15 Ways You're Using Your Dishwasher All Wrong

Get cleaner dishes, save money with these tips

Jodi Helmer,

AARP

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Published November 25, 2024

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Your dishwasher has one job: to transform a kitchen full of dirty plates, bowls, cups and utensils into racks full of sparkling clean dishes. But to get that result each time and over time, you need to make sure you are using your dishwasher correctly — and many of us don’t.

"Our bad habits can inhibit a lot of the functions [in our dishwasher]," says Michael Cornell, senior analyst at Asurion, an appliance repair company based in Nashville, Tennessee.

To get your dishes clean and prolong the life of your appliance, avoid these 15 common dishwasher mistakes.

1. Failing to check the labels

Make sure an item is dishwasher-safe before turning on the machine. The heat from the drying cycle could cause wood items such as cutting boards to crack or warp, and the dishwasher will dull sharp knives and blades for food processors and other kitchen appliances. Hand-wash those items instead.

Jill Notini, vice president of communications for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, advises against putting stemware or other delicate glass in the dishwasher. Not only is there a risk those glasses will break, the broken glass can wreak havoc on the appliance.

"A shard of glass could get caught ... in the pump and cause damage," she says.

2. Prerinsing

Avoid the temptation to turn on the tap and run a scrub brush across your dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher. Although 75 percent of people admit to prerinsing their dishes, according to a 2020 survey from dishwasher detergent producer Finish, the practice can backfire.

"Your soap actually needs those little food bits and sauces to bind to," Cornell says. "Food particles almost act as … an abrasive to help the soap knock loose [foods] that are a little bit more baked on."

Prerinsing removes the food bits, which can make detergent bind to porous surfaces of the dishes instead, and that will leave a film on your dishes.

Skipping the prerinse doesn’t just save time; rinsing the dishes before loading the dishwasher uses up to 20 gallons of water, according to Energy Star — and that’s before you even power on the machine. Even if the food is caked on, using the “rinse” feature on the dishwasher uses far less water than running the dishes under the tap to soften and remove excess food.

3. Skimping on scraping

You shouldn't rinse your dishes before loading the dishwasher, but that doesn't mean you should put them in the rack as is.

"Scrape your dishes," Cornell says. "[Your dishwasher] isn't a garbage disposal."

Scraping the chunks of food left on your plate can prevent foods from clogging the dishwasher, leading to expensive repairs.

4. Improper loading

Reorganizing the dishwasher is a common occurrence for 42 percent of households who think it was done "wrong" the first time, according to a survey from Cascade Platinum and Marie Claire magazine. But mistakes are still common.

"Improper loading can interfere with cleaning," Notini says.

Put silverware in the flatware baskets or racks; spatulas, serving spoons and other large utensils should be hand-washed, not laid in the top rack, according to Cornell.

"Water pressure will shift those items and, if the utensils fall, they can block the spray arm … and if something's blocking that, you're only going to be washing a handful of dishes for the entire duration of the wash cycle," he explains.

5. Overloading the appliance

Don't treat your dishwasher like a Tetris game and try to stack and balance as many dishes as possible on the racks. Overloading the dishwasher is one of the biggest mistakes people make, according to Cornell.

"Whenever you overload a dishwasher, the first thing you’ll notice is that your dishes have a lot of soap scum or haze," he explains. "It's because [too many dishes] prevent the dishes from getting enough water flow to fully rinse them off."

6. Putting detergent in the wrong place

Powder or liquid dishwasher detergent goes in the dispenser, but there has been some debate about where to place detergent pods.

Cornell blames viral TikTok videos suggesting detergent pods should be tossed into the bottom of the dishwasher, not in the dispenser, for the confusion. It's a mistake to follow that online advice.

The reason: Dishwashers have separate rinse and wash cycles. When you put a detergent pod in the bottom of the dishwasher, the soap gets washed down the drain before the wash cycle starts

"Now you’re washing your dishes with just [plain] water is hot," Cornell says.

Some detergent pods contain rinse aids that are released during the rinse cycle. A separate rinse aid can help remove spots and improve drying but it isn't needed, he adds.

7. Tossing the manual

There's no denying that info about dishwasher parts and features and the filtration system doesn't make for interesting reading, but skimming the manual — or at least keeping it handy — matters.

