Reddit Users Swear This Is the Right Way to Load Plates in the Dishwasher

Almost everyone thinks their way of loading the dishwasher is the “right way.” Whether you’ve thought about it strategically or you simply load the dishwasher a certain way because, well, that’s how you’ve always done it, you probably have a go-to method. A Reddit thread inspired us to ask cleaning pros about the best way to load plates in the dishwasher.

In the r/CleaningTips community on Reddit, the great dishwasher debate is whether to have all plates facing the same direction or have them all facing the center of the machine. Key factors include how clean the dishes are at the end of a cycle, space between the dishes, and how many dishes you can fit in a load using each method. (And this is all before we even get to the right way to load silverware and other items in the machine).

We asked the pros at the Home Care & Cleaning Lab to weigh in to find out once and for all what the best way to load plates in the dishwasher is. If you’re looking for the expert take on other viral internet tips, read up on a “lazy” shower cleaning trick, a hack for defrosting your windshield, and how to protect your pans from stubborn burnt-on stains.

All Plates Facing the Same Direction

The Reddit user who started the thread shared a photo of how they load the dishwasher, with all plates and bowls facing the same direction, compared to how their family member loads it.

While plenty agreed that they load it similarly, many mentioned their concern with how close the plates are to one another.

“Your way, but my instinct is to double-space the bowls. Looks a bit too tight for the water to pass through that stack,” wrote one user.

“You need way more spacing. Skip a couple of rungs,” wrote another.

Others had an entirely different concern, sharing that plates should actually face towards the center, meaning ones loaded on the left should face the ones loaded on the right so that all dirty surfaces are facing the sprayer in the middle of the dishwasher.

Plates Facing the Center of the Machine

One user felt particularly passionate about all plates facing the center of the machine, claiming they called their manufacturer for proper details: “The food-contacting sides of plates should be facing the center of the dishwasher… so if you have a bunch of plates ( ( ( ( ( (, they should be put in like this: ( ( ( ) ) )”

While some users expressed their gratitude for this important tip, others shared they’ve been doing the same thing their whole lives.

“The insides of plates should be facing inwards toward the nozzles,” wrote one user.

“Face the plate eating surfaces towards the center for better spray,” shared another.

The Verdict

As long as your plates are coming out of the dishwasher clean, there’s not too much to worry about. But if you’re wondering if there really is a “right” answer, we asked our experts at the Home Care & Cleaning Lab for their opinion.

“While it’s always best to follow your dishwasher manufacturer’s loading guidelines, if they can go in either way (some racks only allow loading in one direction), it’s best to face the dirty surfaces toward the center for the best cleaning,” says Carolyn Forté, former executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab.

So if you don’t currently follow this technique and have noticed residue on certain items after running the dishwasher, you might want to give it a shot.