Top Money Saving Tips for Loading the Dishwasher Properly

One of the most important things to remember when loading your dishwasher is to use the right type of detergent. But did you know that the way you load your dishwasher can make a huge difference in saving you money and time, especially during the busy holiday season? These are the top tips to help you with saving not only money, but also saving time when loading your dishwasher.

Pre-rinsing isn't always necessary

Most dishwashers available on the market today, are more than equipped to handle even the dirtiest stuck on food, so pre-rinsing may not be necessary.

Did you know that the pre-rinsing cycle can waste up to 6,500 gallons of water in a year? Not to mention the energy it needs to heat the water for the pre-rinse, which is approximately an annual loss of $75. I'm sure that there are other things that you would like to spend that money on.

Loading is half the battle

To help keep the water flowing evenly through the dishwasher and to distribute the detergent equally, make sure that you place the larger items at the back and sides of the dishwasher so they don't block other dishes.

Make sure that you place the dirtier side of all the dishes facing the center of the dishwasher; this will give them more exposure to the spray.

It's also very important that you don't let the dishes and the utensils sit too close to each other, this will prevent the water from properly reaching the surfaces.

No more broken dishes

To prevent your dishes from breaking and being damaged, always use the top rack of the dishwasher for any delicate items and plastic.

Place the glasses and any other glassware on the prongs of the top rack; this will prevent them from moving during the cycle and causing damage.

Make sure that when you are loading the dishwasher that you don't place crystal, china, and any stemware close to other items so they touch. This way you will prevent them from moving during the cycle and being chipped.

Which cycle is best?

Choosing the right cycle is very important. Unless you have pots or pans that have burnt-on food or that are extra greasy, you will be safe to choose the normal cycle.

For the greasy pots and pans and items with burnt-on food, just pre-soak them in the sink while you are washing the dishes that you won't load into the dishwasher, such as wooden spoons or large kitchen knives.

After pre-soaking the pots and pans in the sink, load them on the bottom rack of the dishwasher facing down and toward the spray. Choosing the heaviest cycle for this load is the correct one.

Now that you know the proper way to load the dishwasher, the clean-up for this holiday season should be a snap, and you will definitely save money and time.

Sources: ShopSmart magazine