When you run your dishwasher, you expect it to leave you with sparkling-clean dishes and spotless cutlery. But, unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, you might open your dishwasher and discover half-clean utensils or a layer of grime still caked on your plates. If this is happening to you — and more times than you care to admit — there’s a chance that you’re loading your dishwasher incorrectly.
The good news is that learning how to properly load a dishwasher is quick and easy. You can take a few simple steps to ensure your dishes and silverware come out looking squeaky clean.
If you want to learn five tips on the proper way to load a dishwasher, read on!
Can You Load a Dishwasher Incorrectly?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a resounding yes. Although you might be tempted to shove your dishes and silverware into the dishwasher and call it a day, this haphazard method could be causing more harm than you realize.
As you can see, you can potentially encounter various problems when you load the dishwasher incorrectly:
Think Before You Load
When learning how to properly load a dishwasher, you might be surprised to discover that you’ve been doing some things wrong. For example, some items that you’ve been tossing in the dishwasher may need to be hand-washed instead.
For the most part, you should wash cutting boards, wooden utensils, and serving spoons made out of plastic by hand — among other similar items. As you can imagine, hot water can damage kitchenware made of plastic, and wooden items can warp or crack. You’ll also want to consider hand washing sharp knives, as they can become dull in the dishwasher over time.
Now that you know which items you should keep far away from your dishwasher, it’s time to start loading! However, it’s important to mention that you don’t typically have to pre-rinse your dishes and cutlery. Most dishwashers can handle all kinds of grime.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Racks
There are many tips on the proper way to load a dishwasher. However, it can be argued that this tip we’re about to discuss is one of the most important.
Remember to leave space between each item when loading glasses, plates, pots, and pans in the dishwasher. Although you might be tempted to cram your kitchenware into the dishwasher to get the most out of each load, you can end up with poorly-cleaned dishes. In fact, it might look like your dishes weren’t cleaned at all.
How to Avoid Spotty Dishes
If the dishes are placed too close together, the hot water and dishwasher detergent won’t be able to thoroughly clean them. You don’t want to accidentally prevent your dishwasher from doing its job, as you may need to run the load again, wasting a great deal of water and time. When loading your dishes, make sure there’s enough space between each item so that the water can reach them.
Does your dishwasher struggle to clean your dishes, even though you take the proper precautions and space them out? If so, it might be time for a new dishwasher installation in the Cayman Islands. The excellent news is that many dishwashers on the market will provide efficient, proper cleaning.
Mix Up Your Silverware
When loading your dishwasher, you might think you should make your silverware basket look as uniform as possible. After all, placing spoons with spoons and forks with forks makes it easier to put the utensils away once they’re clean. However, you should consider switching it up from time to time.
Mixing spoons with forks and so on can prevent “nesting.” When your silverware nests against one another, it can be difficult for the water and detergent to thoroughly clean them. Although you might think this is a strange tip for how to properly load a dishwasher, it could make a significant difference in the cleanliness of your silverware in the long run.
Arrange Dishes With Purpose
One of the best tips on the proper way to load a dishwasher is to load your kitchenware according to its type and size. For example, small bowls and cups should face downward on the top racks. The spray arms in your dishwasher are located at the bottom, so they’ll shoot upward to clean the dishes in the upper racks.
Plates and larger items, such as trays, should go on the bottom racks. You’ll want to place these items along the sides of the dishwasher so that they don’t accidentally block the spray arms.
If you want to really ensure your dishwasher is properly loaded, start by loading dishes in the back and work your way forward. This way, you can maximize space and arrange the dishes most efficiently.
Place Glasses Between the Tines
As you can see, there is a right and wrong method for how to properly load a dishwasher. The next tip we’re going to discuss is no exception. That’s right — you shouldn’t place your glass cups on the tines. Instead, you should place the glasses between the tines. If you place these delicate items directly on the tines, the glass can rattle and rub against the tines, leading to cracks, chips, or water spots.
Choose Appliance Doctors for Your Dishwasher Needs!
Hopefully, you’ve learned something useful from these tips on the proper way to load a dishwasher. If you’re having trouble with your appliances, rest assured that Appliance Doctors can help. We offer a broad selection of top-tier solutions, including dishwasher repair services in the Cayman Islands. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
