Expert shares common mistakes you’re making with your dishwasher

Stocking and unloading your dishwasher is arguably one of the most mundane tasks in everyday life.

It’s a bore of a chore, and no one ever really wants to do it. It’s only until they have run out of plates, cutlery, and all the pots and pans in the cupboard, when alarm bells start to ring.

Yet such a simple task can be done so wrong, according to an expert at Which? who has put together a list of common mistakes we all make when it comes to washing dishes. It is also available as a video on the consumer champion’s official TikTok account.

Never rinse your plates

This one is going to puzzle many…

In order to get the most out of your dishwasher, Which? recommends not rinsing off your plates. All you need to do is scrape it, load it, and the rest will take care of itself.

The expert explained: “I never rinse my plates. Just scrape off the food and put them straight in.

“Your dishwasher can more than cope with it, and it saves on water and energy.”

Don’t bother with the detergent dispenser

One of the last things people do when loading their dishwasher with dirty plates and cutlery is making sure the detergent dispenser is fully loaded. Often located at the bottom of the machine, you put your dishwashing tablet inside of the compartment and then turn it on so the cleaning can commence.

But it turns out you can simply just ‘chuck it in’ and it will do just as good a job.

“I never bother with the detergent dispenser,” explained the expert, “you can chuck the tablet straight in and it works just as well.”

Don’t forget maintenance

One of the most important things with any machine is making sure you look after it. Making sure it’s clean and has everything it needs to work properly.

This is the exact same with a dishwasher. In order to get the most out of it, and to protect it from the likes of bacteria and mould, you must keep it maintained.

Which?’s dishwashing expert remarked: “I never dodge maintenance. Keep your salt and your rinse aid topped up, frequently clean the filter, and regularly keep the door open to allow air to circulate.

“Doing this can help prevent the build-up of mould, bacteria, and other general nastiness.”

Never stack randomly

Due to the boring nature of having to load the dishwasher, we are all victim of wanting to get it done as quick as possible. To do just that, we often randomly shove our dirty plates inside at any and all angles just to get it done – this is another mistake.

You risk the plates not cleaning properly, especially if you put the bigger items in the wrong place and don’t leave enough space. This stops the water and sprayers from doing its jobs.

The expert continued: “I never stack randomly. Make sure everything is spaced out – big items at the back, away from the middle, plates facing inward, and make sure no tall items are blocking the spray arms.”

Do not dishwash these items

There are a number of household items that are regularly – and incorrectly – loaded inside a dishwasher to be cleaned.

• Sharp knives – they can go blunt
• Wooden items – they can swell and crack
• Non-stick and vacuum flaks – they are “no no”, according to the expert

On the TikTok video, one user commented: “I found this incredibly interesting and informative.”