How to correctly and properly load a dishwasher

A dishwasher is a valuable appliance for any kitchen, saving you time and effort in getting your dishes, utensils, and cutlery cleaned up quickly and efficiently. This saves the effort of having to manually wash every dish yourself, and also promises a better and more effective cleaning thanks to the use of sprayed warm water and proper detergent. You’ll get dishes that are squeaky clean, fresh, and ready to be used quickly. That said, the efficiency of a dishwasher has a lot to do with how it’s loaded.

Preparing your dishwasher by correctly and properly loading it is the first and most important step in getting it to work efficiently. Follow these steps to ensure that all your dishes and utensils are properly positioned, so that the dishwasher can do a good job with cleaning them.

How to load a dishwasher properly

You might be tempted to just put stuff into the dishwasher quickly and without any thought, but the way you load the appliance has a considerable bearing on how effectively it works in cleaning your dishes, utensils, and cutlery. Typical dishwashers have two racks, and placing your dishes correctly across these racks makes a big difference.

Place accordingly to use case 

Dishes that you eat from, such as plates, large bowls, and deep dishes, should ideally be placed in the larger and more spacious bottom rack. Smaller items such as cups, mugs, and small bowls can be placed in the upper rack, so that they don’t take up too much space at the bottom and lead to under-utilisation of the dishwasher’s inputs such as water, detergent, and electricity. 

Also, try to place plates and bowls within the slots and grooves, to ensure they are positioned efficiently. Spoons and forks can also be placed above or flat – ideally in the holders provided with the dishwasher – and you should be careful to place sharp objects such as knives in a way that you can collect them easily without accidentally injuring yourself.

Spacing and tilt

When placing dishes, you’ll want to ensure that all items are kept in a way that their surfaces are exposed and not covered up by other items. The stream of water and sprays will then be able to access all items, thereby properly cleaning them. Additionally, tilting items such as mugs and bowls allows the washing solution to reach the insides of the dishes, as well as drain out quickly.

Load according to material

Ceramic and glass items should ideally be loaded at the bottom, as the heating elements of the dishwasher are here, and these materials are not adversely affected by heat. Plastic items such as storage boxes and bowls should be placed on the upper rack and away from the heat, to avoid any possibility of warping.

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Wooden items such as spatulas, cutting boards, or anything with a wooden handle should ideally not be washed in a dishwasher. The wood can warp and get damaged quickly when exposed to the heat and water sprays of a dishwasher.

Don’t overload

It’s best to avoid overloading the dishwasher, since this will not only put additional load on the appliance itself, but also not allow for enough space to ensure your dishes are properly cleaned. Try to find the right balance where you have enough items loaded per wash, while also keeping enough space for the water sprays to be able to clean everything that is loaded.

Following these tips will get your dishwasher functioning at its efficient best.