Thankfully, there is an expert to help you: your dishwasher use and care guide, or “the manual.” If you can’t put your hands on it, you can usually find one online. But no matter the manufacturer of your dishwasher, here are some basic guidelines that apply to every machine.
6 Rules for Loading Every Dishwasher
How to Load the Top Rack
The top rack of the dishwasher is designed for cups, saucers, glasses, and smaller items. Place items at an angle with the dirtiest surface facing downward. To prevent chipping and damage, be sure that similar items do not touch.
According to Energy Star, certified dishwashers use less than 4 gallons per cycle. The sink uses 4 gallons in just 2 minutes! In a study, Cascade found that the average person spends 15 seconds handwashing a dish. In that time, the sink uses half a gallon of water. That’s why running your dishwasher with as few as eight dishes is all it takes to save water. You can save up to 100 gallons of water a week if you run your dishwasher every night instead of washing dishes by hand. Cascade, a P&G brand, has helped restore more than 338 million gallons of freshwater to rivers and wetlands across the United States through a partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s ‘Change the Course’ program including the Sacramento River Basin, one of California’s most important water sources suffering from drought.
All lightweight and dishwasher-safe plastic items, like storage containers, should only be placed on the top rack. If you are including any of the household items you can clean in a dishwasher, keep them on the top rack, away from the very high temperatures of the drying element in the bottom of the washer. Take a look at the top rack of your dishwasher. You may find that the tines are adjustable to make room for a variety of dishes. You may also find that the entire rack can be adjusted up and down. All of those glasses that you have been hand-washing because they were too tall for the machine can now go right on the top rack. Here’s one more thing to check. Most top racks can be removed completely to allow you to wash large stock pots, cookie sheets, and even a turkey roaster loaded into the bottom rack!
How to Load the Bottom Rack
Here’s the spot for plates, pans, instant pot inner pots, bakeware, and casserole dishes. Use the tines to keep items separated and upright and face soiled surfaces towards the spray arms, not the sides of the dishwasher. Place bowls so they are upside down with the dirtiest surfaces facing the bottom spray arm and be sure that they are not nested. If the water can’t reach all the surfaces, that surface won’t be clean. Place tall items on the side so they do not block the detergent dispenser door. If they won’t fit, adjust the top rack. Check the tines on the bottom rack, some may be able to be adjusted to accommodate larger dishes.
The Right Way to Load Silverware
Want clean silverware? Every dishwasher model offers a different design and placement of the silverware basket. But three tips apply to every model.
Tips for Getting the Best Results From a Dishwasher
For the cleanest dishes, clean your dishwasher regularly. Check your water heater to make sure that you are using water at the right temperature, at least 120 degrees F. To boost the cleaning, turn on the hot water tap at the kitchen sink and let the water get hot. This will ensure that the dishwasher cycle starts with hot water, not cold. Use the correct amount of dishwasher detergent and choose a detergent like Cascade Platinum + Oxi that provides the necessary ingredients for a deep clean. If your water contains lots of minerals (hard water), you should use more detergent for every load or use a booster like Lemi Shine no matter how soiled the dishes. Be sure that your detergent is fresh and not clumping. Give liquids a good shake before using and break up any lumps in powdered formulas. Some items should never be placed in the dishwasher like cast iron and ceramic-coated cookware that is glazed or hand-painted. They will be damaged and many cannot be restored.
