Most of us were well-equipped by our mothers and grandmothers for the fundamentals of home-keeping, and the information they gave us was valuable and relevant. However, times change, and so does technology. The dishwashers of old are vastly different from the dishwashers of today.
Here is how to load the smart appliances we own today.
Top rack
The top rack is best for drinking glasses, mugs and bowls. Anything glass or plastic should go here as well as items that could be sensitive to the high temperatures on the bottom.
The tines built into the dishwasher racks are not intended to be anchors but dividers. Do not rest dishes over the tines. Instead, position glasses in next to the tines and bowls in between, facing downward.
Bottom rack
The bottom rack is best for large items such as: dinner plates, casserole dishes, pots and pans, and serving platters. Place large, flat items like cookie sheets and platters toward the back so that do not block the water spray from the other dishes. Load plates together by size, with the food side facing inward, toward the spray.
Silverware bucket
Group like pieces together to save sorting time when unloading. Place some spoons pointing upward and others pointing downward to prevent nesting. Always load knives handle up for safety.
Do not put these items in your dishwasher:
Note: Clean dishes signal to your machine to shorten its cycle, reducing performance. Instead of rinsing, scrape away large pieces of food, particularly spinach, egg, yogurt and pasta. Place them neatly in the racks and let the machine do the work.
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