Today, we’re going to dive deep into the world of dishwashing. Now, some of you may be thinking, “How can data help me better load a dishwasher? You just throw everything in and press a button!” But oh, if only it were that simple. There is both a scientific method and an art to the proper loading of a dishwasher. Also, a preface that if your spouse, partner, parent, or roommate has a “better method” that could result in an argument, abandon all advice and just do what they ask.
1. The pre-rinse
First things first: newer dishwashers claim they’ve made the pre-rinse obsolete (the convenient outcome is, of course, you buy more dishwashers more often). But it’s a hard habit to break and in our experience you should still give your dishes a good pre-rinse before loading them into the dishwasher, otherwise crumbs end up in the bottom of the machine and it’s kind of gross… better safe than sorry, folks. On average, you can expect to pay $0.189 per wash cycle. At 5 cycles per week, that’s roughly $3.78 per month and $45.36 per year to run a dishwasher. That’s a whole lot cheaper than paying your tween weekly allowance!
2. Tetris time
Now comes the fun part: loading the dishwasher itself. It’s like a game of Tetris, but with dishes instead of blocks. And just like in Tetris, the key is to maximize your space by fitting everything in as snugly as possible. Bowls? Stack ’em on the dish rack. Cups? Nest ’em with skinner glasses next to wider ones. Plates? Line ’em up. Just make sure they’re not touching each other, or else you’ll end up with a whole load of dishes that are only half-cleaned.
3. Don’t be a hater
One common mistake people make when loading a dishwasher is hating on certain types of dishes. “Oh, I can’t put that in the dishwasher, it’s too delicate,” they’ll say. Or, “I can’t put that in there, it’s too big.” But here’s the thing: dishwashers are like the Switzerland of the kitchen. They’re neutral territory. They don’t discriminate against any type of dish. So go ahead and load up those fancy wine glasses (uhm, whatever; wine glasses break in our dishwasher all the time – it’s the dishwasher’s fault) or that giant lasagna dish. Your dishwasher can handle it. Just avoid putting wooden spoons or cutting boards in the dishwasher because they can get water logged and split apart.
4. Unconventional loading methods
On average, the typical dishwasher can wash between 10 and 16 place settings. This is roughly the same as 100 to 160 items of various shapes and sizes. Sometimes, in order to fit everything in, you have to get a little creative with your loading methods. For example, did you know that you can actually fit more spoons in the utensil holder if you alternate which way they’re facing (up and down people; no jokes about spooning your neighbor!)? Or that you can fit more coffee cups on the top rack if you angle the handles slightly? These little hacks might seem like minor adjustments, but they can make a big difference in maximizing your dishwasher’s cleaning power.
5. The finishing touch
Finally, once everything is loaded in, it’s time to add the finishing touch: a good squirt (hehe, you said “squirt”) of dishwashing detergent. Don’t be shy – add a little extra if you want to really make sure everything gets cleaned. And once that’s done, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax, and let your dishwasher work its magic.
There you have it, folks – the proper way to load a dishwasher for optimal cleaning. Now go forth and put your newfound knowledge to use. And always remember: loading a dishwasher isn’t just a chore, it’s an art form. Practice daily. And let us know if this helped resolve any household tension.
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