The way people load dishwashers now drives me crazy

I grew up thinking there was one right way to load a dishwasher, like my mom showed me where everything goes. Now I see people throwing bowls in upside down with spaghetti sauce still stuck on them and it comes out dirty every time. My roommate in Portland last year used to stack plates so close together that water couldn't even touch the middle ones. I finally realized that most people just never learned or don't care, and it bothers me way more than it should. It takes like 30 extra seconds to put silverware handle down and face the sprayer, but nobody seems to bother anymore. Has anyone else noticed people just don't rinse plates or bother with the layout at all?

3 comments

3 Comments

anderson.piper7d ago

Rinsing plates is actually a waste of water if the dishwasher works right.

lilyp375d ago

@anderson.piper I see your point about modern dishwashers being more efficient, and you're not wrong about the water savings. But I've had it happen too many times where I skip rinsing and end up with a crusty plate that just baked the food on harder. It's frustrating when you think you're doing it right and pull out a fork with last night's spaghetti still stuck to it. So I still give mine a quick scrape and rinse, just to be safe. Better to waste a little water than to have to rewash everything by hand.

emma_flores7d ago

Anderson says rinsing is a waste of water but I have to disagree. If you toss a plate in there caked with dried egg or sauce, that water is just gonna recirculate that mess around the whole load. It's not about being a perfectionist, it's about not wanting to wash everything twice. Your roommate stacking plates so tight they can't get clean is exactly the kind of thing that makes me nuts. People act like loading a dishwasher is rocket science when it's really just common sense. Honestly, it's not that deep, but if you're gonna do it, do it right or don't complain when your glasses come out cloudy.