The right way to load the dishwasher is the source of many domestic arguments, followed by when to run it and whether or not it’s wasting electricity.
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Myth: You need to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher
It’s true, rinsing your dishes can help the overall cleaning results of your dishwasher, but it’s not true that it’s essential. Instead, just spend a few seconds removing large food scraps, put the dishes in straight away and start the washer. If you think about it, when rinsing your dishes you only put them under water for a few seconds, but during a normal cycle the water spray in your dishwasher passes over the same spot hundreds of times and generally at a much higher water pressure than the tap.
Look for a dishwasher, such as the new range of LG QuadWash dishwashers, that have multiple spray blades on the bottom rotating arm to help get between plates.
Myth: Running the dishwasher will raise my electricity bill
This really depends on how often you use your dishwasher. If you normally hand wash you may find you fill your sink two or three times to do the same number of items your dishwasher can handle. This means you are relying on your hot water system to heat your water, thereby using energy and water.
In fact, CHOICE notes that Australian households use about 31 litres of water a day in the kitchen sink (according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics). Factoring in average energy prices, most LG dishwashers can use less than $25 per quarter in electricity – and that’s if you run your dishwasher every day.
Fact: My dishwasher is filled with bacteria
The truth is, it can be. But compared to hand-washing, using a dishwasher can be more hygienic. Water at 60 degrees is required to start to sanitise dishes, which is typically too hot for our hands to handle. As such, using a dishwasher can be a more sanitary option for cleaning dishes. If you can, select the ‘Extra Hot’ rinse option. This finishes the cleaning cycle with an 80 degree rinse, which is a temperature high enough to kill bacteria such as salmonella. Also look for a dishwasher that has a stainless steel tub to help reduce the level of bacteria growth.
Myth: You have to fill the dishwasher before using it
There is no need to load a dishwasher completely before using it. Some dishwashers feature an option known as ‘half load’ where you can choose to only clean the middle or lower rack. So you can put in a part load and your dishwasher will run a cycle for just this small load of dishes. There is also a wash option for small loads with only mildly dirty dishes to be completed in a quicker time.
Fact: There’s a right way to load the dishwasher
Absolutely. Loading dishes the right way helps to get the best possible results out of your dishwasher. The most important thing is to ensure there are adequate gaps between your dishes. Adjustable racks will help, and some dishwashers are able to vary the water spray intensity between racks to wash dirty pots on the bottom while cleaning glassware on the middle rack.