If you place the dishes in a dishwasher properly you can be sure they will be perfectly clean. What is more, the proper loading of the dishwasher is necessary if you want to save on your household bills.
The dishwasher relieves us from the daily and often hated chore of washing dishes by hand. Not everyone realizes it but the proper loading of the dishes in a dishwasher lets you achieve the best washing results.
Basic rules for successful loading of the dishwasher
To ensure that your dishes are perfectly clean after taking them out of the dishwasher you have to follow some of the simple rules concerning the proper placing of the dishes in the dishwasher. The first most important rule applies to the quantity of dishes – on no account should you overload the dishwasher. This can damage this appliance. Before putting the dishes into the dishwasher you have to wash all dirt such as stones from fruit, bones and other food residues off the plates. Do not allow plates to touch each other or stack items on each other. This may cause scratching during the washing cycle and besides it stops the detergent solution from washing effectively. Always place the dishes in a dishwasher according to their size. The smallest items shall be put into the top basket. Large pots and plates must be loaded in the lower basket. The similar rule applies to the soil level of the dishes to be washed. Always load lightly soiled items in the top basket, the most heavily soiled ones in the lower basket. Make sure that all the items are placed in the dishwasher in the way that will not block the moving parts of the dishwasher. First of all, you shall ensure that no item is placed in a position that will prevent the spray arm from rotating freely.
Top basket
Always load in the top basket fragile and small items such as: cups, mugs, small plates, glasses, saucers. Light dishes as well as knives, cutlery and kitchen utensils shall also be placed in the top basket. You shall also remember to place them flat and in a stable way. One more loading hint which is important – do not allow cutlery made of different metals such as stainless steel and silver to come into contact in the cutlery basket. This will speed up the rusting process of the cutlery. The top basket is the place where you should load lightly soiled dishes.
You should also pay attention to loading the dishes in such a way that they do not move while being exposed to the powerful stream of water. This also prevents the possible damage to the items.
Lower basket
In the first place the lower basket is designed for loading large dishes and items such as: pots, frying pans, deep plates, lids or platters. This is also the place suitable for loading most heavily soiled dishes because the items located there get more intensive treatment. You should also keep the taller items to the sides because in this position the dishes will not prevent the spray arm from rotating freely. Make sure that such deep items like pots are upside down. All other items shall be placed on a slant so that the water can run off.
Plan ahead the proper loading of the dishwasher
The correct loading of the dishes in the dishwasher allows you to use 100% of the dishwasher space. Thanks to that you can be sure that the dishwasher delivers you the superior washing results. The dishes to be washed must be placed in the dishwasher in a stable way and in proper position.
Do not place in the dishwasher items which are extremely fragile and breakable as well as items which are glued, made of wood or plastic food containers which are not dishwasher safe. Do not allow to load in the dishwasher hand painted china with delicate decorations, jars with labels, candle holders and valuable items.
You should also remember about adjusting an appropriate program for each washing cycle. We choose it according to the fragility of dishes and their soil level. The most comfortable option is choosing the automatic program which will adjust on its own the length and temperature of the wash cycle.
