5 Common Dishwasher Mistakes

It’s probably safe to say that you don’t look forward to hand-washing a mound of dishes after breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. That’s why dishwashers were invented! We all love dishwashers for saving us time, energy, and chipped nail polish – but a lot of us are actually loading our machines incorrectly!

Here are 5 common mistakes we make when loading the dishwasher, and some helpful tips on what you can do instead Get the most out of each load!

load-dish6Pre-rinsing

Your dishwasher can handle more than you think. As long as you scrape off the big chunks before loading your plates, your dishwasher can suit up and finish the task. Save water and energy – skip the pre-rinse!

load-dishIncorrectly Loading the Top and Bottom Rack

The top rack is for cups, glasses and bowls. Make sure the bowls are all facing inward, towards the center where the water source is. The bottom rack is for plates and heavy-duty items. Make sure your big items like casseroles and serving dishes are on the outside and not blocking the spray. This way, everything gets an even and thorough wash.

load-dish10Overloading Silverware

Jamming the cutlery into the utensil holder prevents your dishwasher from properly cleaning each item – and puts your silverware at risk of getting scratched. Give your utensils some room to breathe!

Not Using a Rinse Aid

Don’t use too much dishwashing detergent in the place of a rinse aid. Too much detergent causes streaks. A rinse aid especially helps when you have hard water, because it prevents water from clinging to your dishes and improves the drying process. No more streaks and spots!

Doing Partially Full or Way Too Full Loads

It’s tempting to wash every dish right away, but try to wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher. You’ll save water, energy, and money! But you don’t want to overload your machine – make sure your dishes aren’t overlapping and preventing other dishes from getting cleaned.