How to minimize time taken to load/unload dishwasher

Hi all,

Starting this thread in response to another thread Newly married and biggest fight so far...all over dirty dishes

For those of us that have to unload and load dishwashers on a daily basis, wanted to discuss how to minimize the time taken to do so. It takes me a maximum of 11 minutes on a daily basis to unload/load the dishwasher. Here are my tips:

Use implements that make organizing of utensils easier:

• Mug/cup stand (for example, Amazon.com: Pomerantz Oak Mug Tree: Home & Garden)
• Utensil jar for spatulas etc.. (for example Amazon.com: BIA Cordon Bleu 64-Ounce Utensil Crock, White: Home & Garden)
• Organizer for spoons, kinves and forks (for example,Amazon.com: BAMBOO cutlery SILVERWARE sectioned utensil TRAY kitchen drawer organizer: Home & Garden)
• Shelving unit for plates (for example, Amazon.com: 2 Shelf Cabinet Organizer (White) (8 1/2"H x 17 1/4"L x 8 1/2"W): Home & Garden)
• Pot lid organizer ( for example, http://www.amazon.com/Grayline-Cabinet-Dorr-Lid-Rack/dp/B002HRJPC8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1256523890&sr=1-2)

When loading the dishwasher, arrange utensils in the dishwasher so that similar ones are closer to each other. For example, keep the cups closer to each other, saucers close each other.

When unloading, pick out similar objects that that go in the same region in the kitchen so in each unload step you are tackling multiples of similar objects.

Hope this helps.

It helps a LOT. Cool tips, BeeAmma. Thank you!

I love to do dishwashing.........very therapeutic it is and always have to keep the area around the sink dry.......well a bit of complusive obsession too. While cooking also I do the same...after each dish, I clean up around the stove, before I start the next!!........

But one more thing about dishwasher that I have noticed is......if you do end up stacking the mugs on the top rack, there is always a little amount of water that keeps collecting on the mug..So I always pull out the bottom rack first and empty it and then pull out the top one, so that it prevents the collected water from spilling over the dry ones in the bottom rack.

Originally Posted by knot2share

But one more thing about dishwasher that I have noticed is......if you do end up stacking the mugs on the top rack, there is always a little amount of water that keeps collecting on the mug..So I always pull out the bottom rack first and empty it and then pull out the top one, so that it prevents the collected water from spilling over the dry ones in the bottom rack.

Hi,

Have you tried loading the mugs upside down, to prevent water from collecting in them at all?

Yes, the mugs are always kept facing down.....water gets collected in the centre of the base and not inside the mug..........am I making sense here ????

purr...fect sense as normal K2S
I have not had tht problem as mine has a slight tilt to the cup rack..
although i find big dishes quite cumbersome, cant seem to wash more than a couple at a time......i guess i dont own a huge washing machine..and therein lies the problem...

Originally Posted by knot2share

Yes, the mugs are always kept facing down.....water gets collected in the centre of the base and not inside the mug..........am I making sense here ????

Yes.

There may be a couple of things that can fix this problem:

(1) If a rinse aid is STRONGLY recommended (and it is, with my LG), then it surely makes a differences as to whether the dishes are fully dried or not. I have no idea what the connection is, just that it works for my dishwasher. The times my MIL loads the dishes and runs the machine without the rinse aid, the dishes come out half-way dry.

(2) When the dishes are done, open the door and let them air-dry. I used to do this until I found out that keeping the rinse aid compartment filled PRIOR to starting the cycle fixed the wet-dishes problem.

(3) I read somewhere that if you run your hot water for a few minutes prior to starting the machine, the dishwasher gets hot water through out the cycle, and ends up drying more efficiently. I didn't try this myself, though.

(4) If all else fails, then take a look at owner manual to see what is happening. You should be able to call customer service for assistance. Moreover, if your dishwasher is under 1 year old, then it will be covered by manufacturer's warranty. If it is older (but under extended warranty), then your retailer should fix this problem for you for free.

Hi Malyatha

Thank you for the tips. I did not know about the rinse aid feature. I have seen it on the shelf in super markets but never thought that was really needed other than the dishwashing tablet. Might give that a try.

I also keep the door slightly ajar after the wash, so as to stop the steam from condensing and settling down on the mugs. Have noticed that when I unload the dishwasher after a couple of days (yes, my laziness!), everything is dry and no issues at all.

very nice tips, Beeamma. thank you.

I follow most of the points and it's indeed time-saving. for example when arranging spoons etc., in the spoon box i load similar pattern spoons together, forks together so it's easy to pull out all in one go and arrange them in the draw as well. the same with plates... size wise and design wise:)

Latha