As for home appliances, your dishwasher is one of the most hard working and utilized. When the cycle is finished, it’s nice to see your dishes, glasses and silverware sparkling clean. But in some cases, when the time comes to empty, residue is stuck and you’re left wondering how a plate, glass or pan is still dirty after an entire wash cycle.
This can happen simply because the dishes weren’t properly loaded. Here, you’ll find a guide to loading your dishwasher the right way to ensure the best clean.
Top Rack
Designed for your smaller items, the top rack is perfect for glasses and cups, bowls and plastic containers. To ensure that plastics don’t get warped, keeping them on the top rack, away from direct heat is the safest bet. Don’t over fill, as it can cause dishes to break or limit the water and detergent from thoroughly washing.
Bottom Rack
Larger items, like plates, serving bowls, pots and pans and cutting boards belong on the bottom rack of your dishwasher. Just make sure that the item isn’t too tall, as it can block water and detergent as well as cause the center spray arms to stop rotating. Remember to remove as much residue as you can before loading, especially on pots and pans.
Silverware Basket
Most dishwashers have utensil baskets, however some have a rack above the top rack to lay down silverware. For baskets, place forks and spoons handle-side down, exposing the top where it’s mostly dirty. Knives should be placed handle-side up to avoid injury when unloading.
Other Tips
For larger utensils, like cutting knives or wooden spoons, it’s smart to lay them down on the top rack. In some dishwashers, they can catch the center spray arms and stop movement, disturbing the cycle for the rest of the load.
When loading bowls or large spoons, be sure to load them face down to avoid catching large pools of water. Also, always start with the bottom rack. If there is any residual water on items from the top rack, pulling it out first will spill water onto the dishes below.
