Properly loading the dishwasher can feel like an acquired skill. It involves angling dishes so they get clean and often, playing a game of trial-and-error to fit items without overcrowding. Depending on the size of your dishwasher, you might find it difficult to arrange stemmed wine glasses on the top rack, or find you’re lacking enough space for cookie sheets down below. It turns out, your dishwasher might have a feature you’ve never noticed before.
After talking with our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we discovered many dishwasher models allow you to quickly lower or raise the top rack. The next time you load the dishwasher, take a closer look at the top rack. Are there little levers or multiple rows of wheels? This might be a clue that your top rack is adjustable.
Although simple, a lot of people forget to adjust their dishwasher racks — or they don’t know it’s possible. When it comes to loading water bottles, wine glasses or tall items in the dishwasher, lowering the top rack can be a game changer.
If your dishwasher rack has levers, you may be able to quickly change its position. Other models have top racks with multiple rows of wheels, requiring you to remove the top rack from its tracks and re-insert it using the other row of wheels.
Before you try this clever tip, here’s one piece of advice from our Cleaning Lab: “When adjusting the rack, make sure that the rotating spray arm attached to the bottom has enough space to spin freely without hitting dishes on the bottom rack,” says Noah Pinsonnault, Home Care and Cleaning Reviews Analyst.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
