It's been the source of countless arguments between couples, housemates and even work colleagues - What's the proper way to fill the dishwasher?
Everyone has a specific way to load the dishwasher and the methods can vary wildly but some dishwasher habits are actually counter-intuitive, according to experts.
The Mirror spoke to David Palmer, Senior Product Specialist Home Appliances at LG Electronics, about the dos and don'ts of dishwasher use with the goal of optimising the household appliance.
READ MORE - 'I'm an expert and you can actually save money by changing the way you load the dishwasher'
David debunked the common myth that plates need to be rinsed before putting them in the dishwasher.
He said: "Although scraping off bits of food is important, you don't need to rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher as this often makes the soap less effective."
David also warned people not to overload their dishwashers, explaining that "if you put too much inside your dishwasher, some items will block others. Allow enough space for effective cleaning by making sure nothing clangs together when you give the racks a little shake test.
"There's no right or wrong when it comes to stacking. Organisation is helpful when unloading, however, if you sort your spoons all together, it's likely they’ll nest into each other and won't get clean."
David also advised against using too much detergent because it "costs money and can scratch dishes or result in cloudy glasses or visible spots."
David suggested placing a bowl full of vinegar on the top rack before a cycle which can act as a rinse aid and combats water staining.
And when you're loading the dishwasher, ensure that the load is facing the middle of the machine to ensure they're getting the proper spray treatment needed to clean efficiently.
David also said that rinse aid is a great idea as it helps dishes to dry better. He said: "It's helpful if you're skipping the heat cycle to save energy, or if your dishes are still wet when your cycle finishes."
It's also crucial that you wash your dishwasher because "over time they often collect food debris, soap residue, and gunk that needs to be wiped away."
If you're tempted to run your dishwasher when it's not full, David suggests you don't, as it's not good "environmentally speaking."
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