Tips for loading and cleaning your dishwasher

A dishwasher can be a huge timesaver in the kitchen. Without one, you will be left doing one of the most hated chores manually – washing the dishes. Needless to say, you don’t want to invest that much time and effort in this after every meal. Thus, it is a good idea to acquire a dishwasher and also take good care of it. After all, the machine itself will need some cleaning and proper maintenance, if you wish to ensure that it does its job well. You also need to learn how to properly load it so that you can see the results as you take out the squeaky-clean dishes and glasses from it. To find out all about kitchen cleaning hacks, read our blog on the topic. However, in this guide, you will find a few clever tips in regards to placing dishes, so that you can take the washing experience to a whole new level. 

Loading the dishwasher doesn’t have to be a chore 

• When placing glasses and cups on the top side, make sure to put them at a slight angle. Otherwise, the water will miss the insides, leaving them rather messy. 
• Pretty much all dishwashers spray from the centre out. That is where the sprays and hoses are located. For this reason, it is a good idea to line up your plates in the bottom half of the machine, facing towards the centre area. Additionally, ensure that the dishes are not touching each other or covering some of the parts since that will prevent a thorough wash. 
• The top shelf is not as hot as the rest of the machine. That is why it is a good idea to place any plastic containers and items there. Before you do that, however, you need to ensure that the items can tolerate the heat of the machine, so make sure to check manufacturer guidelines. 
• Always place your cutlery and smaller items in a basket inside the dishwasher, but make sure you are not overcrowding them. For example, you have to spread the spoons so that they don’t end up sheltering one another from the water jets. 
• It is a good idea to hand-wash wooden cutting boards, instead of placing them inside the dishwasher. They can easily get damaged there, and that is not something you want. 

How to use your dishwasher properly

• Wait till you fill the dishwasher, instead of wasting water and energy on part-full cycles. 
• Do a quick hand-wash of especially dirty dishes before tossing them in the dishwasher. 
• Skip the drying cycle if possible. Heating and drying take a lot of energy, and you will be doing the environment favour this way. 
• See if it is not better to hand-wash big items, like mixing bowls, pots and pans, instead of placing them in the dishwasher. They take up quite a lot of space inside and may increase the number of cycles you have to run. 

The cleaning process for your dishwasher

• First, clear the drain. Empty the dishwasher and remove the racks. Check out the drain area, as food and gunk often accumulate there. This will not only improve drainage but also up to the cleaning efficiency and prevent damage. 
• Clean with vinegar. Pour a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl and place it on the top rack. Run a hot water cycle through the machine. Thanks to the vinegar, you can expect to deal with the grime and musty odours. 
• Clean with baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom and run a short hot cycle. This will remove any unpleasant odours from the dishwasher. 

Now that you know of these tricks, you can take better care of your dishwasher and have better success with it. 

© Top TD Cleaning Company