13 Dishwasher Mistakes to Avoid

Dishwashers are incredible machines that remove the need to manually wash your dishes, saving you time, money, and even water. For some couples, it can even help the relationship, preventing fights over whose turn it is to do the dishes. However, if you’ve ever had to re-wash some dishes after their run through the machine, you might be making one of these 13 dishwasher mistakes:

1. Washing by hand

If you want your dishes to be clean and not just look clean – use a dishwasher. The machine uses very hot water to clean the dishes and often wastes less water than you would for washing the same amount of dishes.

2. Scrubbing too much

Getting rid of the bigger chunks of food is better for the dishwasher, but scrubbing the dishes actually prevents the detergent from cleaning them properly, as counterintuitive as it sounds. Just scrub off the larger bits, and leave some grime for your machine to clean – it’s better for both the dishes and the dishwasher.

3. Using the wrong detergent

Liquid detergents can clog the dishwasher pipes and often leave a film of detergent on the dishes even after the cycle’s done. Powdered detergents are the only kind recommended.

4. Using homemade detergents

You may want to save money, or be more “green”, but your homemade detergents are ruining your machine. Sure, they may have fewer chemicals, but they can leave an unappealing film over your dishes, and even damage your dishes and dishwasher.

5. Loading graters, peelers, and knives

If you want it to keep its edge – don’t wash it in the dishwasher. Sharp edges become dull quickly because of the detergents and salt. It’s better to wash these by hand.

6. Running a half-empty load

It’s wasteful, and the free space lets things move around, increasing the chances of breakage.

7. Overloading the racks

Don’t overload the racks as well. If the dishes aren’t properly placed, they won’t be cleaned properly, forcing you to run the machine again anyway.

8 Not facing bowls the right way

Bowls belong on the top rack, and should face towards the middle, so the water jets clean them correctly.

9. Leaving knives pointing up

This is not about cleanliness, but about safety. No one wants to get cut, so be careful and mind how you place the knives in the washer.

10. Washing things that aren’t dishwasher safe

Wood splits because of the water and heat, delicate glasses can break and leave you with a dangerous mess to clean, some metals will be ruined because of the water and salts… If your dishes don’t say “dishwasher safe” – it probably isn’t.

11. Putting glasses over the prongs on the top rack

The prongs are there to prevent your cups and glasses from moving about, not as extra support. Additionally, if your glasses lean on the prongs, they may get prong marks.

12. Not cleaning the dishwasher

Every dishwasher has a food-trap – a section that traps larger pieces of food and grime to prevent blockage. This trap should be cleaned at least once a week to prevent mold and rotting smells from forming in your machine. Additionally, grab a glass bowl and fill it with a cup of vinegar, add one spoon of baking soda and run it on a normal (hot) cycle.

13. Separating the silverware

You may think you’re supposed to put each type in a different compartment, but the truth is that for the best cleaning – you should mix the forks and spoons to prevent them from nesting.