How to Load a Dishwasher

Despite what many people may think, it is entirely all too easy to use a dishwasher incorrectly, specifically by loading it improperly. When a dishwasher is loaded properly, you very rarely have the wasted water or dirty dishes you would find otherwise. Here are a few guidelines that you can follow to ensure that you are using your dishwasher properly and getting the most use out of it that you can.

• Start from the bottom. It is usually a good idea to start loading your dishwasher from the bottom and work your way up. This way, you run less of a risk of accidentally breaking a glass in the dishwasher while you are loading it. For some reason, glasses seem to be particularly delicate in a dishwasher and need extra care. By loading the bottom first you won't need to move the glasses around, or potentially hit them with plates or other items.
• Face towards the spray. When you place your plates and bowls in the dishwasher, make sure that the dirty parts are turned (or faced) towards the water. This will ensure that the dirty dishes are getting the full force of the water pressure, and are more likely to be cleaned properly.
• Bowls on top. Things like bowls and glasses have a tendency to trap water. Considering that most dishwashers have the major cleaning jets at the base of the dishwasher, this means that if you load the bowls or glasses in the bottom tray, they will prevent a majority of the water from traveling upwards to the upper tier. This will prevent the upper dishes from getting clean. To avoid this, simply load the bowls and other similar items on the top rack.
• Separate forks and spoons. Forks and spoons rest against each other all too easily. This can prevent the tines of the forks from getting properly cleaned, and help encourage food to stick to spoons as well. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your forks and spoons in separate silverware containers within the dishwasher. Even so, you should still ensure that your spoons and forks don't end up settling against their own kind as much as possible as well.

If you follow these guidelines, you should notice that your dishwasher is much more effective. However, there is a caveat: Not all dishwashers work the same way. That means that while you can use these guidelines as a starting point, they are exactly that—a starting point. Don't be afraid to experiment a little bit.