1- Rinse your dishes. If you simply toss dirty dishes in your dishwasher, they will not come clean. Before placing your dishes in the washer, run them under tap water from the sink to remove bits of food, condiments, and other substances.

2- Load the bottom rack. On the bottom rack, load dishes like pots, pans, casserole dishes, bowls, and plates. Make sure all your dishes face the spray nozzle of your dishwasher. Angle everything down slightly. This will help ensure a more thorough cleaning.

• You should also load silverware in the silverware rack.
• Flat pots and platters should be placed near the back of the dishwasher.
• Make sure stainless steel and silver dishes do not touch. If they touch during the wash, this can cause chemical reaction that will damage your dishes.

3- Load the top rack. Glasses and mugs go in the top rack. Place these face down in the dishwasher and angle them as much as possible to get the insides washed.

4- Use the correct amount of detergent. You do not need a lot of detergent. Too much detergent can cause soap residue to stick to dishes. Check your detergent's label to see how much to add. Do not add more, even if your dishes are very dirty.

5- Be careful when loading plastics. Plastic items are lightweight and can move around easily during the wash. Make sure to place them on racks that keep them secure. They should not wiggle in place, as this can cause them to become dislodged during the wash.

Not everything should be washed in the dishwasher. Refrain from placing the following items in a dishwasher:

• Materials like wood, cast iron, pewter, sterling silver, and aluminum
• Children's glasses with designs
• Nonstick dishes
• Expensive dishes

Run the lightest cycle, if possible. To save water, you should usually opt for the lightest cycle on your dishwasher. If your dishes are not extremely dirty, this should clean them thoroughly. The dishes you normally use in the week for eating, drinking, and cooking should come clean on a light cycle.

Let the dishes air dry in most circumstances. Skipping the dry cycle saves energy. Unless you need to use the dishes immediately, allow them to air dry in the rack before putting them away.