mechanism or rotated open on an offset pivot hinge in certain embodiments water or the washing solution water detergent mixture enters the compartment where it mixes with the detergent and is dispensed to the wash tub of the machine through an opening other non gravitational means can be provided to dispense the detergent fig2 further illustrates a sensor 120 located in one of the compartments 114 of the detergent module 105 in the embodiment of fig2 the sensor 120 is located at or near the bottom portion 115 of the compartment 114 such that as the module 105 is mounted upright e g when the washer door is closed in a dishwasher implementation gravity forces detergent toward the sensor 120 two points of a conductivity sensor 120 are placed horizontally in spaced relationship to one another at the back of the compartment 114 in the example of fig3 when a liquid type detergent is added to the compartment 114 and the detergent module 105 is in position for a wash cycle e g upright in this embodiment the conductivity of the detergent due to the electrolytes in the detergent provides a relatively low resistance electrical connection between the two conductivity points of the sensor 120 which produces a signal 122 indicating the presence of a liquid type detergent a solid type detergent presents a relatively high resistance electrical connection between the two conductivity points of the sensor 120 which produces a signal 122 indicating the absence of a liquid type detergent other embodiments use other types.