Every penny counts as the cost of living crisis continues and households across Britain are looking at ways to save money.
And when it comes to bills, Brits are looking to make the most efficient use of appliances around the house - including the dishwasher.
Global appliances manufacturer Hisense has teamed up with Marie Kondo-trained professional home organiser, Sue Spencer, for about stacking the dishwasher more efficiently, to result in fewer washes.
Sue said: “The bottom rack of the dishwasher benefits from a hotter wash, and stronger water jets so it’s ideal for cleaning plates, saucepans and roasting tins.
“On the other hand, the top rack is cooler and offers a slightly gentler wash, which is ideal for glasses, mugs, cups, any plastics and large utensils.”
Hisense spoke to 1,500 homemakers across the nation to find that more than a third (38 per cent) had fallen out with a friend or family member over the dishwasher.
Seventy per cent admitted to feeling that there was a ‘right way’ to stack the dishwasher, and a whopping 50 per cent said that they felt they were the only person in their household that took on the responsibility of loading the appliance.
Sue Spencer, trained with Marie Kondo and the owner of professional organising business A Life More Organised, shared some of her top tips for efficient dishwashing, so you can reduce washes and save more on your energy, water and electricity.
Load 1: Wash saucepans and roasting tins first
Once you’ve finished your meal prep, load saucepans, roasting tins and cooking utensils into the dishwasher on a hot programme. Breakfast dishes and chopping boards can likely fit in too.
Cookware should be placed around the sides and back of the lower rack, at an angle that will allow the water and detergent to flow freely. It’s good news for the third (33 per cent) of the nation who insist on rinsing their pots before stacking them in the dishwasher, as while Sue says this isn’t crucial, it can help get rid of all the fatty deposits that build up on your cookware.
Load 2: Tableware
Use the top rack for glasses, cups, gravy jugs, small bowls and serving spoons.
Arrange plates and bowls on the bottom rack – making sure you leave enough gaps between them. If crockery is arranged too closely, this will restrict water flow and risk the clean result.
Finally, place your large serving bowls and platters along the sides and back of the lower rack and tilt them towards the centre of the dishwasher.
Sue’s top tip
Sue said: “It’s a good idea to unload the bottom of the dishwasher first to prevent items from the top layer dripping onto the plates.”
Howard Grindrod, Vice President of Hisense UK, says: “Almost all of us have a clear idea of how we like to stack the dishwasher, but the key to clean crockery is making sure you’ve selected the right programme and spaced out your crockery and pots so the detergent can be as effective as possible. Happy stacking!”
