How To Properly Load a Dishwasher

Dishwashers have continued to be a helpful technology for home fronts, workspace and factories. As well as everywhere the workhorse appliance is needed. Some product analysts test the effectiveness of the home appliance by getting some kitchen utensils all gooey and leave them out all night before throwing it into the dishwasher.

The result of  highly effective and quality dishwashers is that it produces sparkling results. However, not every dishwasher produces great results after washing, not because of quality but because of the mistakes some people make with their dishwashers, majorly, not loading it properly.

Here are some useful home tips on how to properly load and keep your dishwasher all clean and sparkly!

1) Avoid Overcrowding your dishwasher

Overcrowding your dishwasher surely reduces its efficiency to wash clean and also increase the chances of your utensils getting broken. It also slows down the flow of water and causes detergents to clog in molds all over your utensils. It is advisable to also place plastics on the top rack to avoid it getting warped from heat.

2) Load Your utensils appropriately

Place your silverware like forks and spoons with their handles facing downwards, whilst the handles of knives face upwards for safety from knife cuts when lifting them. Most dishwashers now have baskets for utensils. If yours is of such a model, place your utensils in the basket so it doesn’t hide between chunks of plates.

3) Large Items should be placed on the bottom shelf

Large items like plates and bowls should take the bottom shelf. Whilst wider and heavier items usually take the position of the sides and the back so as not to block the flow of water and circulation of detergent. The spray arm of dishwashers is designed for utensils with food particles heavily stuck on them. The utensils are placed face down for easy cleaning and thorough wipe out.

All utensils made from stainless steel or aluminum is safe to be loaded in the dishwasher. But loading your dishwasher with large kitchen knives or utensils made of brass, bronze, or wood is inadvisable as it may damage it. Ultimately, it is even safer to always study your owner’s manual booklet or look through the dishwasher safe indication or guide. It’s usually found at the bottom of the ware.

4) Avoid Stashing in too much detergent.

All ware cleaning adhesives like liquids, block bar soaps and detergents all produce the same foamy textures and clean well to a great extent. Whatever could go wrong would usually not come from the cleaning adhesive more than it would from when excessive supply is stocked in.

One good rule of thumb to always remember though; always store your detergents in a cool, dry spot’, and not advisable under the sink where water can leak into it, leaving it clumped up and all deteriorated and less effective.

overloaded dishwasher

5) Cups are delicate and could crack easily in dishwashers

Cups, especially mugs and glass cups have their special spaces in most dishwashers because of their delicateness. And it’s never at the top but between the tines. This is because water spots can be left at the tip of the prong.

This design also keeps the base of the upside down cups from storing a pool of water. If you still spot some puddles, have the bottom rack unloaded first to avoid a drip down.

6) Remember these basic rules

  • All plastics are to be secured otherwise they may flip over from blasts of water, into the heating element and melt
  • All dishes are to be pre-rinsed if they’re going to sit in the machine for a long time. But if you intend to do a quick wash, then it is advisable to simply scrape off the food before throwing the dishes into the dishwasher
  • Stacking items are the fastest way to produce a poor result from your dishwasher as it makes it almost impossible for the water spray to clean them thoroughly

So, after making do with a few of our tips for loading a dishwasher. Here are a few useful tips we think may be helpful when considering getting the most out of your dishwasher by keeping it all clean, sparkly and fresh-smelling.
The big question usually is – should a dishwasher also be cleaned if its job is to clean? – and how can a dishwasher be cleaned?

Yes, your dishwasher deserves come clean wash too as much as it is technically known to clean other items. This is because over time leftover food debris and soap scum builds up in dishwashers. So a long use of it without thorough cleaning for maintenance reduces its efficiency and eventually, it may pack up and stop serving you. Advisably, your dishwasher should be filtered and drained at least once a month.

Fortunately, we have summed up the steps to cleaning out your dishwasher into three easy steps, and they can be easily done without the need for any technicalities.

Cleaning Out Your Dishwasher

Step 1: Keep Your Dishwasher Drain Cleared Out

To do this, just take out the bottom dish rack and thoroughly inspect the dishwasher drain. This will ensure that food debris stuck in it is neatly and carefully removed. This helps an easy drainage flow, increase cleaning efficiency and prevent damage to the dishwasher.

Step 2: Clean Out Your Dishwasher With Vinegar

To do this, remember to place a cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher safe container. This is always found at the machine’s upper rack. Then let the dishwasher run through a hot-water cycle.

Doing so always helps for extra sterilisation. The vinegar slackens off soap scum, food debris, and tough grease from the walls and racks of the dishwasher and cleanses down the drain. Whilst also removing every foul smell or odour that may contaminate the smell of your kitchen utensils.

Step 3: Rinse Inside Out With Baking Soda

Baking Sodas are always great for clearing out extra grimes. So one cup of baking soda spread across the bottom of the dishwasher. Alongside running a short, hot water cycle helps to leave the dishwasher smelling fresh, and looking all sparkly.

It may seem counter intuitive, taking out the time to perform these three easy steps to take care of your dishwasher. But just like every technological appliance or work tool, maintenance always helps improve and expand their life span.

Want To Know More About Dishwashers? We have covered many aspects about dishwashers for our readers. Here are some other useful articles you may enjoy.

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