Don’t Overload Your Dishwasher!  Overloading will hinder the cleaning ability of your dishwasher.  The water in the dishwasher should be able to move freely over your dishes.  Make sure breakables don’t touch each other since they can vibrate during the wash cycle and become damaged.   Delicate dishes and glasses should be placed on the top rack.  Heavily stained items will clean better if placed on the bottom rack where they will be closer to the hot water and powerful water spray.  Note:  Some delicate items  (like lead crystal, silver pieces, sharp knives, hand-painted dishes, wooden utensils and some glassware) require hand washing.

Pre-rinsing is not necessary.  However, scraping off excess food (with a rubber scrapper or similar tool) into the garbage or a disposal unit will save you water and prevent clogs in the drain.

Separate items by size.  Large bowls should be placed where the tines are further apart.  Small bowls go where the tines are closer together.  Face bowls downward to prevent pooling of water.  Plates should face towards the center and downward to allow for draining.  Place stemware,cups, and small glasses and bowls on the top rack on an angle.  This allows water to run off bottoms and to dry properly.  Plastic items (if dishwasher safe) should also be placed on the top rack.

Large items such as cookie sheets and platters should fit nicely on the outside of the bottom rack.  Plates, saucers, pots, pans, and larger bowls go into the rest of the bottom rack.

Stagger forks and spoons.  Mixing up utensils avoids nesting with similar items, which can interfere with proper cleaning.  Place utensils with their handles down.  For safety, place knives with their handles up.  Large serving utensils can be placed horizontally across the top section of the dishwasher.  Make sure the “bowls” of serving spoons are facing downward to prevent pooling of water.

Before running the dishwasher, make sure to check if the spinning arms can spin freely, by ensuring that nothing is blocking the tubes or sprayers.  Also check to make sure that the dishwasher cup(s) can open fully.