You're probably loading your dishwasher wrong

Getting your dishes clean requires a good dishwasher detergent and a rinse aid. One way to help the process is to run the sink faucet on hot until the water heats up, which means hotter water for the initial, wet-down phase of the dishwasher cycle. Next place your items where the dishwasher’s spray can reach them. Here are dos and don’ts from Consumer Reports' experts on how to get the most out of you dishwasher. They work for most dishwashers, but check your owner’s manual for model specific guidelines.

Don't load large items in a way that blocks the spray; that can keep water and detergent from reaching other dishes.
Do put large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher.

Don't turn dishes toward the side or let them rest against others.
Do face them toward the tub’s center to give them more exposure to the spray, and give each a little space for better coverage.

Don't stick items with baked-on food in the upper rack.
Do put them in the bottom rack, with food facedown towards the spray arm.

Don't load silverware haphazardly.
Do place silverware with handles down, but put knives handles-up. If your dishwasher has an open basket, mix spoons, forks, and knives to keep them from nesting. Using the little individual slots for silverware also gets them nice and clean.

Don't place fragile pieces in the bottom rack if you want them to stay intact.
Do use the top rack for plastic and fragile, dishwasher-safe items.

Don't try to fit more glassware by crowding glasses together.
Do rest them individually on prongs to keep them from bumping into each other—and to keep water from pooling in them. You can also prevent chipping of china, crystal, and stemware with the same method, and some dishwashers have special slots for stemware.

If you’re replacing an older dishwasher, today’s models typically have more room for place settings than older models. That means 12 or sometimes more. Before visiting an appliance store, read our dishwasher buying guide. Then check our Ratings of almost 200 models, which include such top performers as the KitchenAid KDTM354DSS, $1,200, and the Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]UC, $730.

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)

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