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   While loading a dishwasher may not exactly be an art, it does require skill if your dishes are not to come out broken, chipped or encrusted with baked-on food. Here are 10 great dishwasher loading tips to help you obtain maximum usage while guaranteeing clean dishes.

Start at the beginning. While most dishwashers are capable of removing pieces of food successfully, it is necessary to prepare the dishes in advance. Wash or scrape off all large particles of food before you load them.  This is particularly necessary if your dishwasher is a model lacking a built-in garberator or hard food disposal system.
Next, be sure and position all dishes with safety and security in mind. Make certain that breakables do not touch each other. This will decrease breakage caused by the vibration of the washing cycle. Be particularly careful with glass stemware, keeping an eye to it being balanced and secure.
Using the same logic, do not place breakable items on metal cutlery. This will cut down and/or prevent the incidence of chipped and cracked dishes. Furthermore, do not place cutlery, specifically keen edged knives, with the blades pointing up. The knife edge should point downwards in the cutlery basket. This will prevent injury resulting from grabbing a knife blade while emptying out the tray.
If you do not want to warp or melt plastics, place them in the top rack and restrict the heat to economy or a no-heat drying cycle.
Beyond safety issues are cleanliness concerns. If you want your dishes to emerge at least cleaner than they went in, you have to position them properly in the dishwasher. Make sure you place all dishes with sufficient distance between them to allow both the water and the detergent to reach and clean their surfaces. Slant at an angle or lay all bowls face down and stand all bottles straight. Position all cookware face down on the bottom rack.
When washing cutlery, try not to overload the basket or tray and, whenever possible, spread them out. This will allow them a chance to come out clean.
If you put some objects such as lids from bottles, or jars, place them in a basket designed to hold them. This way they will not find themselves trapped at the bottom of the dishwasher while you try to save them and prevent possible damage.
In the same manner, be sure to remove or secure any object that could become trapped in the bottom of the dishwasher. This includes paper objects such as labels attached to jars or bottles or even plastic containers which can become trapped in the washer drain.
To further ensure the dishwasher can operate safely and to prevent possible damage to any parts, make sure the rotating arm is free to do is job without hindrance from any of the dishes.
Finally, follow the manufacturer’s wishes. Use the recommended amount of dish detergent and add rinse agents for the best possible spot-free rinsing of glassware.

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