How to Load Your Dishwasher

There is a real art to loading the dishwasher—and the strategy isn’t just about saving you cleaning time in the kitchen. A full dishwasher (no half loads) is the best way to save energy and water, especially if you keep your setting to “light wash” (seriously, it should work the same as “normal” setting—read about it here). While everyone seems to have an opinion on how to load your dishes and utensils, here are our definitive tips for getting things clean and keep them from breaking:

Three Rules

Good Housekeeping reminds us there are three basic rules we should always follow: 1) Scrape off the food (only pre-rinse if dishes will be sitting in the dishwasher all day); 2) Secure all plastics (keep them from melting); and, 3) Never stack items.

Go Low

Slots for plates are usually located in the bottom section of the dishwasher, which is where you should start to load. Face plates toward the center and, if they lean, lean them inwards and downwards. “The goal is to keep all surfaces separated and accessible to the stream of water from the sprayers,” says WikiHow. The outside of the bottom section is perfect for cutting boards or large trays.

Place Glasses at an Angle

The top section of your dishwasher is for bowls, cups, and glasses. Put them at an angle so they get the water and the cleaning solution from below and they will also drain properly. This will also give you more room. If you do have plastic items, they should also go in the top section, away from the dishwasher’s heating element.

Silverware—Handles Up or Down?

This is an ongoing debate in many homes, but here’s our answer: handles down. Knives, spoons, and forks should all go into the cutlery basket, handles down. Be sure to space them apart as much as possible—you want to make sure the water can reach the tiny parts that need to get cleaned. Large (or long) utensils should go in the top section of the dishwasher—facing down so water doesn’t collect in them. Tip: Avoid putting any wood utensils (or wood-handled utensils) in the dishwasher at all.

Check the Rotation

To make sure everything will get clean, check to make sure that the rotating devices and arms can spin freely and nothing is obstructing the sprayers. Another good check: make sure the detergent cups can fully open. If they are blocked, you won’t get a good wash.

 

Talk to us: What is your one tip for loading the dishwasher?

 

Sources:
Good Housekeeping
WikiHow

image courtesy of flickr CC/Tom Page