Loading the dishwasher seems like a mundane, everyday task. Many put no thought into tossing a dirty plate into the dishwasher after eating. However, for those who do care, loading the dishwasher can be a site of contention. People have their own opinions about what goes where, and I, for one, have seen many an argument break out over dishes being loaded the “wrong” way. Everyone seems to think their way is right, but turns out there is an actual correct way to load a dishwasher. So, without further ado, here is your complete guide on how to properly load a dishwasher.
Scrape, Don’t Pre-Rinse
Dishwashers and detergents are designed to clean dirty dishes. The detergent reacts with food particles on the dishes to clean them. This means that pre-rinsing your dishes may inhibit the cleaning cycle by giving the dishwasher nothing to work with. You should scrape off the large pieces of food and leftover sauce before loading, but your dishes do not have to be visibly clean before loading. Pre-rinsing dishes is a waste of water and time, as you are doing a job the dishwasher is supposed to do for you.
Organize
Know what dishes go in each part of the dishwasher. The bottom rack is for plates, serving bowls, cutting boards, and other large items. Silverware goes in the basket on the lower rack. The top rack is for cups, small bowls, and small Tupperware. Many newer dishwashers have a third shallow rack on the top. This can be used to load cooking utensils like spatulas, whisks, and large knives. Additionally, pay attention to what items are dishwasher safe when loading. It is generally recommended to wash pots and pans by hand, because dishwashers wash away nonstick coatings and corrode aluminium.
Load Back To Front
It is much easier to reach the back of your dishwasher when the front is empty. Begin by putting dishes into the very back, then work your way forward. You will avoid having to reach around dishes to get to the back. This is especially important for fragile ceramic plates and glass cups. If you load from the front back, you risk knocking into the already loaded dishes and breaking them.
Plates Go In Size Order
If you have plates of varying sizes, load plates of the same size next to each other in a row. This makes the unloading process much easier, as you can grab all the plates of the same size at once. They will already be in a stack that you can easily place into the cabinets. This is much easier than unloading plates one by one and sorting them by size.
Silverware Goes Face Up & Sorted
Forks and spoons should be loaded with the handle down. This allows the dishwasher to properly clean the dirty parts of the utensils, instead of just washing the handles. However, sharp knives should be loaded handle up so that you do not have to grab the blade while unloading. Additionally, sort your utensils as you load them. It is easier to place spoons with spoons and forks with forks as you load than to do all the sorting while you unload. But make sure that the utensils don’t nest into each other — spooning, if you will — so that all surfaces are properly cleaned.
Don’t Block The Jets
The jets that spray water and detergent are located on a rotating arm at the bottom of the dishwashers. Large items on the bottom rack should not block the arms or prevent them from spinning. Otherwise, water will not reach your dishes, and they will stay dirty. Place bulky dishes on their side and at an angle to avoid this.
Optimize Space
Be smart about how you load dishes — saving space allows you to run the dishwasher less often, saving water and money. Bowls should not be facedown, as this takes up tons of space. Load them on their sides, leaning against each other. However, do not nest the bowls within each other. Make sure all surfaces are still exposed to water, as overcrowding leads to ineffective cleaning. As for large mixing/serving bowls, you can often fit a smaller item underneath them, saving space while still allowing water to reach both items. Fill nooks and crannies without overcrowding. Finally, do not create water traps where dirty dishwater can pool. This is why all bowls and Tupperware must be placed on their sides or facedown.
Unload Bottom Up
Just like there is a right way to load the dishwasher, there is a right way to unload it (the opposite way). Empty the bottom rack first, then go up. Unloading the top rack first means lingering water on the concave tops of cups and mugs will spill onto the dishes below, making them wetter. Additionally, unload from the front of the rack towards the back, opposite of how you loaded the dishes. This reduces the risk of breaking dishes because you are not moving them past each other.