Your dishes already get cleaned more deeply and more efficiently when you wash them in a dishwasher instead of your hands, but what else you can do to optimize your dishwashing routine?
These simple tips will reduce your time which will spend on dishwashing!
Clean Your Dishwasher
If you aren’t keeping your dishwasher clean, it won’t be able to keep your dishes clean, either. It’s not tough to do, once you know how! Once a month, check your dishwasher’s filter and clean out any debris and food particles that may be stuck in there. Wipe down those hard to reach places, like spray arms and door seals, then run a cycle on the hottest setting, with only a cup full of white vinegar on the upper rack. Vinegar is a great food-safe cleaner, and it both disinfects and deodorizes your dishwasher, keeping it running at peak conditions and making sure your dishes come out clean as can be every time.
Load it Correctly
Loading your dishwasher the right way is another small thing you can do to optimize your dishwasher’s cleaning power. Find the right balance of full but not overfilled, and arrange your dishes in such a way that it doesn’t obstruct the flow of water to other areas of the dishwasher. Here’s the Cliffsnotes version of proper dishwasher loading technique:
Plates and large serving dishes should go on the bottom rack, but not all facing the same direction. Plates near the front of the machine should be pointing toward the back, and the ones in the back should be pointing forward, so water can flow more easily between dishware. Cups and bowls should always go on the upper rack, and whether you have a dedicated third rack of silverware or a bottom-rack bin, make sure the spoons and forks don’t “nest,” trapping dirt and food particles between them. See, not too complicated!
Of course, we’re giving all the advice above assuming your dishwasher is up to date and equipped with the latest technology. The older your dishwasher, the more inefficiently it’s sure to run. Older models have less accurate soil-sensing technology, less powerful spray jets, and use several times more water per cycle. So don’t risk it with your dishes! If your dishwasher is over 10 years old or just doesn’t seem to be giving your dishes the kind of clean you need, stop in and ask one of our appliance experts the best way to upgrade.
