The Best Way To Load Your Dishwasher

Posted on April 17, 2023

Let’s dive into a topic that is often overlooked but is essential for keeping your kitchen clean: the best way to load your dishwasher. If you’ve ever struggled with fitting all your dishes into your dishwasher or found that they’re not coming out as clean as you’d like, you’re not alone. The way you load your dishwasher can make a significant difference in the cleanliness of your dishes and the overall efficiency of your machine.

Believe it or not, there is actually a science to loading your dishwasher. By arranging your dishes in a certain way, you can maximize the space in your dishwasher to ensure that each dish gets properly cleaned. Are you loading yours the best way? Find out below!

Why Is It Important to Properly Load Your Dishwasher?

• Efficient Use Of Space: When you load your dishwasher properly, you can fit more dishes in a single cycle. This means you can clean more dishes at once, saving time and energy. If you don't load your dishwasher efficiently, you may have to run multiple cycles, which can waste water and energy.

• Effective Cleaning: Properly loading your dishwasher ensures that all the dishes are exposed to water and detergent. If dishes are stacked too close together, water and detergent cannot reach all the surfaces, leaving some dishes dirty. When dishes are loaded properly, water and detergent can reach every corner and crevice, ensuring that all the dishes come out clean.

• Protects Delicate Items: If you have delicate items like glasses or china, loading them properly can prevent them from getting damaged during the wash cycle. When you place these items in the dishwasher, make sure they are secure and not touching other dishes. This will prevent them from getting scratched or chipped during the wash cycle.

• Prevent Clogging: Improperly loaded dishes can cause food particles to get trapped in the dishwasher's filter and spray arms, leading to clogs. This can cause the dishwasher to work less effectively, and you may have to run multiple cycles to get your dishes clean.

• Energy and Water Savings: When you load your dishwasher properly, you can save energy and water. If you don't load your dishwasher efficiently, you may have to run multiple cycles, which can waste water and energy. This can lead to higher utility bills and harm the environment.

How To Load a Dishwasher

Third Rack Downdrafts

If your dishwasher features a third rack, this is a great place to maximize capacity and flexibility. Although it will depend on the depth of your third rack, this is generally a great place for utensils, bowls, and small cups. The goal is to angle your dishes so that they are facing the jets, never overlapping each other, to get the most wash exposure.

Upper Rack

The upper rack in your dishwasher is specifically designed for glassware and bowls, such as soup bowls, coffee mugs, glasses, and wine glasses. This area typically provides a gentler wash than the lower rack to clean your delicate items. Therefore, it isn’t a suitable place for your toughest pans (and vice versa!).

Cups should be placed between the tines to keep them from rattling against each other during a load, causing scratches or even chips. They should also be placed at a slight angle so water can roll off the tops. Bowls should be angled downward, facing the jets, and never overlapping at the top preventing water from reaching the entire surface.

Bottom Rack

The bottom of your dishwasher features the strongest jet arm and is suitable for plates, pots and pans, and other large dishes like casserole dishes and sheets. Every bottom rack dish should face towards the center of the dishwasher to get the most exposure and should either be placed side-to-side or in the back facing towards the front.

If you place dishes in the front, you could accidentally block the detergent dispenser and it may not be evenly distributed. Larger bowls don’t have to be faced down, they can be angled to get the best exposure without taking up too much space. Make sure you keep jet arms clear of any dishes so they can spin as needed.

Silverware Baskets

The silverware basket has been a long-standing debate. Is silverware up or down? Keeping silverware up will give it more exposure to keep it clean, though for safety reasons it’s always best to keep knives down. To avoid your silverware from “spooning” and preventing water from reaching them, be sure to alternate forks, spoons, and knives next to each other.

3 Tips To Get Sparkling Clean Dishes

Now that you know the proper way to load a dishwasher, here are three simple tips to help further elevate your washer's cleaning performance:

1. Don’t overcrowd the dishwasher: Overcrowding the dishwasher can prevent water from reaching all of your dishes. Make sure you are not overloading your dishwasher, and leave enough space between items to allow water to flow freely.

2. Use the right cycle: Using the right cycle can also make a big difference in how clean your dirty dishes come out. Most dishwashers have a normal cycle, which is good for everyday use. However, if you have heavily soiled dishes, you may want to use a heavy-duty cycle. If you are in a hurry, you can use the quick wash cycle, but keep in mind that your dishes may not come out as clean as they would with a longer cycle.

3. Scrape off excess food: Before loading your dishes into the dishwasher, it's important to scrape off any excess food. This will help prevent food particles from clogging the dishwasher's filter and spray arms. You don't need to pre-rinse your dishes or hand wash them before, simply scrape off any large pieces of food. If you are worried about your washer getting clogged, look for a model like this GE Profile washer that features a built-in food dispenser to pulverize food and ensure the wash arms stay unclogged.

The Best Dishwashers of 2023

At Bray & Scarff, we pride ourselves on having a wide selection of the best kitchen appliances for our customers. Whether you are looking for the latest panel-ready dishwasher to perfectly match your kitchen cabinetry like this Monogram dishwasher or an ENERGY STAR Certified dishwasher that is loaded with modern features like this smart Café dishwasher, we have what you need.

Stop by any of our store locations such as Frederick and Annapolis, Maryland, or Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, to browse the top dishwashers of 2023 from brands like Bosch, Monogram, Beko, Whirlpool, Thermador, and more. We also offer state-of-the-art kitchen remodeling services to ensure you get the kitchen of your dreams, from drawing up the perfect design to selecting the best appliances, we take the work out of remodeling so you can sit back and enjoy your new kitchen in no time!