Make sure your sink is clean before washing your dishes.
Don’t pour any grease down your drain since it could solidify and clog your pipes.
If the water gets too dirty to see through, drain your sink and refill it. Be careful when handling knives! To clean knives safely, wipe them clean from the back so you aren’t holding onto the blade. You should also never keep sharp knives in the sink since they may be hard to see if the water gets dirty. If your dishes have burnt-on food, soak them in your sink for 10-15 minutes before washing them. For stubborn stains on ceramic dishes, mix baking soda and vinegar to create a paste, then scrub the paste into the stains with a cloth. Rinse off the paste with warm water. [5] X Expert Source Raymond ChiuHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 15 October 2019. To clean a baking sheet with stuck-on food, mix baking soda and water to form a paste and scrub it into the food with a sponge. Add hydrogen peroxide to the mix for really stubborn stains. [6] X Expert Source Raymond ChiuHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
Avoid using cold water since it may cause water spots on your dishes. If you have a double sink, you can rinse off the suds on the second side to be more efficient. Otherwise, just alternate between washing and rinsing.
It’s safer and best to let your dishes air dry, since drying them with a dirty towel will only spread germs around more.
Optionally, sprinkle some baking soda around the sink to break up any food particles before you begin. If your sink is really dirty, plug it and then fill it up with water. Add a capful of bleach and let it sit for 5 minutes before draining and wiping the sink down. [10] X Research source Make sure your sink is clear of any items before you begin cleaning it.
If you’re running your dishwasher immediately after you eat, you don’t need to rinse your dishes.
Avoid nesting items, since this will prevent water from reaching and cleaning them. Plastics are loaded on the top shelf to prevent them from melting because the bottom of the dishwasher is hotter. Make sure all of your dishes say that they’re dishwasher-safe.
Most dishwashers have angled tines on the bottom rack so that your plates will point in the right direction. Never stack your dishes on top of one another even if this seems more efficient, since the water in your dishwasher won’t be able to clean them all. Do not load cookware made of wood, pewter, cast iron, crystal, fine china, bronze, or brass. [14] X Research source [15] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
Mix spoons, forks, and knives so that they don’t nest together. Don’t load sharp knives because the dishwasher can dull them, but duller knives like butter knives are okay to put in the dishwasher. Make sure long-handled utensils aren’t bumping into the water sprayer in the middle of your dishwasher. If they are, lay the utensils flat on the top rack instead. Separate silver and stainless steel cutlery since the silver may pit when they’re touching.
Don’t use liquid dish soap, as this will leave a foamy residue on your dishes.
The normal cycle on your machine will work fine for a regular wash. Use the delicate cycle if your dishes are lightly soiled or if you have fragile glassware in your dishwasher. Pick a heavy-duty cycle if you’re cleaning pots and pans. When unloading, empty the bottom rack first so that water from the top rack doesn’t spill down. [19] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
Pour the water into the skillet using a cup so you don’t have to carry it to your sink.
Don’t use detergent or steel wool on your pan since these can strip the pan. If the water is too hot, use a long-handled brush or hold the sponge with tongs. Don’t let the pan soak, or it could rust. If there’s still leftover food after draining, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons (18 grams) of coarse kosher salt and scrub away the remaining bits. The salt acts as an abrasive that helps remove the stuck food. [22] X Research source
If you don’t have any vegetable oil, you can substitute 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of melted shortening instead.
