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**Never Do This Again: The Dishwasher Mistake That Everyone Makes**
In this article, we’ll dive into why overloading your dishwasher is a mistake, how it impacts both your dishes and the appliance itself, and how to load it properly to ensure optimal cleaning results.
### Why Overloading Your Dishwasher Is a Big Mistake
2. **Increased Wear and Tear**
Stuffing your dishwasher beyond its capacity can cause unnecessary wear on both the dishes and the appliance. Overloading can cause plates and glasses to rub against each other during the wash cycle, leading to scratches, chips, or cracks. Over time, this can also cause damage to the dishwasher’s interior components, such as the spray arms, filters, and even the door seals. The more you overload, the greater the chances that your dishwasher will break down prematurely, leading to costly repairs.
3. **Energy Waste**
If the dishwasher isn’t properly loaded, it can lead to inefficient cleaning cycles. In some cases, overloading can cause certain areas of the dishwasher to remain dry, preventing them from being properly cleaned. In an effort to clean everything, you might end up running another cycle. This not only wastes more electricity but also uses more water, adding to your utility bills and harming the environment.
5. **No Room for Water Flow**
Dishwashers rely on the water flowing freely throughout the appliance, spraying all surfaces of the dishes to clean them thoroughly. When the dishwasher is overloaded, the water cannot circulate properly, leading to inefficient cleaning. In some cases, overloading can cause water to splash onto the door of the dishwasher, leaking and potentially causing water damage to your floors.
To avoid the mistake of overloading, it’s important to know how to load your dishwasher correctly. Here are some tips to help ensure that your dishes are properly cleaned and your appliance is not unnecessarily strained:
2. **Load Items Based on Size and Shape**
Place larger items such as pots, pans, and dinner plates on the bottom rack, facing downward, so the spray arms can reach them. Smaller items, like glasses, cups, and bowls, should go on the top rack. This not only helps with proper water flow but also protects delicate items from being damaged.