There are many people who discuss how to properly load dishes into the dishwasher, are you one of them?
Morning TV show “This Morning” tackles some of the most controversial debates about how to wash dishes.
Today's show featured Good Housekeeping's Katie Mortram, who has been testing dishwashers for five years, as she explained how to stack dishes correctly and what items you should and shouldn't wash in the dishwasher, including hair combs and cheese graters.
According to Katie, the distance between the teeth is a good indicator of which items belong in which part of the machine.
Speaking of the lower shelves, Katie said: [tines] The ones closer together are basically for dinner plates and side plates, while the ones a bit more widely spaced are for soup plates, bowls, and larger items.
Good Housekeeping's Katie Mottram (pictured left) debunked dishwasher myths on This Morning today (presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard pictured centre and right).
“So if it's a little wider, it gives you more room for the thickness of your items.”
She said that plates and bowls, as well as pots and pans, should be stored on the bottom shelf and never on the top shelf.
Katie explains why: “The heating element is lower and there's more water pressure from the lower spray, so basically, you're getting the best performance on the bottom rack.”
“So you want to aim downwards, toward the center, if possible.”
As for whether you should rinse your dishes before putting them in, Kate said there's no point and that just scrubbing the dishes first is enough.
She explained: “Rinsing is basically a waste of water, time and money. Dishwashers are advanced enough now that they basically get rid of all the grease and sauces in one cycle, so you're just wasting time and effort.” [if you rinse].
Another widely debated dishwasher topic she addressed was the question of whether cutlery should be placed with the handles facing up or down.
Katie says ideally you'd add the third shelf that some dishwashers have on the top, then use two further deep shelves underneath.
Speaking on This Morning today, Katie (pictured) said you need to leave gaps between all your items so water can flow between them and clean them properly.
When using the machine's cutlery basket, it appears to be designed so that the knives and forks face up, she said.
But Katie pointed out: “Alternate spoon movements, especially up and down, to discourage nesting and keep the water flowing and clean.”
Other tips include keeping items at least a little distance apart, says Katie.
“You don't want it to come into contact with anything, so the water can go through and get clean. [everything] Neatly.'
Another tip, which Katie says she “can't stress enough,” is to once you're done loading, “always pull out the top rack and make sure the spray arms rotate fully and aren't being obstructed in any way.”
Finally, she covered what can and can't be washed in the dishwasher.
Katie said that while you should check what brands say about whether a product is dishwasher safe, there are some products that you should never put in the dishwasher.
These include items made from cast iron, copper, crystal, and fine ceramics. Also, keep sharp knives and cheese graters away from the machine.
Dishwashers can dull any sharp blades, so you should hand wash them to extend their useful life, and cheese graters can be difficult to clean thoroughly due to their intricate design.
Katie said: “Dishwasher detergent dulls the blades… and [with cooking knives] Due to the hardness of the steel, it rusts more easily than regular stainless steel cutlery.
This Morning presenters Cat Deeley (pictured left) and Ben Shephard (pictured right) are talking in today's segment about how to load your dishwasher.
She adds: “And… putting sharp objects in the dishwasher can also cut through the rubber coating on the basket, damaging the dishwasher.”
Wooden items should also be hand washed and should never be put in the washing machine as high temperatures can cause the wood to expand and crack, she said.
Items like microwave turntables and cleaning supplies may be machine washable, following the brand's instructions.
As for non-kitchen items, Katie says there are some things you can put in the dishwasher, like plastic toys (again, as long as they're labeled as such).
She even suggested that as long as the comb is made of hard plastic and states it's machine washable, you can even put it in the dishwasher.
