How to correctly load your dishwasher! Tips and tricks for an efficient clean whilst avoiding common mistakes...

This week we’re in my kitchen talking all about loading the dishwasher correctly! Needless to say, I shall be showing this one to my husband Sigh!

So we have our beloved Miele dishwasher in the kitchen. Miele appliances are an investment, but if you can manage to I do advise investing as they are just so worth it. The efficiency of their dishwasher, washing machines and hoovers just can’t be rivalled in my opinion!

We’ve had our Miele dishwasher for almost 9 years now, we use it twice a day at least and it has never once let us down. It’s such an amazing bit of kit!

If you’re ever at the point of remodelling or building your kitchen, do think about utilising the space to ensure you have the dishwasher, cutlery/dinnerware drawers, sink and bin in relatively close proximity. This makes it so much easier to scrape and rinse dishes, wash and put away.

Some dishwashers come with the cutlery area at the top, but I much prefer to have a cutlery basket so you can remove it and walk it over to the correct drawers to pop it all away.

It’s important to look after your dishwasher so it looks after you - I take the filter out of the bottom once a week and give it a good clean. This ensures that you’re not washing dirt and grime around the machine, completely defeating the object of the wash!

I use Finish All In One tablets for our washes. They are slightly more expensive than other products, but you don’t need to use rinse aid or salt with them, so you’re saving some pennies (and product packaging!) there. They do such a great job at washing, so do give them a whirl next time if you can!

Now onto the loading!

You will find that your dishwasher is already set up with different sized areas to stack, so take a good look at what is on offer. Small plates can go in amongst the areas with the shortest ‘slots’, taller slots work for bigger plates. Mugs, bowls and glasses can sit comfortably facing down in the angled sections, often in the top half of the dishwasher.

Baking trays and chopping boards can be slipped into the back or side of the dishwasher so as not to interfere with the spinning washer arms. Larger plates can also be popped at the back for the same reason. I like to slip my sheets of Bacoglide in-between chopping boards to keep it upright and ensure the best clean.

Large sharp knives, lids and utensils ca be placed onto the fold-down shelf on the top tray. Do ensure nothing can slip downwards as this can interfere with the washing.

Smaller sharp knives I pop into the cutlery basket but facing down for safety. Other knives forks and spoons go face up for optimum cleaning. If your cutlery basket has holes around the edge, these can be utilised for teaspoons to make the best use of space.

It’s important to use the space well but not overfill or put things on top of one another, they just won’t wash! Then you’ll be leaving them in there for another round, wasting time, products and energy! If you have a lot of bits to clean, just do it in two loads.

Once you’re satisfied with your load and have ensured nothing can fall out or is hitting the washer arms, it’s time to pop your tablet into the appropriate section.

A word of warning! If you ever run out of dishwasher tablets, do NOT use washing up liquid! You will create an enormous bubble machine, and you risk breaking your dishwasher entirely. Please it takes many, many washes to get rid of the bubble solution once it’s in there! Just don’t do it!

As for settings, I never use the hottest ‘pots and pans’ setting of ours. I find that the 50 program more than suffices and ensures that everything is washed perfectly. It also lessens any risk of damage. I could use the 40 setting, but I find that that wash is over too quickly and not as effective.

When the wash is over, it’s useful to have a tea towel to hand so you can buff away any condensation or dampness from glasses to avoid potential watermarks and ensure a good shine!

So there we have it! There is a real knack to using the dishwasher efficiently and I hope you’ve found this helpful!

Love,