Are you washing your dishes correctly? From cutlery placement to temperature setting and whether or not to pre-rinse: The eight rules to make sure your dishes leave the dishwasher sparkling clean revealed

  • Most common mistakes when loading a dishwasher have been revealed
  • They include pre-rinsing dishes, overloading and using tablets wrong
  • Tossing dishes in without a plan can also lead to them coming out dirty

By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:16, 20 May 2016 | Updated: 01:44, 20 May 2016

There are few more annoying things than putting your dishes in the dishwasher and pulling them out an hour later to find they're still dirty.

But it may not be your dishwasher at fault...

Femail has compiled a list of the eight most common mistakes people make when loading their dishwasher.

Oh no! The eight biggest mistakes people make when using their dishwasher have been named

Oh no! The eight biggest mistakes people make when using their dishwasher have been named

CAN YOUR DISHWASHER HANDLE THE HEAT?

Handymen called out to fix dishwashers that people claim aren't cleaning properly often find the same mistake being made - wrong water temperature.

In restaurant kitchens the water temperature is often above 80 degrees, however most household appliances rarely get used above 37 degrees.

It's one of the biggest keys to cleaning your dirty dishes and manufacturers recommend temperatures of around 70 degrees.

WHAT GOES WHERE?

Glasses should always go on the top rack along with bowls and plastic containers. 

However, plates clean best when they are on the bottom and facing the centre of the dishwasher and NOT stacked all in the one direction. 

BE CAREFUL WHEN LOADING BIG ITEMS

Similarly, getting the loading of the biggest items in your dishwasher correct can be crucial to ensuring a good wash.

Pots and pans should not cover the detergent or tablet dispenser in case they block them being released.

Housekeeping expert Carolyn Forte told the Washington Post: 'Large, flat items should be put on the side or back of the lower rack of the machine, never in the front.'

Packed to the rafters: Not jamming your dishwasher full of dishes can be crucial to ensuring they come out clean  

Packed to the rafters: Not jamming your dishwasher full of dishes can be crucial to ensuring they come out clean  

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO PRE-RINSE?

While it's important to wipe clumps of food off your dishes before you put them in for a wash, your dishwasher can handle more than you think.

Ms Forte is a strong believer that pre-rinsing is not at all necessary with modern appliances.

'Our position is that you don’t need to pre-rinse at all, unless you aren’t running the load right away,' Ms Forte said.  

HAVE A PLAN FOR CUTLERY

Some dishwashers come with a cutlery draw or separate cutlery container, but if yours doesn't, it could spell problems.

Ms Forte says the best method is to work out a plan and stick to it. 

'We recommend you put the knives in with the blades down and the forks go up,' she said.

'Of course, do this carefully. Mix the spoons up and down. Don’t put all the spoons in one basket.' 

KNOW YOUR APPLIANCE'S LIMIT 

Jamming too many items into your dishwasher is one of the top reasons for poor washing performance.

However, there's a simple fix according to Ms Forte.

'Don’t overload, and don’t overlap,' she said. 

'Make sure surfaces are exposed enough so water and detergent can get to them. If a bowl is blocking a glass, it won’t get clean,' Forte says. 

Plan to perfection: Having a plan when putting dirty cutlery and dishes into the wash is important

Plan to perfection: Having a plan when putting dirty cutlery and dishes into the wash is important

DON'T TOSS YOUR WASHING TABLETS

Carelessly throwing your washing tablets into the bottom of the dishwasher is a no-no according to Ms Forte.

While when it comes to washing clothes it is OK, the dishwasher dispensers are designed to release your tablets or detergent at the appropriate time. 

USE A RINSE-AID

Today's dishwashers use less water than those before them, so it is a good idea to add a rinse-aid to help make them sparkling clean.

It will also help improve drying and reduce the chance of spots being left on your dishes.

Tablet tips: Putting tablets or detergent into the dispenser ensures they will be released at the correct time

Tablet tips: Putting tablets or detergent into the dispenser ensures they will be released at the correct time

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