How to Load a Dishwasher

The dishwasher is one of the most important electrical appliances in modern kitchens. It helps simplify the process of washing and disinfecting dishes, cutlery, cookware, and other kitchen items. To help ensure that the dishes come out clean, it is important to learn how to load your dishwasher in the correct manner. Not only does it ensure cleaner kitchen items, proper dishwasher loading also saves you energy and time.

The Owner’s Manual is Your Friend

If you are looking for information on how to load cutlery in a dishwasher, your best resource is the owner’s manual that came with your dishwasher. It makes perfect sense to read the manual before you even start operating your dishwasher. It already includes everything you need about this particular type of kitchen appliance. It contains information on how to care for the device, as well as some tips on maintaining its optimum operation.

There are many resources available online, of course. They can also teach you how to load a dishwasher. However, online resources are almost always written in the general sense. They are not specific to the brand, model, and type of dishwasher that you have. Manufacturers have their own set of guidelines on how people can optimize the functionality of their dishwashers. It is for this reason that your best resource for learning how to load your dishwasher the correct way is the owner’s manual.

How to Load Your Dishwasher

In case you have misplaced your dishwasher’s manual, here are some of the general ‘rules’ for loading kitchen items in your dishwasher.

• Plates

Place your dishes and plates in the dishwasher’s bottom section. They should face towards the center. If the plates have a tendency to lean, they should do so in a downward and inward manner. One should never stack dishes or plates on top of each other in a nesting manner. This will not wash the different items stacked on top.

One has to understand that water will spray from the center and in an outward direction. Water also moves out and down from the top. There is also water coming from the bottom, which moves in an outward and upward manner.

• Cutlery

In learning how to load cutlery in a dishwasher, it is important to load them with their handles at the bottom of the cutlery basket. Try to separate the different cutlery as much as possible to help water pass through each one. If you have cutlery that has wooden components, it is best to wash them by hand. The same is true with sharp knives as they can lose their sharpness of washed in the machine.

Longer and larger items are best laid down in the dishwasher’s upper basket so they do not block the spray nozzles, tubes, and the rotating devices. Always position spoons facing down to help prevent water from collecting on the spoon’s bowl. If you have silverware and stainless-steel cutlery, it is best to put them in separate sections of the cutlery basket.

• Bowls, Glasses, and Cups

Always stack bowls, cups, and glasses at an angle. This will allow the cleaning solution to reach the interior surfaces of these kitchen items. Propping them at an angle helps with the drainage of both the cleaning solution and water.

• Wine Glasses

Check if your dishwasher comes with a plastic safety rack. You can find this on the dishwasher’s top shelf. This can serve as holders for your wine glasses. Be very careful when loading wine glasses. You do not want them to crack or get scratches.

Related Post: Best Wine Glasses

• Plastic ware

If you have plastic ware like Tupperware, it is best to place them on the dishwasher’s top rack. This moves them further away from the heating element of the appliance. Most dishwashers have their heating element at the bottom. Putting plastics at the topmost rack will help prevent warping or melting of the plastic items.

• Pots and Pans

If you are going to load pans and pots in the dishwasher, make sure that you position them upside down. This will help in the more efficient cleaning and drainage of the cooking surface. Be sure not to overload or overcrowd your dishwasher. In some cases, it would be wise to wash larger pots and pans by hand. All pots and pans should go in the appliance’s bottom section.

• Large Trays and Cutting Boards

Washing large trays and cutting boards in the dishwasher is best accomplished by putting them in the plate slots. If they won’t fit in the slots, then you should load them on the outer section of the bottom rack. However, it is always best to check the recommendations of the manufacturers of these items. Some cutting boards can warp when washed in the machine because of the heat. In such cases, it’s better to wash them by hand.

Additional Tips for Loading a Dishwasher

Here are several tricks and tips to make your dishwashing chores a lot more efficient.

• There is no need to prewash your dishes before you load them in the dishwasher. What you can do is to remove large bits of food. Prewashing your dishes removes some of the soil that dishwashing detergents need to work on. This can make washing and sanitizing a lot less efficient.
• Always make sure that the spray arms of the dishwasher will spin freely. It should not hit any of the items that you’ve loaded in the machine. Otherwise, it will not be able to clean everything that you want cleaned.
• Make sure that the water in your dishwasher is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimal temperature needed to dissolve and remove food stains. Do not crank up the thermostat higher than 120°. This can increase the risk of thermal injuries.
• Do not load non-dishwasher-safe items in your dishwasher. You need to wash these items by hand. That is why it is crucial that you read the manual of your products. This will help you determine whether it is safe to put these items in your dishwasher or not.

Loading kitchen items in your dishwasher can help ensure a more efficient cleaning of these items. It also saves you energy and time.

Sources:

1. A Guide To Loading Basically Every Type Of Dishwasher That Exists – HuffPost
2. What’s the Best Way to Load a Dishwasher? – HowStuffWorks