Dishwasher manufacturers and home style maven Martha Stewart agree on some basics for the right way to load a dishwasher:
1 If the washer has a third, shallow rack on top, load flatware and large utensils there to free up space below.
2 Put glass and plastic on the top rack where water pressure and heat are less intense.
3 Point knives down for safety. Mix utensils in the basket so spoons and forks don't nest together.
4 Martha Stewart advises never to wash nonstick or cast iron pans in the dishwasher but stainless steel pans get cleaner in the dishwasher.
5 Read the manual to find out about specialized settings. Nearly 70 percent of user just press 'normal.'
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.