It's a good source for troubleshooting tips, recommendations for detergents and rinse agents and phone numbers to call for service or advice. Already tossed the manual? You can use the manufacturer name and model number to download the manual online, Notini says.

8. Ignoring the filter

Notini says most people don’t realize the dishwasher has a filter. It's under the bottom rack of the dishwasher, and it needs to be cleaned.

Check the appliance manual for recommendations on how often to clean your dishwasher filter. Then, pop it out, rinse any food debris and scrub it with a wire brush (no soap required) to remove calcification before replacing the filter.

"It takes a few seconds to do, and it’s going to make your dishes cleaner," Cornell says.

Reading the manual, rethinking how you load the dishwasher, where you put the detergent and how you manage maintenance can make your dishes look better and extend the life of your appliance.

9. Washing by hand

Washing a sink full of dirty dishes isn't just a lot of work; it's bad for the environment.

"Using the dishwasher is often quicker and easier than handwashing dishes," says Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. "As a bonus, dishwashing can help you save water and energy, making it a more eco-friendly choice."

In fact, doing the dishes by hand uses up to 27 gallons of water compared to just three gallons with an ENERGY STAR-rated dishwasher. Over the lifetime of the appliance, handwashing costs $3,200 more in energy and water use.

10. Running it half-full

It can take a while to dirty enough plates, bowls and utensils to fill the dishwasher, especially if you live alone. Rather than running a half load, Hicks suggests waiting until the machine is full.

"Regularly running half loads means you’re running twice as many cycles than necessary, which will eventually wear out your dishwasher faster," Hicks says. "It can also waste water, making dishwashing less eco-friendly."

11. Keeping the door closed

Your dishwasher is warm, damp and dark, making it an ideal spot for mold to grow—and keeping the dishwasher door closed increases the risk. Leaving the door open prevents moisture buildup, notes Pang-Chieh Ho, editor for Consumer Reports.

Ho suggests leaving the door open just a crack, "to prevent yourself from bumping or tripping over it."

If you notice a stale or musty odor or patches of black, green or white mold around the door edges or rubber seals or on the dish racks, it could be mold.

12. Skipping the rinse aid

It's not always a mistake to skip the rinse aid, but if you notice water spots and a film on your dishes at the end of a cycle, a rinse aid could help. They are especially beneficial if you have hard water.

Rinse aids contain surfactants, which helps water droplets roll off of the dishes and prevents water spots and residue. The rinse aid dispenser is usually located next to the detergent dispenser.

"Feel free to skip the rinse aid if you're happy with your dishwasher’s performance," Hicks says. "If your dishwasher isn't drying your dishes properly, a rinse aid could be really helpful."

13. Putting fragile items in the bottom rack

The main water sprayer is typically located on the bottom of the dishwasher and the powerful jets could cause fragile items to break. Wine glasses and other glassware should be placed on the top rack with the glassware loaded between, not over, the tines in the rack.

"[Putting the glasses over the tines] can cause spotting or place stress on the glass … and you can end up with broken glasses," Notini says.

Hicks also advises keeping fragile items away from other items in the top rack to prevent them from knocking against each other and getting damaged during the wash cycle. If in doubt, she adds, "opt to handwash particularly fragile dishes."

14. Grouping utensils together

Organizers often recommend grouping utensils, separating forks, spoons and knives into their own baskets to make it easier to put them away when the cycle is complete—but dishwasher experts disagree.

"You should mix up the utensils to prevent them from nesting," says Ho. "If they overlap with each other too much, it's harder for the water to get in and wash them properly."

Forks and spoons should be placed with handles facing down while knife handles should face up so you're not grabbing a sharp blade when you remove them, she adds.

15. Skimping on cleaning

You depend on your dishwasher to get your dishes squeaky clean. To get the job done, your dishwasher needs cleaning, too.

"Cleaning your dishwasher is the easiest way to keep it in good condition long-term," Hicks says. "Pros generally recommend that you clean your dishwasher once a month."

To clean the dishwasher, remove the racks and filter and use hot water with a drop of dish soap to clean the interior and then fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar, place it on the top rack and run the regular wash cycle.

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Jodi Helmer is a contributing writer who covers gardening, health and the environment. She has also written for Scientific American, National Geographic Traveler and NPR.