This is the best way to stack your dishwasher, according to science!
In our own exclusive research, a whopping 53% of you say that not stacking the dishwasher properly is your biggest bugbear - but just what is the best way to stack a dishwasher?
Katie Mortram is a Good Housekeeping expert, having tested dishwashers for five years, and she’s ready to settle the debate once and for all, so you can cram as much in there as possible, with the same squeaky clean results!
What is the best way to stack the dishwasher?
Dinner plates should be closely stacked together. Bowls need wider-spaced tines to make sure water can access them. Pots and pans should be at the bottom too, face down, with tall glasses and teacups towards the edge on the upper rack.
What are your top tips for the best stacking technique?
Katie says to always make sure items aren’t touching for the water to flow and wash effectively. Face everything towards the centre of the dishwasher for the best performance.
Don't forget to check the spray arm (spinner) can rotate freely before you run a cycle, and make sure it isn’t blocked.
Do you really need to rinse before putting dishes into the dishwasher?
Apparently not, according to Katie! 'There’s no need to rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher as it’s a waste of water, time and money.' she says.
Dishwashers are advanced enough that they can clean stubborn marks and grease without rinsing anything!
What is the most cost-effective way to use the dishwasher?
Always run it at full capacity and make sure it’s loaded correctly so you don’t need to re-wash items. Running it at less than full capacity means you will be running additional cycles in the long run.
Can everything go into a dishwasher?
Avoid anything wooden, as it will swell, warp and crack from the moisture.
Keep kitchen knives out too, even if they say they’re dishwasher safe. The abrasiveness of the detergent will dull the blade and these are prone to rust because of the hardness of the steel used.
Keep cheese graters out for the same reasons; the intricate design is unlikely to be cleaned thoroughly on top of this.
Other items to keep out include traditional cast iron, copper, crystalware and fine china.
What are some things you might not know you can wash in a dishwasher?
Microwave glass turntables are generally fine, as are metal cooker hood filters. Oven shelves can sometimes be washed in here too as can some cleaning tools, plastic combs and even kids plastic toys, but always check they’re suitable first!