Home Guru Shares This Must-Know Guide for Loading the Dishwasher
Loading the dishwasher is one of those household chores many tend to do without a second thought. After all, it's way easier than washing everything by hand and less time-consuming too. But according to a home expert, there's actually a proper way to load the dishwasher for the cleanest results.
Of course, who better than the internet's favorite grandma to walk us through it? From keeping laundry fresh to ants out of the house, Babs Costello (better known as Brunch With Babs) has long taught her millions of followers on social media how to tackle countless household headaches and everyday tasks.
Now, her latest lifesaving guide covers how you should load your dishwasher.
@brunchwithbabs Did your Mom ever teach you the Do's and Don'ts for loading the dishwasher? In our family, when it comes to chores, how to load the dishwasher is one of the hottest topics. Let's face it, everyone has their own system that they think is the only way to load the dishwasher. Well, Babs is here to teach you the proper way to load your dishwasher so that each and every dish comes out sparkling clean. XO Babs
original sound - Babs
"When it comes to chores, how to load the dishwasher is one of the hottest topics," Babs explains. "Let's face it, everyone has their own system that they think is the only way." But she's here to set the record straight on the dos and don'ts you should follow when loading your dishwasher.
The Dos and Don'ts of Loading the Dishwasher, According to Brunch With Babs
To get sparkling clean dishes, Babs breaks down these dos and don'ts to keep in mind:
- Do put fragile items on the top shelf: Don't put items over the dishwasher prongs, but in between them, Babs says. Small bowls, meanwhile, shouldn't overlap; instead, they should be spread out, with bulky utensils placed between the cups and bowls.
- Don'trinse, scrape: Instead of rinsing your dishes, scrape them to save water and give the detergent something to adhere to
- Do put the most fragile items on the prongs: For items like wine glasses, Babs explains. If you have a stabilizer, put it down for these delicate pieces, too.
- Do drop your top dishwasher shelf down for tall itemsbefore closing: For items like tall wine glasses, Babs demonstrates how to lower the top rack of the dishwasher and return it to its original position.
- Do face dishes on the bottom shelf to the center: that way, Babs says, the sprayer can get every piece squeaky clean.
Once again, users were blown away by Bab's advice. "I needed this," one wrote in the comments. As another said: "Babs! I've just learned so much, thank you!"
Related: Cleaning Expert Says This DIY Solution Is the Secret to Sparkling Kitchen Cabinets
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 5:15 PM.