Are you tired of spending a long time hand washing dishes? Would you rather spend that time with your family or getting a little “me” time? A dishwasher might be the answer for you. It’s an investment that gives you more time and saves your hands from dish soap and dry skin. Here are some tips and tricks when using your dishwasher.
To Pre-rinse or Not to Pre-rinse
Your mom or grandmother may mention that your dishes need to be rinsed before they’re put into the dishwasher. Others argue that it’s not necessary and they only need to be scraped of chunks i.e. don’t stick half a meatloaf into the dishwasher and expect it to get clean. The first few generations of dishwashers did require a pre-rinse, but people got annoyed of washing their dishes before washing their dishes. Manufacturers heard this and designed better dishwashers. With modern dishwashers, just scrap them off and put them in the dishwasher. They’ll be clean as a whistle.
Loading the Dishwasher
Some people believe loading a dishwasher is part art and part science. It’s like playing Jenga while dodging blocks from Tetris. Thankfully, it’s not as complex as that. The key is to make sure the dirty parts of the dishes aren’t blocked from the dishwasher jets. Look at your jets and see where they are. The dirty parts of the dishes should always be pointed in those directions.
The bottom rack is where the bad boys go. Put your dirtiest dishes here. Keep the taller items on the edges to keep blocking the jets. The top rack is more for more fragile items such as glasses, etc. Don’t let glass touch other glass. Try to put a plastic cup between them just to be on the safe side. When it comes to the silverware tray, it’s best to keep knives pointed down just for safety. Forks and spoons can be put in right side up.
Caution
Dishwashers are great for many dishes, but not everything. Wooden utensils, softer metals and cookware should be done by hand. The detergents used in dishwashing can be pretty abrasive, so don’t ruin your finest flatware because you didn’t want to wash them.
We hope you enjoyed this little guide to dishwashing. If you’re in the need of a good deep cleaning in your home, contact us or get a free quote.
