Five tips that will change the way you use your dishwasher

For years, writer Lilith Hudson was a handwashing devotee – until she realised she was using her dishwasher all wrong - Tony Buckingham

Dishwashers have spared us countless hours at the kitchen sink, and yet they still remain an unlikely flashpoint for marital discord. Few domestic debates become quite as heated as those concerning dishwasher etiquette, so as mundane as it sounds, it’s worth knowing how to use yours properly.

For years, I was that rare outlier – the person who insisted on washing dishes by hand despite having a dishwasher. Guests raised their eyebrows when I took to tackling the mound of dinner plates with a pair of Marigolds and my trusty Scrub Daddy, but I was fed up with crusty cutlery, foul smells and standing water that wouldn’t drain.

Thanks to an inherited attitude I can only blame my mother for, I was quick to point the finger at the machine – until I discovered that all my problems were, in fact, down to human error.

As it turns out, even the best dishwashers won’t make your plates sparkle if you’re loading incorrectly, using the wrong detergent, or – counter-intuitively – pre-rinsing too well.

In a quest to lay these domestic debates to rest once and for all, here’s a no-nonsense guide on how to use your dishwasher properly for the best results.

How to use a dishwasher properly

Load the bottom rack first

Loading a dishwasher properly is something of an art form, and a contested one at that. Arrangements were hotly debated when my partner and I first moved in together, and often led to the passive-aggressive removal of plates.

I’m also adamant that cutlery should be placed top down in the basket; he puts them top up. As trivial as these small details may seem, they can be the difference between sparkling-clean cutlery and sticky, scuzzy spoons.

It’s an undeniably tedious chore, but precision is key when loading the dishwasher. As a general rule, you should always load back to front and bottom to top for better cleaning. Start by loading the lower rack with large, heavier items like pots and pans, positioning them dirty side down to take advantage of the more powerful lower spray arms.

‘You should always load back to front and bottom to top for better cleaning,’ writes Lilith - Tony Buckingham

Plates can be loaded here, too. Slot them between the angled prongs, making sure the eating surface faces the centre “V” of the rack for the most thorough clean. There’s often a cutlery basket on this level as well.

Vindicating my theory, cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie (better known as Instagram’s Queen of Clean) confirms that utensils should go in face down for both better cleaning and for safety. “Always make sure everything is spaced out,” she adds. “If dishes are stacked too closely, the water can’t circulate and food residue will remain.”

Scrape off large food scraps, but don’t rinse

At risk of stating the obvious, scraping any remaining food from your plates will always be the first step before loading them into the dishwasher. Not only will it result in a better clean, but it also prevents your filter from becoming blocked after every use.

The next step is far more contentious – should you rinse, or no-rinse? While some take pride in pre-rinsing plates with a vigour that rivals hand-washing, those in the no-rinse camp will be pleased to learn that those efforts are virtually futile. Not only does it waste water, but over-rinsing can actually diminish a dishwasher’s cleaning performance.

“With today’s high-quality dishwasher tablets, pre-rinsing really isn’t necessary,” explains Crombie.

“The only time I’d recommend pre-rinsing is if something has dried on for several days, like porridge or baked-on egg. In those cases, a quick scrape or soak before loading can save you from rewashing.”

Then load the top rack

Smaller, lighter kitchenware should be placed on the top rack of your machine, since the top arm typically has a lower water pressure. “A good rule to follow is that if you drink out of it, it should go on the top shelf of the dishwasher facing down,” suggests Andrew Laughlin, dishwasher expert at Which?. “Any plastic items also go on the top rack as the temperature is lower here, so there’s less chance of them warping or becoming misshapen from the heat of the water.”

The temperature is lower in the top rack, making it the best location for plastic tools and utensils - Tony Buckingham

The best-integrated dishwashers may also come with a third rack for extra space, or a cutlery tray at the very top. If you have multiple racks, work from the heaviest items to the lightest as you load bottom to top. Remember to always be wary of dishwasher no-gos such as wooden utensils, delicate glasses, cast-iron cookware, and non-stick pans. These should always be washed by hand.

Add your detergent (and rinse aid, if using)

Once you’ve finished loading it’s time to add your detergent to the dispenser. There’s a huge range of dishwasher detergents on offer these days, including gels, powders and all-in-one pods.

Andrew says the type you use will differ depending on your needs.

Multi-action dishwasher pods are the most straightforward option - Tony Buckingham

“Pods offer convenience and precision, while powders are often the most affordable and effective for hard water,” he explains.

“Pods also provide pre-measured doses, ensuring you use the correct amount for each load, delivering a powerful, all-in-one clean with included rinse aid and presoaking agents.”

Load your chosen detergent into your machine according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you’re only half-loading your machine or if you have a slimline dishwasher, you can reduce the amount of detergent you use (although this doesn’t apply to all-in-one pods, which aren’t designed to be broken in half).

Unless you’re using these multi-action pods, you’ll also have to add your rinse aid separately. As a surfactant, a rinse aid ensures all your dishes dry evenly without streaks (which is especially important if you have hard water).

Some machines will also have an option to turn up the rinse aid setting if you notice your dishes are still coming out wet. “This is often just a dial under the rinse aid lid that you can twist to a higher setting,” says Andrew.

Select the right cycle

If you’re anything like me, you put full faith in your dishwasher’s auto function and don’t ever stray from it, but Andrew reminds us that the other settings exist for a reason. Each one will have a different run time, water usage and cleaning quality.

“The main wash option on your machine is usually the best all-rounder for cleaning, and has a shorter wash time than eco,” he explains. “Eco is a much more efficient option and uses a lot less water – the cost saving could be up to £300 over your dishwasher’s life span.

The main downside to eco is that the wash can take a long time, with some lasting more than five hours.”

Many laundry tips are still applicable to our dishwashers, too. For example, long, energy-intensive dishwasher settings should only be reserved for seriously stuck-on food, and you should always avoid running your machine with a half-load where possible.

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