topic Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware? in Community Chat

UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

ciao_bella — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:55:39 GMT

While the 'under or over' toilet paper roll still is on on going debate, I thought the following question would be have some great pros and cons answers as well. I'm asking this question because I was at my sister's house and she does the opposite of me loading her flatware in the dishwasher. So, for fun, I thought I would throw the question out there.

Should flatware be placed facing up or down in the dishwasher and why? I'm not speaking about knives, as it's a given to place them point side down in the dishwasher flatware container for safety reasons. What about the other flatware? Some say placing the handles down in the dishwasher flatware container with the eating parts up give extra room for more flatware in the dishwasher, while others say to place the eating parts down with the handles facing up. Does either direction clean and/or dry better, or is there another reason for you to choose one way over the other? What say you?

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

spumoni99 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:45:13 GMT

I'm no help I have a slim slide out drawer at the top where I put most of the silverware so it lays flat. When I do put it in the others I do eating side down, I just figure they might get cleaner, now that I think of it that doesn't really make sense!

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

J Town Girl — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:48:50 GMT

I've always placed my flatware in the dishwasher with the eating side up. I don't think I could even place it handle side up because of the way the flatware holder for my dishwasher is designed. There's a little slot for each piece and the spoons and forks wouldn't fit handle side up.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Bri369 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:49:08 GMT

Spoons and forks get loaded into the dishwasher with the handles facing down. I've never had an issue.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

haddon9 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:51:24 GMT

Toilet paper...over

Flatware is lying down in its side in a drawer at the top just for it.

However I used to put utensils in facing down since I felt that it was more sanitary to get them out rather than touch the part that goes into your mouth.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

riley1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:52:51 GMT

Eating side up, handles down.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

jlkz — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:01:44 GMT

I place flatware handle side down because it is easier to quickly unload the dishwasher that way.

Also, the handles take up less room at the bottom of the holder so more flatware can be placed there.

More water and soap will be swished around the tops so they can get " cleaner ".

Clean hands, clean eating utensils.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

ECBG — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:07:12 GMT

We place the flatware handles down where the water spray will directly hit the area that touches your mouth or food.

I often add a cap full of clorox before I start the wash cycle.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

OKPrincess — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:13:58 GMT

All handles up to avoid touching the eating part of the utensils when unloading.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

chickenbutt — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:16:16 GMT

Oh, definitely up (handles down).

As to the tp, it has been decided - OVER! (seriously)

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

drizzellla — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:19:42 GMT

I always put the handle side down. Guess I learned to do that as a kid when I loaded the dishwasher. Probably always under duress.

So I continue to do it that way now.

I also wash sharp knives with points by hand. So even the flatware knives are put in handle side down.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Nonametoday — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:28:45 GMT

I asked the guy who sold me the dishwasher, because DH and I always argue about this, just like toilet tissue. He said "either way, but the reality is that placing them food side down will cause your baskets to go bad in a few years; on the other hand, if you have knives and forks sticking up, you could suffer hand injuries that cost more than baskets. It's your choice, but I side with the ladies to put the eating side down."

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

pupwhipped — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:33:07 GMT

Wow, guess I'm a weirdo as I do both. I put some up and some down. 🤷‍♀️

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

chickenbutt — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:38:09 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I always put the handle side down. Guess I learned to do that as a kid when I loaded the dishwasher. Probably always under duress.

So I continue to do it that way now.

I also wash sharp knives with points by hand. So even the flatware knives are put in handle side down.

Like you, I always hand-wash my knives (aside from the regular butter-type knives that come in a set of flatware), as I truly believe it's the best thing for taking proper care of them.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

meallen616 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:46:12 GMT

Handles down and eating up!

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Pagan — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:46:52 GMT

Random thoughts:

1) if you put them in head first, the cleaning job might not be so good because there's a basket in the way. Also spoons head down can collect water deposits etc and that wouldn't happen if they were upright.

2) if upright, you can lift them out of the basket without touching the heads by reaching further down the shafts to grasp them.

3) if heads up, you need to be careful of sharp edges..

4) laying things flat in a basket, unless unavoidable, would seem to be the worst choice for effective cleaning. The items could bunch together or turn over leaving still soiled surfaces and spoons full of watery ******.

5) I don't think you should put more than one of each type of item in each basket section if possible. If you do, you need to be really careful that similar items don't nest.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Puppy Lips — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:20:17 GMT

We always put them eating side down. I think it is just easier to take them out and put them away when they are cleaned.

However, I was at the home of the woman who used to watch my kids and she had a dishwasher repair man there. I remember him saying that the cutlery should be placed with the handles down, I think so that they would clean better.

We need a new dishwasher as ours is 15 years old and having "issues." At this point, we are rinsing things really well before they even go in the dishwasher.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

drizzellla — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:59:58 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
I always put the handle side down. Guess I learned to do that as a kid when I loaded the dishwasher. Probably always under duress.

So I continue to do it that way now.

I also wash sharp knives with points by hand. So even the flatware knives are put in handle side down.

Like you, I always hand-wash my knives (aside from the regular butter-type knives that come in a set of flatware), as I truly believe it's the best thing for taking proper care of them.

@chickenbutt You got that right. I used to put all my carbon steel knives in the dishwasher. I figured the high temperature scrub and sani-rinse would kill any germs.

Well, my brother was showing off one Thanksgiving. He tried to pierce the lid of the can of cranberry sauce with one of the carbon steel knives. He broke the tip off the knife.

When I bought a new Wusthof knife to replace the broken knife. The new knife is not carbon steel. The first statement on the information was to not put the knife in the dishwasher. OOPS! I now wash all sharp knives by hand.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Citrine1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:00:57 GMT

@J Town Girl wrote:
I've always placed my flatware in the dishwasher with the eating side up. I don't think I could even place it handle side up because of the way the flatware holder for my dishwasher is designed. There's a little slot for each piece and the spoons and forks wouldn't fit handle side up.

Same. That's the only way my flatware fits in my dishwasher. However, in my old dishwasher, I used to place it handle up.

Re: UP or DOWN.. Dishwasher Flatware?

Citrine1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:02:34 GMT

@OKPrincess wrote:
All handles up to avoid touching the eating part of the utensils when unloading.

Right! That's why I liked my old dishwasher better because that's how I feel, but new dishwasher won't let me load them that way. Argh.