You have loaded your dishwasher incorrectly! Experts reveal exactly how to charge your appliance – and finally settle the debate about pre-rinsing dishes
It is a job that many people fear.
But loading your dishwasher is about to become a lot easier, following new advice from Which?.
The British Consumer Champion has a Manual in 11 steps on how to load your dishwasher.
From making sure your plates are facing the center to mixing plates and bowls, it turns out you’ve probably been doing it wrong this whole time.
Which?’s guide? also finally puts an end to the discussion about whether or not to pre-rinse the dishes.
‘The way you load your dishwasher can make a big difference in how efficiently your dishes are cleaned, especially larger dishes and those covered in hard-to-remove dirt.’ Which one? said.
So, have you loaded your dishwasher in the most efficient way?
Here’s what? says what you should be doing in your kitchen.
It is a job that many people fear. But loading your dishwasher is about to become a lot easier, after new advice from Which?
1. Don’t rinse your plates
Contrary to popular belief, which one? says not to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
“By tapping away any clumps of food residue before loading the dishwasher, you have the best chance of getting everything clean,” it explained.
‘But most dishwasher cycles pre-rinse your dishes so you don’t have to run them under the tap; that’s a waste of water.’
2. Make sure your dishes are all pointing towards the center
Which one? recommends that the dirty side of all dishes should face the center of the dishwasher rack.
“The spray from the dishwasher arms emerges like a garden sprinkler, so make sure it is not blocked or pointing outward,” it said.
3. Don’t overload your dishwasher
From making sure your plates are facing the center to mixing plates and bowls, it turns out you’ve probably been doing it wrong this whole time
While you may be tempted to throw away all your dirty dishes at once, which ones? says it’s important not to overload your dishwasher.
“It’s a good idea to stick to the designated spaces in the plate racks and cutlery baskets,” it explains.
‘If your dishwasher is too full, it will be more difficult to get everything clean.’
4. Mix plates and bowls
Instead of stacking your plates on one side and your bowls on the other, which one? says it’s best to mix your dishes in the dishwasher.
‘Leaving space between plates and cutlery allows the water and detergent to spread.’ Which one? said.
“You could even try alternating larger and smaller plates next to each other to help with this.”
5. Make sure the bowls are facing down
Contrary to popular belief, which one? says not to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher
As obvious as it sounds, make sure your bowls are facing down, otherwise you’ll open the dishwasher and find them full of water.
6. Place large items at the back and sides
Whether it’s a baking sheet or a fruit bowl, make sure you place large items on the back and sides of your dishwasher.
‘This ensures they don’t get in the way of the flow of water and detergent, preventing other dishes from getting clean.’ Which one? said.
7. Use adjustable racks for large items
If your dishwasher has an adjustable top rack, this can be useful for loading large items or long-stemmed wine glasses, according to Which?.
‘To check if your dishwasher has a top rack that can be lowered or raised, look for a lever mechanism on the sides’ Which one? said.
“Some also use a runner system that requires removing the basket and adjusting the runners.”
8. Place roasting pans on the bottom rack
It is best to place roasting plates on the bottom rack where the water pressure and temperature are highest.
Which one? adds: ‘Some dishwashers have a separate spray head for these types of heavy jobs.’
9. Place glasses on the side and mugs in the middle
While all cups and glasses should be at the top, with the front facing downwards. Which one? recommends careful consideration of where different vessels are placed.
‘If possible, place glasses along the side supports, the water jet is not that powerful here. Cups and mugs can go in the middle,” it said.
10. Place plastic items on the top rack
To protect plastic items, which ones? says to place it in the top rack only.
Which one? recommends switching the direction of your cutlery to avoid problems it calls “nesting.”
“The temperature is lower here, so there is less chance of them warping or becoming misshapen in the heat,” it explained.
11. Change the direction of your cutlery
Finally: Which one? recommends switching the direction of your cutlery to avoid problems with ‘nesting’.
“The reason your cutlery doesn’t always get clean could be that similar items are too close together, leaving no room for the water,” it explains.
‘This problem, also called nesting, can occur when spoons lean against each other.
‘To solve this, place some upright and some facing down so the water can wash over all surfaces.
‘The exception to this rule is knives. It’s safer to just load them with the point down.’