10 dishwasher do's and don'ts

The dishwasher is the source of more family debates than any other appliance-maybe because it truly is an equal opportunity machine: Everybody in the house knows how to load and unload one. It's time to talk dishwasher etiquette.

1. Don't pre-rinse your dishes before loading.
Pre-rinsing can waste up to 20 gallons of water and cause your machine to clean less effectively. Today's detergents are designed to attack food particles, so if dishes are rinsed clean, the detergent may abrade glassware instead. Just scrape food scraps off plates and bowls instead of rinsing.

2. Do load systematically according to manufacturer's instructions.
The most effective way to load the washer is with plates in the bottom rack facing in toward the sprayer unit, glasses along the sides of the top rack, and flatware in the utensil basket or on the top utensil rack. Nesting dishes or flatware to pack in more will not allow spray to clean them fully.

3. Do use a rinse agent.
Rinse agents help water to clean off dishes, leaving fewer water spots and allowing them to dry more quickly.

4. Don't use too much detergent.
Too much soap can scratch glassware. All-in-one tabs have been prove to be more effective than regular detergent and counteract the effects of hard water.

5. Do wash with the lightest cycle possible.
If your last load contained dishes from a big spaghetti dinner complete with pots and pans, remember to reset the controls back to normal after the heavy-wash cycle. You'll save water and electricity.

HOW TO: organise your draws
HOW TO: fold the perfect t-shirt
HOW TO: make the ultimate potato salad

6. Do check for clogged components.
If you dishes aren't coming out as clean as usual, the dishwasher filter might need to be cleaned or there may be food particles in the nozzles of the spray arms.

7. Don't run unless full.
Running a half-empty dishwasher is a waste of electricity and water. If you have a newer model with a "top rack wash only" option, it will improve the efficiency of smaller loads.

8. Don't block the rotating spray arm.
The spray arm is located in the center of the base of the machine. Items such as pot handles and long utensils can obstruct its function. You can manually spin to check before running the dishwasher. Also, make sure larger items such as cutting boards or cookie sheets aren't blocking the detergent dispenser.

9. Don't wash wood, leaded crystal, antique china, or cast iron.
Wooden items can discolor and warp in a dishwasher. Some types of leaded crystal will etch with repeated washings. Hand-painted glaze may fade and gold leaf/gilt can discolor and fade. Cast iron may rust. When in doubt about a particular item, check with the manufacturer.

10. Do use the dishwasher instead of hand washing.
You save more water putting your items in the dishwasher than washing them by hand.

Do you have a dish washing tip you want to share? We would love to here it.

Follow us on twitter
'Like' us on facebook
Sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter