Choosing The Right Dishwasher Cycle For A Faster Clean

But no matter how much you appreciate your dishwasher, it remains elusive and mysterious. What’s actually going on in there for the hour and a half anyway? As all of that swishing, churning and gurgling fades to kitchen white noise, you probably don’t even give it a second thought.

But you should. Like, which cycle should you be using for which dishes? Have you even bothered to scan the button options, of which there are many? Which is the best detergent, and should you be using different types of detergent for different cycles? Are you even loading the dishwasher properly? These are the hard hitting questions we’re here to clear up for you.

Read on to demystify the ongoings of your most valued kitchen appliance. The more intimately you know your dishwasher, the healthier (and potentially more efficient and eco friendly!) your relationship with it will be. Educate yourself so that your dishes will get the best possible clean in the least amount of time.

Dishwasher loading 101

• Don’t overload! You want to leave some wiggle room between your dishes, so that the detergent and water can evenly coat and clean all the crevices. Even dishes appreciate a little personal space.
• Careful not to block the water streams. Peer inside the dishwasher and take note of its innards. Note the placement of jets where the water streams shoot from, both on the top and bottom of the dishwasher. Be sure not to put any large dishes in the way of those streams or spray devices. Also be mindful not to block the spinning arms and rotating bits with any long utensils.
• No spooning. Be sure to separate the utensils from one another, face your plates in toward the middle of the dishwasher, bowls go upside down and glassware on top. You can find more detailed dishwasher loading advice here.

Some day, my pre-rinse will come?

If dishwashers are your knight in shining armor, do you owe it to them to pre-rinse those dishes before loading them up, or nah? This is an age old debate, and we’re here for it. Yes, definitely scrape off substantial food bits — especially bones, fat, skin or especially fibrous scraps.

But …

Most detergents actually utilize those bits of food clinging to dishes in order to activate their ingredients. Detergents break down that leftover stuck on residue, which will ultimately be flushed down the dishwasher’s drain. Not only will skipping the thorough pre-rinse save you time, but it’s more eco-friendly to not waste all that pre-rinse water.