Our 5 Best Dishwasher Tips from 2019

Lisa Freedman
Lisa FreedmanExecutive Lifestyle Director
Lisa Freedman is the Executive Lifestyle Director at The Kitchn. She has never met a cheese or a washi tape she didn't like. She lives in New York state with her husband and their pup, Millie.
updated Dec 19, 2019
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Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn

There’s a lot to say, year after year, about dishwashers. Because they’re so darn divisive! This year, we covered the 10 things that are ABSOLUTELY true about dishwashers (no matter how much your roommate wants to debate them!), and all sorts of hacks and tricks for getting the most out of this finicky appliance. Here are five of our best tips from the year.

Credit: Diana Liang

1. We all need to use less detergent.

No, even less than that! Using too much detergent in your dishwasher not only wastes detergent, but it can also make your glasses cloudy. Earlier this year, we ran a great story that can help everyone learn how to keep from going overboard.

Read more: The Dishwasher Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (and How to Quit)

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy

2. Fridge shelves can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

This looks a little ridiculous, yes, but it totally works! And it means less active scrubbing on your part, freeing you up to do something (anything!) else.

Read more: The Most Ridiculously Simple Way to Get the Inside of Your Fridge Sparkling Clean

Credit: Joe Lingeman

3. Your dish drying rack can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Speaking of random things you can (and should) clean in the dishwasher! If you have a plastic dish drying rack, you should throw it in the dishwasher from time to time. Because you don’t want clean dishes to dry on something that’s dirty!

Read more: You Should Throw Your Dish Rack in the Dishwasher — Here’s Why

Credit: Joe Lingeman

4. You should add a bowl of vinegar to the top rack.

Still seeing cloudy dishes even after you’ve cut back on the amount of detergent you’re using? Add a bowl of vinegar to the top rack the next time you run a cycle to help combat hard water stains.

Read more: You Should Put a Bowl of Vinegar in Your Dishwasher — Here’s Why

Credit: Walmart

5. Amazon sells a cheap-o cleaner that reviewers love.

Not only is this the bestselling dishwasher cleaner on Amazon, but it also has almost 2,000 five-star reviews. We fell for this stuff VERY hard this year.

Buy: Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, $5

Got any tips from this year to add to this list? Leave them in the comments below!

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Cleaning