The mistake we all make with the tablet: 4 things you must know about the dishwasher

We are all familiar with the frustration: the dishwasher finished a two-hour cycle, but when we open the door we discover cloudy glasses, plates with residue, and a feeling that we need to start all over again. Before you rush to blame the appliance itself, you should know that the problem is almost always in the way we use it. A video published by the cleaning expert behind the YouTube channel Clean That Up went viral and garnered over a million and a half views, after he broke down everything we do wrong in the kitchen. Here are the 4 main things that must be changed:

1. The TikTok mistake: where do you really put the tablet?

Have you seen videos online that recommend throwing the cleaning tablet directly to the bottom of the dishwasher? This is a common mistake that can ruin the cleaning results. The tablet must be placed only in the designated compartment (the dispenser), because it is designed to release the soap at the precise and correct stage of the wash cycle. Throwing the soap to the bottom activates it immediately and wastes the cleaning effect just when it is too early.

1. Do you need to rinse the dishes in advance?

Absolutely not. One of the biggest disputes in the kitchen is whether you need to rinse the food off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. The scientific answer will surprise you: you must not rinse them in advance. Modern detergents are based on enzymes designed to attach precisely to food residues in order to break them down effectively. All you need to do is scrape off only the large pieces of food, and let the dishwasher do the work - this way you will save both expensive water and unnecessary work time.

1. The secret of the top shelf: glasses, plastic, and sponges

The top shelf is intended for delicate items and materials that might be damaged by high heat:

• Angle of the glasses: never place glasses in a flat position or directly over the prongs, as they might bounce and break. Always place them at a slight angle on the designated slots to allow the water to flow out and prevent annoying water puddles.

• Plastic utensils: their place is only on the top shelf, as the bottom shelf is too close to the heating element and might warp or melt them.

• Wooden utensils and sponges: never put wooden utensils in the dishwasher, as they will swell and crack. In contrast, popular kitchen sponges are heat resistant and can be thrown on top to refresh and clean them thoroughly.

1. The bottom shelf and mandatory checks before pressing "Start"

• Direction of the dirt: when loading plates, pots, or baking trays on the bottom shelf, always ensure that the dirty side is facing the center of the dishwasher – this is the key to ensuring that the water and soap reach all the crevices.

• Rotation of the spray arms and overloading: before closing the door, ensure that the water arms rotate freely and no tall item blocks them, and that you have not loaded too many dishes that prevent the water from passing between them.

• Cleaning the filter: a clogged or dirty filter drastically impairs the cleaning quality - be sure to check and clean it periodically.