Kitchen utensil loading in dishwasher

[Jet_deck]

Assuming that all you manly men, (ladies included also for answers), load the dishwasher; one question.  Handles up or down in the utensil basket?  My beautiful wife has a theory about why they should be loaded a certain way, and I have another.  Spill your guts.

[mkevenson]

All depends on water flow and if you want the forks to breath or not?

Mark

[Don K]

Spoon handles down, knife and fork handles up.

[jeffereynelson]

I got stabbed once, handles up.

[RobynB]

Knives point-down for safety, all else handle-down. 

[ThatsAmore]

Best guess, ... it doesn't matter.

Also, I use the toilet in a sitting down position from time to time.  If the seat is up and I need to sit down, I put it down.  But, no where have I ever fallen in the bowl because I didn't look to see if the seat down 

[rcbaughn]

I throw all my eating utensils in handle up and they get pretty clean, and I never rinse before chunking them in. All my big utensils like spatulas and big wooden spoons I lay them on their side on the top rack. Otherwise they get hung up in the top rack when I put them in the utensil holder, too tall.

I hand wash all my knives though, when I was a freshman in the dorms some guy stood them up and I sliced my right hand index finger to the bone... And big bad 18 year old me didn't go get stitches. Dumb dumb dumb. Been scared to run them in the washing machine since.

[deb415611]

Knives point-down for safety, all else handle-down. 

+1

[pizzaneer]

I don't put sharp stuff where my kid might reach it.  That includes the bottom of the dishwasher.  And I NEVER handwash a sinkful of dishes without making sure there's no lurking knives.  You ever wash dishes in a restaurant, that's rule #1.

Other than that, can't see why handle up or down in a dishwasher would make a difference. 

[TXCraig1]

Knives point-down for safety, all else handle-down.  

+1

       +2

[MightyPizzaOven]

Forks handle up

[deb415611]

Other than that, can't see why handle up or down in a dishwasher would make a difference. 

I figure that the parts that actually get used and food stuck to them/in them have a better shot at getting blasted directly by the water.  Right or wrong I have no clue, just my thought process.

[Tampa]

The only problem with knives down is that the blades over time cut through plastic utensil holders.  For us, it took about 3-4 years.
Dave

[buceriasdon]

I'm a knife edge fanatic sort of guy, when I had a dishwasher I never put my knives in it because of the jostling around. I have always hand washed, dried and put my knives away after use.
Don,

[pizzaneer]

I figure that the parts that actually get used and food stuck to them/in them have a better shot at getting blasted directly by the water.  Right or wrong I have no clue, just my thought process.

Pre-rinse or no pre-rinse?
 I've had to clean out the drain hose connection too many times.  It's a pain.  I rinse off anything loose before putting it in the dishwasher for sanitizing.

[deb415611]

Pre-rinse or no pre-rinse?
 I've had to clean out the drain hose connection too many times.  It's a pain.  I rinse off anything loose before putting it in the dishwasher for sanitizing.

It depends on what it looks like, I don't put anything in that is really bad.  Our dishwasher says that you don't need to pre-rinse but I don't rely on that. 

[Jet_deck]

Best guess, ... it doesn't matter.

It is immaterial whether or not I think it matters.  If she is convinced that it matters, then it matters.

[Jet_deck]

So, I guess everyone is "religious" about washing your hands before you unload the dishwasher, right?

[MightyPizzaOven]

So, I guess everyone is "religious" about washing your hands before you unload the dishwasher, right?

We don't, but it is a must whenever we get in house from work or market, etc... And of course before handling or preparing food etc...

[TXCraig1]

So, I guess everyone is "religious" about washing your hands before you unload the dishwasher, right?