How to load a dishwasher correctly and not mess it up

Dishwashers save us water, time, and a whole lot of hassle at the end of the day. Not to mention fewer chapped hands. You can imagine the distress and disappointment then that opening up your dishwasher after a cleaning cycle ends only to discover a load of half-cleaned dishes. What the heck!

It all comes down to two things: One, your dishwasher is broken. Or two, you've simply loaded your dishwasher all wrong. Chalk it up to user error and thank the lord that the latter is a lot less expensive to fix than the former. In order to optimize cleaning, there is a right way (and plenty of wrong ways) to put dishes, pans, and utensils into the dishwasher.

We've loaded a lot of dishwashers here at Reviewed, so we know that there’s one place that’s always good to start: The manual. It's where you can find exactly how the designers intended their machines to be loaded. If you tossed away your user’s manual long ago, most manufacturers have them online. (New technology Bosch released in late 2023 means there is no wrong way to load one of its 800 Series dishwashers, thanks to built-in smart cycles and customizations accessed through the helpful Home Connect app.)

How to load a dishwasher correctly

Step 1: Scrape your plates clean

Part of the joy of a dishwasher is that it saves you time and water. To maximize the potential of this, don’t worry about a pre-rinse under the faucet. It wastes water on a job that your dishwasher is equipped for.

But this doesn't mean you can put your dinner leftovers inside the tub like it's a garbage disposal. Bosch, arguably the best dishwasher manufacturer today, notes, you should always to scrape off the larger food scraps into the trash, because food particles can clog up the filter with food and result in debris being left.

Step 2: Separate your dishes

Just like you separate your lights and darks when doing laundry, you should separate your dishes by top-rack or bottom-rack items.

GE has loads of tips and recommends that you reserve the top rack of your dishwasher for glasses, cups, saucers, dishwasher-safe plastics, oversized utensils, saucepans and mixing bowls, and wine glasses, as long as they aren’t tall enough to touch the top of the dishwasher.

On the bottom rack, you’ll want to store all silverware in the caddy, plates, and cookware (think big pots). Keep large items like dishwasher-safe cutting boards, platters, pots and bowls on the sides, in the corners or in the back of the bottom rack. You’ll find that the tines on some dishwasher racks can fold down. This is particularly helpful when loading in pots and pans, rather than plates.

Many dishwashers come with special features to fit specific items that go on top and bottom racks. For example Whirlpool recommends that stemware should be secured with the attached stemware holders so they don’t tip over and break during a cleaning cycle.

Some dishwashers also feature a third rack that is specially designed to get your utensils sparkling clean. This extra rack replaces the need for a traditional cutlery basket. Sure, the cutlery basket is faster to load, but the third rack typically gives a better clean.

Step 3: Place your dishes properly

Once you know where all of your items should go in the dishwasher, focus your attention to which direction your dishes face. Dishes such as plates, which stand up vertically in the dishwasher, should face toward the center and at an angle. Bowls should either be face down or angled at least 45 degrees downward. This helps dishes get the most water streamed at them, while also allowing for proper draining once the drying process begins. You don’t want to unload the dishwasher and be met with bowls filled with water.

Avoid any overlap between the dishes, so there’s plenty of room for water to stream through and effectively wash off messes.

We're divided on utensils that cuddle in the cutlery basket. We maintain that it's necessary to separate them, but some manufacturers, like GE say it is no longer necessary—your everyday utensils can intermingle and will still get plenty clean.

Step 4: Clear the way for the water jets

When loading your dishes, be wary of blocking off the streams of water or the detergent tray. If your detergent tray is on the door of your dishwasher, avoid putting any tall sheet pans or cutting boards right up front, because they can block the detergent from opening during a cycle.

Additionally, keep utensils or mug handles from dangling below the racks, or oversized plates from standing too tall. The arms on your dishwasher that contain the water jets spin during the cycle, so any object that gets in the way will prevent the arms from spinning all the way around and spraying your dishes with water.

An exception to this rule is bottle jets. These water jets are designed specifically to have water bottles, baby bottles, travel mugs, and flutes covering them so that the water can reach the bottom of these vessels for a thorough wash.

Step 5. Don’t overload your dishwasher

It may seem like the answer is to run smaller loads to allow your dishes to get cleaner, but this will just waste water. Always run your dishwasher when it’s full, but not overfilled. A good rule of thumb to know when your dishwasher is ready to run is that you can’t add another item without one dish overlapping another dish.

If you’re looking for a little more guidance, your dishwasher should specify how many place settings it holds. A place setting includes a plate, saucer, mug, cup, small bowl, fork, knife, and spoon. Most dishwashers are between 12 and 14 place settings, so that means the dishwasher can hold between 12 and 14 of each of those items.

Step 6. Add your detergent and start the cycle

Once you’ve loaded your dishwasher with confidence, it’s time to start the cycle. A good detergent will help ensure ultra clean dishes.

We’ve found that detergent pods result in the cleanest washing, but powder can also work for those with hard water.

Once you’ve hit start on the cycle, kick back and relax until your dish cycle is clean, dry and ready to be put away.