select either a cycle designed to wash heavily soiled ware , or a cycle designed to wash lightly soiled ware .