If you've gone through all the steps of cleaning your dishwasher and are still finding specs of dirt and grime on your dishes, it might be time to take a look at how you're actually loading your machine.
"How to properly load a dishwasher is one of the great, age-old household debates," says Richard Tarrant, senior vice president, business unit dish & laundry care at BSH Home Appliances Corporation. He notes that each rack is actually designed to hold specific items, so if you're just putting anything anywhere, you're not really taking advantage of all of the modernity and technology your dishwasher has to offer. But with a little bit of strategy and thought, you can really put all of that spraying power to good use.
Before you run your next load, here are some tips and tricks you should know to ensure your next batch comes out sparkling clean.
According to Tarrant, the top rack is designed to hold small to medium-sized items including glasses, cups, mugs, stemware and small bowls and plates. Further, if your dishwasher has an exposed heating element, all plastics must go on the top to ensure they don't get too hot and warp, or even melt. Regardless, all plastics should go on the top rack.
One of the most annoying issues many have with their dishwashers is water pooling on the top of glasses that have a recess in their base. An easy solution for that is to put those glasses on an angle to let that water drain off while drying in the machine - but it's important to note that delicate glasses are best placed more securely in order to avoid breakage.
Your heaviest dishware, bowls, and cooking gear should go in the lower rack of your dishwasher. Place all of these items facing down to ensure that the spray arms and jets can do their work to clean off both easy and tough strains. Make sure large items like baking sheets are positioned lengthwise on the side of the rack, so they don't block detergent from getting to other dishes.
It may go without saying, but you should also make sure larger items are not blocking any spray arm movement because if they are, your dishes will not get as clean as planned. Some newer dishwashers have fully adjustable racking so you can fit taller items without hitting the spray arm.
For traditional utensil baskets, place your silverware in with the service side facing up. This will ensure that your spoons, forks, and knives have the best chance of getting a thorough clean. If you have any concerns about a sharp edge facing up, placing the knife's blade down is fine, but be sure to only wash knives that are approved for a dishwasher. Fine cutlery should always be hand-washed and dried as soon as possible after use.
Avoid overfilling, as all surfaces need to be exposed in order to get silverware truly clean. Additionally, aluminum and stainless steel are the two materials best suited for a mechanical dishwasher. Other materials should be hand-washed to avoid cracking, discoloring, and extra wear.