Everyone seems to have their own “right” way to load a dishwasher — and their own opinion about how wrong yours is. But there actually is a correct method, and it makes a noticeable difference in how clean your dishes get. Plus, it’s a system that just makes sense.
Load Back to Front
In the restaurant world, which is where this pro advice comes from, dish racks are filled from the back to the front. Why, exactly? When you place items at the front first, you may have to move them and risk knocking into other things each time you add something new. The folks who’ve done dish duty know this instinctively.
Group Plates by Size and Place Large Items at the Back
When it comes to plates, the trick is to line up those of the same size next to each other. That means all the dinner plates together and all the salad bowls together; this speeds up the unloading process and makes it more organized.
Always put large bowls, casserole dishes, and any tall or bulky items toward the back of the rack. This ensures they won’t block other dishes or the appliance’s spray arms. If an item does end up blocking the spray arms, you should wash it by hand rather than risk everything else in the load remaining dirty.
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The Top Rack Is for Delicates
Cups, glasses, mugs, and smaller bowls belong on the top rack. The water pressure here is gentler, which helps prevent chipping and etching. Remember to angle cups slightly so water doesn’t pool on top.
Plastic items also go on the top rack to avoid warping, especially if your dishwasher has an exposed heating element at the bottom.
Organize Your Silverware Basket
To keep things efficient for unloading, group like silverware together: spoons with spoons, forks with forks, and knives with knives. To prevent nesting, which hinders a thorough clean, place spoons and forks in alternating directions. Crucially, for safety reasons, knives should always be inserted blade-down. It’s also a good idea to make use of the silverware basket’s slots: this separation ensures a better clean and helps prevent unsightly water marks.
