A dishwasher expert has outlined the correct way to load dirty dishes for maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
Dmitry Letsman from Hotpoint Appliances spoke to FEMAIL about how to best stack your dishwasher to ensure the cleanest dishes while saving the most time and money.
Scrape off excess food
Before loading dirty food into the dishwasher, you should take the time to properly scrape excess food from the dishes and check to see if the dish needs a quick rinse before placing it in the washing machine to avoid stains.
Dmitry warns to only rinse if necessary to avoid wasting more water and energy.
Rinsing dishes unnecessarily before washing them can defeat the purpose of having a dishwasher, which is to clean dishes effectively using the least amount of energy and water.
Sort items
‘A useful tip is to group similar items together, as this makes downloading easier and saves time. For example, plates with plates, bowls with bowls,” Dmitri said.
Dmitry warns that you should only rinse if necessary to avoid wasting extra water and energy.
Hotpoint home appliances’ Dmitry Letsman spoke to FEMAIL about how to best stack your dishwasher to ensure your dishes get as clean as possible.
Bottom grille
The bottom rack is where you load larger, heavier items such as pots, pans and mixing bowls. ‘Place them upside down to allow for thorough cleaning and draining.’
Dmitry explains that Hotpoint dishwashers are a game-changer as they have an additional third rack with integrated water jets for cutlery, cups, bowls and taller items, allowing you to get more out of each cycle.
Cutlery basket
‘To ensure thorough cleaning, organize cutlery by type to avoid overlapping. Alternate forks and spoons to avoid piling up and optimize wash cycle performance.’
Upper grille
The top rack is the place for glasses, cups and small bowls; Make sure the glasses are angled to allow water to drain properly.
utensil holder
Larger utensils, such as serving spoons, can be placed on the sides of the top rack if they do not fit in the cutlery basket.
Make sure the spray arms are clear
Check that there are no objects obstructing the spray arms, which will make the final result much less clean.
check stability
Dmitry also says it’s a good idea to make sure items are securely located and don’t move around during the cycle, as this is where damage or improper cleaning can occur.
Detergent placement
Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for where the detergent should be placed, which is usually in the designated dispenser.
Experts recommend placing the detergent in the designated dispenser.
Despite expert opinion, many people still disagree.
To rinse or not to rinse is one of Dmitry’s most controversial suggestions.
Another expert argued that pre-rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher can actually make them dirtier, as modern dishwashers have built-in sensors to detect dirt particles before spraying them with a sufficiently strong amount of water.
A TikTok video viewed by 7.4 million people that also recommended not rinsing dishes first sparked widespread outrage online.
One user agreed that washing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher is certainly a waste of time and water, but insisted that not rinsing them properly first would only clog the drain.
Others mentioned that the smell of a dishwasher with dishes that were not properly rinsed first is disgusting.
Many agreed with one woman who said: ‘Yeah, that’s a no for me. ‘It’s not clean if you don’t wash it before you use the dishwasher.’
Another point of contention among dishwasher users is where to put the detergent.
Many people refuse to put it in the dishwasher dispenser and simply throw it at the bottom of the dishwasher, as they believe it will end up there anyway.
‘It’s only okay to throw it at the bottom in quick wash, since it doesn’t do a pre-wash. Everyone else should go in the dispenser,” one man advised.
However, many insisted on using only the exclusive dispenser.
As to whether to use the dispenser or not, one woman jokes: “Do I believe the company that designed and built my appliance or anyone on social media?” Mmmm, let’s see…’