Washing Dishes in the Dishwasher

Washing dishes is one of the most dreaded kitchen chores, which means that many people tend to rush through it. "Doing the dishes" haphazardly can result in a poor cleaning job. Thoroughly cleaning all dishes is important for both sanitary and aesthetic reasons.

Below are some steps from WikiHow on using dishwashers to get the best results:

1. Scrape off as much of the food as possible into the disposal, rather than get your dishwasher clogged with it. Definitely remove things like bones, corncobs, seeds, and peelings, etc.
2. Pre-rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Dry food will not wash away.
3. Avoid letting food dry on the dishes. Use warm, soapy water and a scrub brush when necessary to remove stuck on food.
4. Proteins such as eggs and cheese; cooked- or baked-on foods; and starches that have dried onto the dish often require extra attention. Fill these items with warm, soapy water and let them soak before placing them in the dishwasher.
5. Learn as you use your dishwasher what generally comes off and what does not. Proteins such as eggs and cheese; cooked- or baked-on foods; and starches that have dried onto the dish often require extra attention. Fill these items with warm, soapy water and let them soak before placing them in the dishwasher.
6. The dishwasher detergent can make as much difference as to how much pre-rinsing you have to do as the dishwasher, and it's the easier thing to replace. Read reviews or simply try other brands when you run out to find one that works best for you.
7. Insert the plates into the slots in the bottom section of the dishwasher. Face them toward the center and, if they lean at all, lean them inwards and downwards. Try to keep all surfaces separated and accessible to the stream of water from the sprayers.
8. Place the cups, glasses, and bowls in the top section of the dishwasher. Stack the bowls neatly on an incline, so that the washing solution can reach inside the bowl and so that they will drain.
9. Place Tupperware and other plastic items on the top rack. Because the heating element in most dishwashers is on the bottom, placing plastic items in the bottom rack could cause them to melt or warp.
10. Place the various pots and pans open-side down in the bottom section of the dishwasher.
11. Place utensils with handles down in the utensil baskets in the bottom section of the dishwasher.
12. Lay larger serving utensils horizontally across the top section of the dishwasher. Arrange serving spoons with the bowl facing down so that water does not collect in them.
13. Don't wash good cooking knives in the dishwasher. Sharp knives are often dulled by the washing cycle by rubbing against other items. Wash good knives by hand, especially if they have wooden handles.
14. Mix up different kinds of utensils in the utensil baskets to prevent several of the same item from nesting in one another and blocking the water.
15. Place cutting boards on the very outside of the bottom section of the dishwasher if they will not fit in the slots designated for plates.
16. Fill the soap container on the bottom section of the dishwasher with powdered dishwasher detergent. Fill to the designated line.
17. Filling the second soap container (often an open one) may not be necessary. The dishwasher manufacturer and detergent companies usually recommend it, but if your results are satisfactory without it, save yourself the extra detergent. Or, fill the second cup only if the dishes are very dirty. Try it both ways.
18. If your dishwasher has a feature for a rinse agent such as "Jet-Dry" or vinegar, fill with rinse agent to designated line. This will help to reduce water spots, especially if you have hard water. The rinse aid may not need refilling every time you run the dishwasher, but do top it off every couple of weeks to a month, or according to the instruction manual.
19. Make sure breakables do not touch, since the dishes can vibrate during the washing cycles.
20. Check before each run that spinning arms can spin freely and that there is nothing obstructing tubes or sprayers. Also, make sure that the detergent cups can open fully.
21. Run the garbage disposal before running your dishwasher. Dishwashers often drain into the same pipe as the sink, so it's important that the pipe be clear. If you don't have a garbage disposal, use a strainer in the sink drain to stop crumbs and debris from accumulating in the pipe.
22. Run hot water into your sink until the water coming out of the tap is hot. Dishwashers can heat up the water somewhat, but they usually work best when the water starts hot. If water is scarce, run the water into a container and use it to water plants.
23. Close the door to the dishwasher and start the dishwasher, using the instructions for your particular dishwasher. Generally, you must select a cycle and fully close and latch the door.