Most people load silverware into the dishwasher without thinking too hard about it. But cleaning pros and passionate social media users on Reddit say there actually is a right way to load the dishwasher. Here's how to load silverware so it actually gets clean.
Reddit users took to r/KitchenConfidential to debate whether items should go in facing upwards (tongs up, handle down) or downwards (tongs down, handle up). There are compelling arguments on both sides related to safety and how effectively things are cleaned, so we went to the pros at the Home Care & Cleaning Lab for a verdict.
If you sometimes find that your silverware isn't coming out of the dishwasher clean, loading it differently might be the fix you need. But if flipping your silverware around doesn't fix your problem, you may want to consider other dishwasher cleaning steps like cleaning the filter or using a dishwasher cleaner to get rid of buildup. It may also be wise to give things a quick wipe before putting them in the dishwasher.
Keep reading to see the arguments in favor of different silverware loading methods, plus what the cleaning experts say. (Hint: It's less straightforward than you might expect!)
The Case for Team Up
Reddit users who face their utensils upward when loading them into the dishwasher claim that putting the side that touches food (tongs, blade, etc.) up ensures it gets cleaned more thoroughly.
"Knives and forks? Go with up. The better cleaning does a lot more than any potential 'contamination' when unloading," says one user. "Always down? I've...honestly never done that. Just seems wrong," they added.
"Up. You unload wearing gloves or with clean hands," writes another.
"If you're at home, does it even really matter if you touched the part that goes into your mouth," asks one user.
The Case for Team Down
Team down is all about safety and possible contamination—grabbing from the handle allows you to avoid touching anything sharp or possibly contaminating the freshly-cleaned utensils with the germs on your hands.
"I was always told to put it down so that when you unload silverware you can easily grab it by the handle because you're not supposed to touch food contact surfaces bare-handed," writes @El_Guerrero_Maya.
"I don't believe for one second they're cleaned better pointing up. Pointing down only," writes one skeptic user.
The Verdict
While some feel very passionately that there is a black-and-white answer, there are also some users who say the issue is a bit more nuanced.
"Any kind of spoon? Alternate. Otherwise they will 'spoon' together and never get cleaned properly," adds one user.
Others mention washing them twice if you work in the food service industry: "Flat on the tray, then down in the silver rack for the second run."
"You should be running it through on a flat dish rack twice anyway, before it even ends up in the cutlery caddy," writes another.
The verdict? Our cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab actually recommend a mix of all of the above:
- Alternate spoons so they don't nest together.
- Forks go up so the tines get clean.
- Knives go down for safety.
So next time you go to load your utensils into the dishwasher, maybe it won't be so automatic. Who knew?
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
