Loading a dishwasher seems simple… until your dishes come out still dirty, streaky, or covered with bits of food. The truth is, most people make the exact same mistake without realizing it, and this small habit can dramatically affect how clean your dishes get.
If you’ve ever opened your dishwasher to find plates still smeared with sauce or utensils stuck with debris, this article explains why it happens and how to stop it for good.
⭐ The #1 Dishwasher Mistake Everyone Makes: Blocking the Spray Arms
Dishwashers rely on rotating spray arms that shoot high-pressure water to clean your dishes. When the spray arms are blocked by large plates, pans, or poorly placed items, the water can’t reach the rest of the load.
As a result:
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Plates stay dirty
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Cups still look cloudy
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Food residue remains stuck
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Detergent doesn’t dissolve properly
Most people stack large plates on the bottom rack facing the wrong direction, which blocks the spray pattern and prevents the water from circulating.
How to Properly Load Your Dishwasher (The Correct Way)
✔ 1. Face All Dishes Toward the Center
Spray arms rotate in a circular motion, so placing items facing outward or sideways prevents proper cleaning.
Correct way:
➡️ All plates lean inward toward the spray source.
✔ 2. Do NOT overcrowd the racks
Stacking items tightly together means water cannot reach between them.
Leave small gaps between each plate for water circulation.
✔ 3. Place large items at the sides, not in the middle
Platters, cutting boards, and sheet pans placed in the center act like a wall, blocking water from reaching the top rack.
Correct way:
Place large flat items along the outer edges.
