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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Why am I the only person in the world who knows how to load a dishwasher properly?

62 replies

WhizzBangCaligula · 08/11/2006 14:27

Well I suppose Anthea Turner does. I'll admit that.

But no other fucker seems to understand the basics. Perfectly intelligent people seem to turn into complete fuckwits when faced with the task of loading a dishwasher. And people who started out complete fuckwits in the first place... well, I just won't even go there.

Is it that bloody difficult?

OP posts:
beckybrastraps · 08/11/2006 14:58

I had no idea there was a right way to load a dishwasher. I put in the dirty stuff. Turn it on. It comes out clean.

iota · 08/11/2006 14:58

does he like them in his basket OO?

Original poster
WhizzBangCaligula · 08/11/2006 14:58

"Most effective cleaning"?

??? ???

As long as there are no bits of food on them, they're clean!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhizzBangCaligula · 08/11/2006 14:59

Oh bbs

Come forth all of you who want to be judged on your dishwasher-stacking-skills...

OP posts:
iota · 08/11/2006 15:00

but that's my point caligula, forks tines down in the basket can get bit of food trapped on them between the tine and the basket

much better to be tines up

beckybrastraps · 08/11/2006 15:01

My head is hung in shame...

Although I'm still thinking "but my stuff comes out CLEAN - can I really be doing it so wrong?"

Miriam2 · 08/11/2006 15:03

Kelly, you have THREE sets of cutlery and you use them ALL AT ONCE?!!!

lazycow · 08/11/2006 15:08

But surely you have to sort the cutlery into the dish washer anyway so it doesn't save any time. I prefer to sort clean cutlery so put it all in together and sort it when it comes out.

I can't believe I am discussing this on MN when I should be working - on second thoughts yes I an

lazycow · 08/11/2006 15:10

Actually tell a lie - I don't have a dishwasher but I just SOOO wanted to be part of the conversation.

yeahinaminute · 08/11/2006 15:12

Fork tines UP
Sharp knives DOWN
Spoons one up/one day to avoid "spooning"

Plates loaded so that the whizzy arm thing has enough clearance to go round (we have large plates so they have to be loaded at the edges)

I am positively ANAL about how my machine is to be loaded - I even gave a masterclass to DH and number one son - they still don't "get it" ... but I guess that's more of an excuse not to do it!!

Miriam2 · 08/11/2006 15:13

I'll give you a time saving tip- all of 5 seconds! My dispenser drawer hasn't worked for yonks and if you just chuck the tablet in the bottom of the dishwasher then switch it on , it works just as well.

Non-time saving tip on the other hand, if you ever run out of tablets/powder, NEVER use washing up liquid, it foams up like nobody's business and takes loads of rinses to get rid of it.

Or did you all know that?!

ilovecaboose · 08/11/2006 15:15

Miriam, it also foams up and covers your kitchen floor

Tutter · 08/11/2006 15:16

god agree totally

sure dh loads so as to annoy - scatters item in equidistant fashion around machine, and puts all cutlery in one bit of the thingummy

i can easily get 3x as many things in and they all come out clean

small plates have to be in front of big ones
bowls at 45 degree angle on top section not bottom

agree - cutlery handle down except for sharp knives

and teaspoons in the teaspoon bit obviously

Kelly1978 · 08/11/2006 16:00

miriam, dinner set, dessert set and kids seyt, so yes! And they all go in diff places so have to be sorted.

I'd run out of tablets this mornign was so tempted to stick some fairy in, glad i didnt now!

Original poster
WhizzBangCaligula · 08/11/2006 16:37
OP posts:
CorrieDale · 08/11/2006 16:48

I feel so relieved to have found this thread... I thought I was the only one who gets completely twitchy about loading the dishwasher. DH thought so too. Hah! How wrong was he!!!

(I put forks down BTW because I am always concerned that DS is going to fall headfirst into the dishwasher and get a faceful of tines. Obviously that would be much worse than a faceful of handles, for some reason I'd rather not be challenged into thinking up...)

yeahinaminute · 08/11/2006 17:29

Thanks Whizzbang I do it's the other buggers who let me down !!!

jura · 08/11/2006 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clumsymum · 08/11/2006 21:31

If you run out of tablets just use the same detergent that you use in the washing machine (smaller quantity)

Its low foam, and should get thru the grease (it's a detergent after all). It isn't so abrasive tho, so eggy stuff might bake on, but it's usable in an emergency.

Original poster
WhizzBangCaligula · 09/11/2006 11:23

Ooh I don't like the idea of putting washing powder in.

But if you just put a little bit of washing up liquid, would it still all foam up?

OP posts:
lovingbarney · 09/11/2006 12:13

my hubby believes he is the only one who can load the dishwasher correctly apparently i never do it right

after reading this thread will try a few of the organised people moves in an attempt to impress.

there is no hope as dishwasher is not even on yet

lovingbarney · 09/11/2006 12:13

my hubby believes he is the only one who can load the dishwasher correctly apparently i never do it right

after reading this thread will try a few of the organised people moves in an attempt to impress.

there is no hope as dishwasher is not even on yet

JackieNo · 09/11/2006 12:18

Oh yes - I can definitely get much more in the dishwasher than DH. It's just logical to me, but he just bungs stuff in any old how. Our dishwasher's instruction booklet said to put cutlery in handle up, so the business end got the full benefit of the water pressure, or something. Had previously done it the other way. Also said to mix things up so they don't 'spoon'.

prettybird · 09/11/2006 12:54

My dh gets upset if I try to tell him to stack the dishwasher - so I end up just having to re-do it.

I've learnt through expereince - but he doesn't seem to notice: there is a logic to the way I do it. By putting the bowls where I do (ie at the front of each section), you can fit more in. Big plates go in behind, as they stand up straight/lean back a wee bit and don't lean fowarwd like the bowls. The first four small plates go at the back of each of the bottom four sections, ie closest to the dishwasher wall (the big plates can make contact with the walls. That then also allows saucepans to fit in.

Wine glasses have to go in a certain way so that the drips oon them are minimises. You can also fit in small glasses behind them.

Knives and forks have to go in two particular sections of the cutlery backet, as someof the base is missing and they need to go in the "complete" ones. Spoons and teaspoons and misc. stuff can then go in th eothers ones, bowl downwards, so that they can't slip through and jump the turning arm.

Honest - this is the only thing I am anal about . If you saw how disporgainsied the rest of my house (and work) was, you'd beleive me!

clumsymum · 10/11/2006 12:11

Why on earth don't you like the idea of using washing powder? Actually it's only the same stuff, it's just that dishwasher tablets are compacted powder , with a touch of abrasive stuff added (which is why good crystal glasses eventually go cloudy).

The only difference is that washing powder usually has a perfume added.

Should say, don't wash plastic things (such as tupperware if you are using washing powder, as the perfume might linger a bit, but non-porous crockery, cutlery and pans will be fine.