How to Use a Dishwasher the Right Way

Where to put your bowls, plates, and glasses.

By Gunjan Mehta | Updated 23/06/21
How to Use a Dishwasher

Dishwashers are one of the best inventions in modern times because they make our lives easier. You can use this guide to learn how to properly load and operate a dishwasher, which detergent is good for your dishes or cookware, and what cycle you should choose so that it will work optimally! We evaluate the best dishwashers in India based on how easy they are to load.

Load the racks of the dishwasher

The best way to make sure you are doing a thorough job with your dishes is by following these three easy steps: Scrape any leftover food off of the dish before loading it, space out each plate so that water jets can reach all areas, and clean thoroughly. Don’t overlap plates because this prevents complete cleaning.

  • Glasses and cups go on the top rack.

    Rack wine glasses by size, and remember to angle them as much as the rack design will allow. Be sure not to let them bump against one another or the top of the dishwasher when loading it with dishes — this can cause breakage! To prevent leaking at bottom racks in a two-rack system, unload from lower first.

  • Always place your utensils in the flatware basket

    Do you know what to do with your silverware when washing it? One of the most common mistakes is sticking all spoons together. This causes many utensils to be stuck and unhygienic, so always place them separately for optimal cleanliness! Forks should go up because they can get dirty on the tines which need cleaning too. Knives are best-placed blade down as this prevents any accidents from happening while loading or unloading dishes – safety first!

  • The bottom rack of the dishwasher is for bowls and plates.

    To make sure your dishes get the best clean, lay them so that they face where water spray comes from. Pots and pans should angle down for better cleaning results. Flat platters will also go on the bottom of the rack tucked in along the sides or back of it to ensure detergent reaches all surfaces. Don’t put things up front by the door – this could block machine dispenser opening & stop the soap from reaching the surface.

Load the dishwasher detergent

Most dishwashers come with a built-in detergent dispenser. When loading the dishwasher, place any remaining pieces of soap in that compartment on the bottom inside part of your door before closing it up and starting to wash – don’t overfill or you might find yourself cleaning bubbles off all surfaces!

Some models do not have an included rinse aid dispenser so be sure to add some at this time too. The lid will open after doing one initial pre-wash cycle for detergent mixing purposes but wait until then if possible because there is less chance for overflow messes otherwise.

Select a wash cycle

The dishwasher can be a godsend after an exhausting day. Whichever cycle you choose, the dishes will come out clean and spotless! But which one is best for your load size? Each of these cycles has its own settings: The Quick Cycle takes about 30 minutes to complete (depending on power), while Normal usually lasts up to two hours, Heavy Duty may need as much as four hours depending on how dirty your dishes are – but they’ll definitely get clean in that time frame.

Whatever cycle you’re using though make sure water temperature isn’t too cold or hot because it doesn’t matter what setting you use if the water’s not heated enough it won’t do anything at all!

Start the dishwasher

When you are done loading your dishwasher, always double-check to make sure nothing is blocking the wash arms before selecting a cycle. Check for dishes that might have been missed and then shut the door tightly so no water can seep out during cycling.

If there’s any food left on dishes or hard-to-reach spots like utensils, be sure to place them in an accessible spot near where they’ll go into the washer instead of at one end – this will ensure everything gets cleaned off! Once all items are loaded correctly, press start until it turns green again as proof that it has begun working its magic (most cycles should take 2 hours).

Wrapping Up

Yes, a dishwasher is one of the most energy and time-saving home appliances ever created. But it’s not just about loading dishes correctly; you also have to beware of detergent overflow or running water over your hands while washing them in order for this appliance to do its job properly.