It's hard to imagine a modern home without a dishwasher. Not only do dishwashers spare you from cleaning dirty plates, mugs, and cutlery by hand — they end up using less water too. Saving you both time and money.

But you still need to put in a little bit of effort and load up your dishwasher correctly. Otherwise, it won’t clean your kitchenware properly and you might have to run another cycle. Or worse, give them a scrub in the sink!

If you’ve just got a new dishwasher or you’re wondering why yours isn’t rinsing stuff well — our guide will make sure you’re getting the most out of it. We’ve got top tips for preparing dishes, stacking your stuff in the best spots, plus advice on what not to do.

You can’t just put cookware and cups anywhere in a dishwasher. There are dedicated areas designed specifically for your dishes, glasses, and other items. But before we get into where they should go, here are some of the key reasons why it’s important to load up these appliances properly:

• More thorough cleaning: By arranging your plates, cups, and cutlery correctly, it’ll make sure that the water and detergent cleans the surfaces of every item.

• Better energy efficiency: A well-loaded dishwasher will clean your crockery and silverware in a single cycle. So, you won’t have to waste time or energy by running another cycle or washing up something by hand.

• Longer lifespan: Loading your dishwasher the right way can help prevent blockages, which will extend its life by reducing wear and tear on its components.

• Protects your items: Spacing out dishes, mugs, and glasses correctly will reduce the chance of damage. Don’t be tempted to overcrowd your dishwasher!

Some people think you have to pre-rinse plates before placing them in a dishwasher — but it’s a total myth. While this may have been the case a few years ago, today’s dishwashers can blast off food residue with ease. By rinsing first, all you’ll be doing is wasting water and ramping up your energy bill.

But if there are big scraps of food left on dishes or cookware, scrape them off into your bin before placing them in your dishwasher. That way, the filter won’t get clogged up and your kitchen items will be cleaned as thoroughly as possible.

The top rack of your dishwasher is furthest away from the heating element and uses gentler water pressure. This makes it far more suitable for smaller and more delicate items, such as:

• Cups, mugs, and glasses: When loading these, make sure to place them downward so water doesn’t collect and can drain out.

• Plasticware: The hottest part of your dishwasher is at the bottom, so always put dishwasher-safe plastic containers and water bottles on the top rack. Otherwise, they could warp.

• Utensils: Make use of the third rack or extra top compartment to keep spatulas and sharp knives safely in place. You won’t want them falling through and getting caught in your dishwasher’s rotating spray arm.

• Small bowls and plates: If you’ve got room, you can add smaller bowls and plates up top too. Just make sure the bowls are facing down so water doesn’t pool inside.

Like we mentioned before, try to avoid overcrowding when filling the top rack. It’ll keep your items damage-free and will allow the water and detergent to reach all surfaces.

The bottom rack is the prime spot for larger, heavier items that need a deeper clean. This is because there’s extra space, more heat, and direct water pressure from the big lower spray arm. Perfect for blasting off caked-on cheese and stubborn residue!

Here’s everything you should place in the bottom rack:

• Plates: Put your dinnerplates between the tines on the rack so they’re kept nice and secure. And make sure their dirty sides are facing towards the middle too, so the spray arm can rinse off food and grease.

• Pots and pans: Place cookware upside down towards the sides or back of the rack. That way, water and detergent can reach inside and be easily drained.

• Serving dishes: Trays and platters can also be placed on the bottom rack — but try to keep these near the side or back too. This is so they don’t block the spray arms and disrupt the flow of water.

If your dishwasher has a cutlery basket (pretty much all of them do nowadays), put your forks, spoons, and knives in it with the handles facing down. This is so the cleaning jets can reach the dirty parts best.

And if you’ve got a dishwasher with a third rack, you could use that for your cutlery instead. Just lay your items flat and spread them out a little to avoid nesting. This will make sure they get cleaned more thoroughly. Plus, using the third rack can help stop sharp knives from sticking out and jabbing you when emptying your dishwasher.

We’ve covered a good few already, but here are most of the don’ts when it comes to loading up your dishwasher:

• Not scraping dishes: Make sure to remove big bits of food from your plates before putting them in your dishwasher. This is so the filter doesn’t get clogged up.

• Overcrowding: If you try and squeeze too many items in your dishwasher, it can prevent water and detergent from reaching everything. This could mean finding crockery and cutlery that hasn’t been fully cleaned when unloading. Crowding plates and glasses can also cause them to break or chip.

• Adding non-dishwasher safe items: Wooden utensils, fragile glassware, and fine china aren’t designed to go in dishwashers and should only be washed by hand. Some plastics also can’t survive the high heats they reach and could warp. So, always check for dishwasher-safe markings first.

• Blocking the cleaning jets: Placing large items like pans and serving dishes directly over the spray arms can hinder the whole cleaning process. Always make sure that they can move freely before running a cycle.

Where do you put dishwasher tablets?

Dishwasher tablets should go in the detergent compartment located on the inside of your dishwasher’s door. Just open it up, add the tablet, then close the lid. This will make sure the tablet is released at the right time during the wash cycle, so it’ll dissolve properly and clean your plates, cutlery, and cookware.

Do you take the plastic off dishwasher tablets?

The plastic coating on most dishwasher tablets is dissolvable, which means there’s no need to remove it. During the wash cycle, the water will simply melt it away and release the cleaning detergent.

Need extra advice?

We hope your dishwasher is handling the dirty work better than ever before. But if your appliance still isn’t cleaning effectively and you reckon it’s on the way out, make sure to read our piece on the 4 signs for when it’s time to replace your dishwasher.

If you do fancy a new one, check out our huge range of freestanding dishwashers, integrated dishwashers, and space-saving slimline dishwashers. And our dishwasher buying guide has loads of extra tips to help you find a shiny new machine.