From the controversial pre-wash to objects that shouldn’t go in the dishwasher: five rules for washing dishes correctly.
Is there a correct way to store dishes in the dishwasher? This is a question that generates debate in many homes, but Inside the Factory, from the BBC, tried to clarify the doubt once and for all.
Experts say some of us may be making mistakes. Here they are five rules which will leave the dishes shining and, who knows, put an end to the debate about the correct use of the dishwasher.
1. No pre-rinsing
If you rinse your dishes before putting them in the machine, know that you’re doing it wrong, according to Andrew Laughlin, chief researcher at British consumer association Which?
Modern dishwashers use a turbidity sensor to detect the level of dirt in the water and, consequently, the dishes. If you rinse everything before washing, the machine will think the dishes are clean. Therefore, it will reduce the temperature and intensity.
“Instead, it’s much better to scrape food scraps into the trash and regularly clean your dishwasher filter,” explains Laughlin.
Lynsey Crombie is the author of the book The 15 Minute Clean and agrees with this advice.
“Modern dishwashers are designed to detect dirt,” he says. “That’s why, If your dishes enter the machine too clean, it may wash less effectively.”
“Remove food debris, but don’t pre-wash. You’re wasting time and water,” explains Crombie.
2. How to tidy up correctly
Laughlin’s rule for loading dishes in the dishwasher is this: if you ate from it, put it on the bottom shelf; if you drank from it, put it on the top shelf.
It is also important to position dirty surfaces facing the jets. “Put everything facing the center of the machinefor better performance”, he advises.
Laughlin also recommends prevent objects from touching each otherso that water can circulate and wash properly.
Crombie advises placing the bowls facing downso as not to accumulate water. And also arrange the cutlery so that the spoons are not all together.
But the biggest mistake many of us make is overloading the machine, she says.
“If the water can’t circulate properly, nothing will stay clean, no matter how expensive your tablet is,” she explains.
3. Dirtiest objects in the center
There is nothing more frustrating than filling the dishwasher and, at the end of the cycle, finding objects that were left unwashed.
Laughlin says that among the “biggest culprits” are cereals, scrambled eggs and starchy foods whose residues are high in protein.
To solve the problem, he recommends placing the dirtiest objects in the middle, where the intensity of the jets is greatest. This will make washing more effective, and prevent the same objects from returning to the machine for a new wash: saving time and money.
4. Use tablets and salt
Dishwashers need help to perform at their best.
Laughlin states that or use of tablets It is “absolutely” vital. They help to break down dirt and food residue, starting the cleaning process.
The tablets contain enzymes that break down starches and proteins, as well as surfactants that help water spread and clean better.
At the same time, the special salt for dishwashers helps “soften the water, preventing limescale build-up and those horrible white marks on glasses”.
Crombie points out that even if your tablet says it already contains salt, she still recommends using it, “because the salt protects the machine in the long run.”
“Think of it as maintenance, not an extra,” she explains.
It is also worth considering using rinse aidaccording to Laughlin. This “disperses the water on the surface of the dishes, helping them to dry more efficiently at the end of the cycle”.
5. Avoiding certain objects
Finally, it’s equally important to remember what should stay out of the dishwasher, according to Andrew Laughlin.
Non-stick utensils, sharp knives and wooden objects should not be used in the dishwasher.. “High temperatures and water pressure can damage them”, he explains.
Lynsey Crombie highlights that you should avoid anything with sticky labels, as they can clog the filter.
But… whose turn is it to take the dishes out of the dishwasher? That’s a question experts don’t know the answer to.
