Many of us use our dishwashers daily. It is also likely that you have been using one for years, but do you know if you are using it correctly? Let’s take a look at how to load your dishwasher properly…
It may seem like a trivial thing to write about but how you load your dishwasher can make a big difference. Making sure you load your dishwasher properly can affect how efficiently it cleans your dishes. It can also extend the life of your dishwasher too.
How to Load Your Dishwasher Properly…
There are a range of things that you can do to make sure that you end up with perfectly clean dishes each time. Here’s a look at some top tips:
1. Scraping
Bits of leftover food can fill up your filter and cause your dishwasher not to drain properly. This can lead to a smelly dishwasher and a build-up of gunk caused by standing water.
Scraping food off of your plates before you put them in the dishwasher is a key tip for loading your dishwasher properly.
2. Towards the Middle
The spray arm of the dishwasher is what sprays the water on your dirty dishes. These are located in the centre of the dishwasher beneath each rack. Knowing this will indicate which way your dishes should be facing – the middle.
The dirty side of each item should be facing the centre so that the water is sprayed where it needs to be, leading to clean dishes.
3. Face things downwards
This may seem obvious, but bowls and other similar items should face downwards. Never place them upright. This will lead to them collecting water, which means that they will never be cleaned properly.
4. Don’t Overload
Another obvious one, but don’t overload your dishwasher. It may seem tempting to add one more plate in there. Trust me, don’t. Adding too much stuff can prevent the water jets from being able to reach everything. This leads to dirty dishes, and I’m sure you don’t want that!
5. Place things in the right place
Putting things in the right place will ensure that each item is cleaned. This is a big part of how to load your dishwasher properly. Larger items should be placed at the back and sides, with smaller items place nearer the centre. This makes sure that big items aren’t blocking water from everything else.
Cups and mugs should go on the top rack, face down. Glasses should go along the sides where the water jets aren’t as powerful, and cups and mug can go down the middle.
Plastic items should also go on the top rack too. This is because the temperature is lower up there, reducing the chance that they will become misshapen.
This graphic from Which? Is great for showing you where to put things:
I hope that this guide has helped you understand how to load your dishwasher properly. As appliance experts, my team know a thing or two about dishwashers. If you ever need any help with your dishwasher, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!