'Water needs to reach every surface': The right way to stack your dishwasher

Dishwasher stacking tends to draw surprisingly strong opinions.

One of my relatives lives by the mantra: "There's no such thing as a full dishwasher" and, astonishingly, can fit a large dinner party's worth of dishware in a single load.

Meanwhile, a mate of mine is adamant that spoons must be stacked only with other spoons, in the cutlery compartment ("so they're easier to unpack later").

So is there actually a "right" way to stack a dishwasher?

If you're looking for an effective clean that also saves on water and utility bills, the answer is yes. We asked two experts for their top tips.

A full dishwasher is a happy dishwasher

Running a full load is "more energy-efficient and eco-friendly" as it saves water and energy, explains Kate Croukamp, a Gold Coast-based owner of a cleaning business who also runs the Clean Like a Pro Facebook group.

"This not only reduces your environmental impact but also cuts down on your power bills and saves you time in the long run," she adds.

Ashley Iredale, head of whitegoods at consumer advocacy group Choice, agrees.

"When it comes to stacking, a full dishwasher is a happy dishwasher," he says.

… That said, there is such a thing as too full

Both experts do advise against overcrowding the dishwasher.

"The important thing is the water needs to be able to reach every surface," says Mr Iredale.

"You don't want plates nested too closely together, because obviously then the water can't get to all the surfaces."

That doesn't mean you have to leave every second slot free (Mr Iredale emphasises that dishwashers are designed to hold a plate in every groove on the rack).

But if you're stacking clunky items, you may need leave some space to ensure water can reach between everything.

And, particularly if you're dealing with delicate crockery, "having some space between plates can reduce the risk of chipping or scratching due to contact during the wash cycle", adds Ms Croukamp.

Bigger plates go on the outside — facing inwards

The size of your plates determines where they should go: "You want your big plates on the outside, and the smaller plates closer to the centre," says Mr Iredale.

Why? Because there's typically a jet spray at the bottom of a dishwasher.

Placing larger dishes on the outside, facing in, will allow the water to reach the smaller dishes — and also to spray the dirtiest surfaces of all your items.

For similar reasons, Ms Croukamp recommends stacking larger plates at the back of the dishwasher.

"This positioning prevents large items from obstructing water and detergent from reaching smaller dishes, allowing for a more thorough and efficient cleaning process."

Knives and forks go pointy-side down

If you're working with an upright cutlery basket, there's a golden rule: the "business end" of cutlery — so, "all your points and prongs" — should face downwards, Mr Iredale says.

That's partly for safety reasons.

"If you did take a headfirst dive into your dishwasher, you could land on your forks and knives and do yourself a nasty injury," he says. (That's particularly relevant for people who are unsteady on their feet, prone to seizures or have small kids in the home.)

But there's also a hygiene element to this recommendation, Mr Iredale says.

Avoid cutlery clustering

As for my friend's suggestion that spoons should be stacked with other spoons?

"It's actually wrong," says Mr Iredale. (Sorry, friend.)

Loading like-with-like cutlery items does make it easier to unload.

"But if you're stacking particularly forks or spoons together, they're likely to nest up," he explains. That makes it difficult for water to reach between each item.

There are multiple jets and spray arms in a dishwasher, but the bottom shelf is "typically the more intensive wash zone", says Mr Iredale.

So, heavily soiled pots and pans go on the bottom rack, while delicates go on top.

Plastics will also last longer if they're stacked on the top shelf, because they'll be less aggressively washed, he says.

And speaking of the top basket: "Make sure cups and bowls are placed opening side down so they can drain, rather than collecting water."