How To Use a Dishwasher Properly

Do you use your dishwasher? It’s not that crazy of a question. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly 20% of U.S. households have a dishwasher but don’t use it.

I went without a dishwasher for 20 years and washed a lot of dishes by hand. So I have to admit, this response is baffling.

Maybe you’re washing dishes as you go, and you just don’t have enough dishes to fill the machine. Or you think dishwashers use a lot of water — which, actually, is not true.

“Studies show that dishwashers use significantly less water and energy than handwashing,” says Haven Polich, product manager at Asko Appliances. Polich says Asko’s dishwashers use three gallons per cycle compared to newer kitchen faucets, which clock in at up to two gallons per minute.

Or maybe you’ve just never really learned how to use a dishwasher properly. They’ve got tons of buttons and cycles, and how do you load them, anyway? I asked Polich and another expert to walk us through the basics.

Note: Specific recommendations may vary slightly based on your dishwasher model. But aside from the newest bells and whistles and eco-friendly technology, using a dishwasher is basically similar across brands.

About the Experts

Haven Polich is a product manager at Asko Appliances, a Scandinavian-inspired luxury kitchen and laundry appliance maker.

Alicia Sokolowski is the president and co-CEO of AspenClean, maker of environmentally-conscious and cruelty-free cleaning products.

Scrape Your Dishes

Nope, you don’t need to rinse them. “Simply scrape off excess food into the trash so larger pieces don’t block the dishwasher’s drain,” Polich says.

Pre-rinsing dishes can actually be counterproductive, Sokolowski says, because dishwasher detergents use enzymes to break down food particles. “If the dishes are already completely cleaned off, then there is nothing left for the detergent to do,” Polich says.

If your dishwasher was made in the 2000s, it likely has a sensor that detects residue levels on your dishes. If your dishwasher is old or not cleaning as well as you’d like, rinsing may be required. Using a reputable dishwasher detergent can make a huge difference, Polich says. Clean the filter periodically, too.

Load the Dishwasher

This isn’t a free-for-all — there’s a definite right and wrong way. Doing things willy-nilly may ruin or break your dishes.

“First, check your dishwasher’s use and care guide,” Polich says. It likely has diagrams showing your dishwasher loaded in multiple configurations. Here are some general guidelines:

What goes in the top rack of the dishwasher?

Cups, mugs, drinking glasses, small bowls and plates, plastic storage containers and large utensils that don’t fit in the utensil tray, according to Polich.

Arrange glasses and cups between the tines, not over them. It’s a better use of space, and Sokolowski says it will “prevent them from flipping over and collecting water.”

Speaking of tines, see if yours are adjustable. Often you can lay them flat to make room for items that don’t fit. Check plastic items to see if they’re dishwasher-safe before loading. “Plastic is hit or miss,” Polich says. So keep it in the top rack, away from the heating element on the bottom.

What goes in the bottom rack?

Plates, larger bowls and dishwasher-safe pots, pans and baking dishes. Silverware usually goes on the bottom, too, although some new dishwashers come with a “third rack” specifically for flatware, which slides out at the very top. (Third racks have specific instructions for loading, so follow your manual’s diagrams.)

Mix up the placement of your silverware to prevent nesting. Polich says it’s more hygienic to load silverware handles up, so when you unload you aren’t grabbing the eating surface. “It’s also a bit safer, [because the] pointed prongs and knives are not facing up,” Polich says.

Place pots and pans face down so water can freely clean and drain the insides, Sokolowski says. Load plates angled slightly downward, with the dirty surfaces facing the middle of the dishwasher. Be sure not to block the sprayer arms, “which contain the jets of water that wash and rinse dishes,” Polich says.

Add Dishwasher Detergent

Use liquid, powder or pods. Make sure the product is formulated for dishwashers. Don’t use the same dish soap you use for handwashing — the suds will overflow into your kitchen. Check the directions on the packaging to see how much to add for your dried food level and water hardness.

Pods are extremely popular because they’re convenient and guesswork-free. But Sokolowski says to consider the environmental impact of single-use packaging, which can contribute to plastic waste. “Choose an eco-friendly brand that earned all the good certifications,” Sokolowski says. AspenClean’s multi-certified pods don’t contain plastics or petroleum.

Most dishwasher detergent compartments are on the door. They feature a main detergent cup, a smaller pre-wash divot to add extra detergent for heavily-soiled loads or hard water, and a compartment for rinse aid.

Consider a rinse aid if you notice your dishes coming out with water spots. “It helps water slide off dishes, instead of forming water droplets that form spots in drying,” Polich says.

Select a Cycle

Cleaning up after a big holiday dinner? Use the Heavy Duty or Pots & Pans cycle.

Had the girls over for a wine party? See if there’s a Glasses cycle that’s lighter than the regular wash.

Other potentials: Quick Wash, Energy Saver and of course, Normal. Some dishwashers, like Asko’s, have a Sanitize or Hygiene cycle for infant bottles and cutting boards.

If you have a top-control dishwasher, the controls will be on the top open edge of the door. Select the cycle and hit start before closing the door. If your controls are on the front face of the door, close the door to choose the cycle. If the seal is broken, here’s the guide for replacing dishwasher seal.

Start the Dishwasher

If you have a top control dishwasher, hit start, then firmly shut the door. That will get things going. For others, push start on the front.

If you forgot to add something, Polich says most dishwashers pause the cycle when you open the door and pick it up again when you close it. But don’t open it too far into the cycle, or there won’t be enough time to clean the added dish. Newer dishwashers often have an indicator light telling you it’s OK to add a dish.

Common Dishwasher Mistakes

• Leaving dirty dishes overnight: Run the dishwasher before you go to bed or you may wake up to a stinky kitchen.
• Improper loading: “Leave space between items to allow water and detergent to reach all surfaces,” Sokolowski says.
• Closing the door when not in use: “It’s best to keep the door slightly open to help promote drying,” Polich says.
• Not scraping off excess food: Get rid of big chunks of food to avoid clogs in the dishwasher drain.

Also, make sure your dishwasher is not installed with an air gap.

FAQs

What kind of dishes should not go in a dishwasher?

Cast iron, wooden cutting boards and utensils, crystal stemware (unless your dishwasher has a special setting), non-stick and aluminum cookware. Also quality kitchen knives, which dull faster from the detergent.

Sources

U.S. Energy Information Administration, Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 2020.

U.S. Geological Survey, How Much Water Do You Use at Home