Are you tired of playing dishwasher tetris every night?
Are you frustrated by the crusty results your dishwasher
delivers on a regular basis?
Are you embarrassed because you just ruined that thing that
you weren't supposed to put in the dishwasher?
Well then, this video is for you.
This has to be one of the most requested topics here at Clean My Space.
So here's my by the books method on how to load a dishwasher.
Here are some basic tips before we get into loading.
For starters, make sure you're using the right detergent
for your machine and ideally using a rinse aid too.
The rinse aid helps get dishes clean by preventing spotting and film,
and it also removes any of those cling-ons before they get baked
onto your dishes during the drying cycle.
Now, you can sub vinegar in for your rinse aid,
but that's not surprising, is it? Vinegar is freaking awesome.
Now, for detergent, my advice is just to test various ones out
and see which one suits your needs and your machine.
Plan to run your dishwasher overnight to save on your electricity bills,
but I'm sure your electricity company has told you this before.
This can also help establish a really good routine at home.
Run at night, empty in the morning. Run at night, empty in the morning.
Throw some coffee, some children, and some work in there,
and you got yourself a day. If you live in an area
with hard water, I've discovered that there are some detergents designed
with special water softeners to fight hard water deposits on your dishes.
Here's some newish news. Since many detergent brands have taken
phosphates out of their formulas and replaced them with enzymes,
the dishwasher can now be used with hot or cold water.
So we used to run the hot water, but now we don't have to do that.
Enzymes work either way, so feel free to use cold water and save energy.
If you have a garbage disposal, give it a few buzzes
before running through your load. That way you clear out the drain
and ensure nothing gets transferred into the dishwasher from your food thinger.
Food thinger. [laughs] [Chad] The words are right here. [laughs]
If you have a garbage disposal,
give it a few buzzes before running through your load.
That way you clear out the drain and ensure nothing
gets transferred from there into the dishwasher.
Here are a few best practices for your consideration.
Work with the tines to maximize your space and follow their direction
for optimal and maximum load.
Keep all items facing down. This helps improve water flow,
decreases drying time, and helps avoid that nasty, pooling water.
The bottom rack is always going to be hotter than the top rack,
so anything plastic always goes on top.
Make sure the water arm can turn freely, or else you won't have a good wash.
And for a list of items that are not dishwasher safe as well as some
other great dishwashing tips, you should check out
this video that we did a couple of years ago.
But just to let you know a couple of really important things not to put
in the dishwasher include wooden items and insulated mugs.
So remember to check this video out and do your homework.
Let's tie it all together now with how I load my dishwasher.
I line larger items, like cutting boards and platters,
along the exterior of the bottom rack.
I load bowls on an angle, where possible, to save space
and allow exposure to water and proper drainage.
I stagger large and small plates to allow
for better water flow and increased exposure.
Where possible, try to stagger your cutlery.
Keep sharper knives facing down where possible.
Certain pots and pans can go down here if needed.
Now, on top for stemware I use the safety rack.
Not all dishwashers have these, but if yours does have one
and you didn't know what it was for, now you do.
Mugs and glasses face down. I try to place them between the tines
and nothing touching so that nothing vibrates and cracks mid-wash.
Utensils are laid flat and facing down.
For everything else I didn't mention, I normally
just play tetris till I can't fit in anything else.
But remember, don't overcrowd the dishwasher because food gets caught,
and that's when things can get nasty.
So, my friends, share this with your partner, children, friends, or roommates
and let's all get on the same page about loading the dishwasher once and for all.
Tell me Clean My Space nation: What's your biggest dishwasher challenge?
Or maybe you have some secret dishwashing tips that I didn't mention in this video.
Let me know in the comments down below, because I would love to hear from you.
There's a button down there that let's me know you care.
So click it if you liked this video, and click this button right here
to subscribe and begin your journey to a cleaner life.
Thanks so much for watching, and we'll see you next time.
By the way, I have a whole other video on 10 dishwasher tips.
I even have a video about hand washing dishes.
And you can see them right over here, along with some other things, like a
subscribe button and a reminder to visit CleanMySpace.com.
Oh, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram.
I'm @MelissaMaker. He's @TheChadReynolds,
and we are @CleanMySpace. We'll see you soon.