Like storing plates and utensils inside your kitchen cabinet, there is also an efficient way to load and unload your dishwasher to yield the best results.
Knowing the right way to load and unload your dishwasher makes a huge difference in how it can clean your best-loved kitchen equipment. If you happen to take out some oily, half-cleaned plates from your dishwasher, the problem may be caused by the way you load your dishwasher. Coincidentally, the loading process can affect how you unload the kitchen equipment.
Luckily, you can finally say goodbye to this inconvenience by following these simple tips.
Tips for Loading and Unloading the Dishwasher
Before diving straight into the tips, let’s talk about how a dishwasher gets rid of the grit and grime from your kitchen equipment.
A dishwasher is loaded with spray arms that rotate within the appliance. These spray heated water and detergent into the load to remove oils, dirt, and food debris. Once the dirty water is drained from the load, fresh water is sprayed to further clean the dishes. Finally, the residual heat will remove the excess water from the dishes, resulting in cleaner and safer crockery and kitchen equipment.
Only put dishwasher safe kitchen items inside your equipment
Before running your dishwasher, identify which of your kitchen items are dishwasher-safe and which are not. This is to prevent damage and hassles while using your kitchen appliance. Generally, items that require more careful handwashing are delicate porcelain, antique plates, acrylic items, some wooden and non-stick items, and sharp knives. Like laundry and a washing machine, it’s always good to check your dishwasher label and the materials of your kitchen items before starting the process.
Understand the layout of your dishwasher
Luckily, many dishwasher types follow a basic layout, so you can easily arrange your items regardless of the dishwasher brand. Generally, larger kitchen equipment like pots, pans, serving platters, and the like should be placed at the bottom of the rack. On the other hand, the upper part of the dishwasher should be filled with smaller items like cups, glasses, bowls, and other dishwasher-safe small kitchen tools. Lastly, utensils will go to the utensil basket.
Position your dishwasher load the right way
To make sure that the dishwasher sprays will reach your glassware and mugs, position them bottom-down as the motion starts from the bottom of the dishwasher. Place your silverware with some handles facing down and some handles facing up. This is to avoid nesting and to give each piece proper cleaning. The knives should be positioned with the handles up for a safe unload.
You can also sort your plates by size or by type, so you can easily take them out and place them back in the cabinet, clean and sparkling.
Load your dishwasher from back to front
Like filling a kitchen cabinet, load your dishwasher from back to front to make sure that you can maximise your space and avoid blocking smaller items with the bigger ones. Always place the biggest items, like trays, at the back, medium items, like serving platters, in the middle, and smaller plates in front. Avoid sticking plates and utensils together, and give each item a proper passageway for cleaning. Always arrange your dishes in such a way that no item can obstruct your dishwasher’s spray arms. Scrape big food chunks from your pots and pans before placing them on the bottom rack.
Use a mesh bag for tiny items
Container lids, bottle components, and other dishwasher-safe small items can be cleaned in a mesh bag so you don’t have to worry about losing or damaging them in the process.
Avoid overcrowding
While we advocate maximising your dishwasher space to be power and water efficient, we do not suggest overcrowding your appliance. This is because an overcrowded dishwasher will cause blockages and force you to do another cycle, which is inefficient. Instead, give your dishwasher enough cleaning space to properly do its job.
Unload your dishwasher from the bottom rack
If you start unloading from the top to the bottom, the water from your concave dinnerware might spill all over the items at the bottom. To prevent this hassle, unload your dishwasher from the bottom rack to avoid the leftover water spilling all over your dishes.
Create a system
Once you find the best dishwasher arrangement that works for your needs, you can formulate your own loading and unloading system. After all, each household uses a different set of kitchen items and a different dishwasher. Based on your load and dishwasher capacity, strategise your system to make the most of your handy dishwasher. Doing this can significantly make your dishwashing a breeze.
Give your dishwasher the cleaning it deserves
Your dishwasher deserves some cleaning, too! This helpful kitchen equipment will stay in its best shape for a longer time if it is regularly cleaned and maintained. Clean your filter at least every three to six months, and run an empty dishwasher cycle with dishwasher-safe cleaners to remove stain buildup within the appliance.
Choose the best dishwasher based on your needs
When buying a new dishwasher, factor in the size of your household, your kitchen, and your dishwashing needs. Once you find the right dishwasher for your home, it’s time to create a loading and unloading system to maximise its use.
Takeaway
A dishwasher is a hard-working major kitchen appliance that makes dishwashing a breeze. To enjoy most of its functions, it’s important to know how you can maximise its space while making your dishwashing routine more flawless. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time. There is always room for improvement to finally figure out what loading and unloading strategy works best for you and your dishwasher.
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