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Tips for Cleaner Dishes!

Tips for Cleaner Dishes!  Make sure you are using your dishwasher to its full potential!

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Loading the dishwasher is an institution in our house.  It’s a sacred event.  And not everyone is skilled enough to do it.  😉  In fact, this skill seems to be one that is passed down through genetics…true story.  Case in point: my Dad…and I.  We have a problem, albeit a good problem!  We can load a dishwasher to its maximum capacity and have it come out with clean dishes every time.  I don’t believe in hand washing dishes unless I absolutely have to, so it is in my best interest to make sure I can get every dish into my dishwasher that I can!  So what’s the problem you ask?  Don’t load my dishwasher unless you plan to fill it up full!  And I follow the same rules when I go home…don’t dare load my Dad’s dishwasher!  Haha!

My dishwasher is the #1 factor in having a clean kitchen, so I like to maximize the work it can do for me.  I figure, the less dishes I have to deal with the better!  So here are some tips to make sure you are using your dishwasher to its full potential!

Tips for Cleaner Dishes {A Pretty Life}

  1. I always rinse our dishes before they go into the dishwasher.  I know you don’t have to do this, but I do it for a couple of reasons: so the dishwasher screens don’t get clogged, and to ensure my dishes come out sparkling.
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  2. Make sure you choose the right cycle for cleaning your dishes.  Use the power wash for heavily soiled dishes, or the delicate cycle for china.  But for everyday dishwashing I use the normal or energy cycle.
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  3. Use proper detergent.  I like the dishwasher tabs because I find that my dishes come out cleaner with this type of detergent.
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  4. Use jet dry.  If your detergent tabs don’t have jet dry included, make sure you add jet dry with every wash.
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  5. Don’t overcrowd your dishes.  Make sure each dish is put properly into its slot.
    • I line all plates along on the bottom on one side of the dishwasher, and line all bowls along the other side.
    • I put all cups and large dishes on the top rack.  Don’t be afraid to move around the adjustable arms in your dishwasher to accommodate large or awkward shaped dishes.
    • Put delicates on the top racks too.  My new dishwasher has a great feature on the top rack for delicate items or light weight cups, called Delicate Care Soft Grips.  They’re great for keeping dishes in their spot!
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  6. Make sure not to crowd your utensils!  There’s nothing worse than having 2 spoons stuck together with peanut butter after a wash.
    • Tip:  I always point my knives down as well…this prevents accidental stabbings!  😉
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  7. Clean your dishwasher!  Yes, you do have to clean your dishwasher!  I run our dishwasher empty through a full cycle with vinegar about once a month.  You will also have to occasionally clean out the traps and screens that can get covered with food residues.
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Tips for Cleaner Dishes {A Pretty Life}

What are your best dishwasher tips?

Are you the loader or do you let others load the dishwasher too?

Let me know in the comments…I find this topic fascinating!  😉
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Disclosure: I am part of the Frigidaire Canada Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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5 Comments

  1. i’m the loader of the dishwasher, lol. It drives me nuts when people load the dishwasher “wrong.”
    We typically use tablets too, but I’ve been testing out a liquid detergent that I won. My dishwasher doesn’t like it. I’ve had to use three times as much as what the bottle says. I’m using it up and then going back to my regular tablets.

  2. I am also like that. There is a proper way to load the dishwasher. I just wish I could find a dishwasher that worked well. We have a Maytag and it does ok, but not great. even after rinsing the dishes, they still come out dirty. I have asked my hubby to clean the traps. I run vinegar through it. I use jet dry. I don’t use an over abundance of soap, and it is still etching my glasses. Drives me batty. Might need to try different detergents too.

    1. Detergents are so tricky. I find that using the capsules with the jet dry right in them work best. And we toss ours right into the bottom of the dishwasher – not in the compartment. We find that it dissolves better and makes the dishes cleaner!

  3. I use Seventh Generation powder and plain ole vinegar instead of Jet Dry. My dishes and glasses come out spotless