My only disagreement with this is that there are some things that result in a more efficient unload. For example, as you put utensils in, grouping like utensils will result in a more efficient unloading. It's sort of like insertion sort, you start wit an empty set, insert a fork in one area, next you insert a spoon where spoons go, etc. It is marginally more effort than placing them in.

I do agree though if you load you get to load however you see fit. So carry on with doing stuff!

On the other hand, grouping like utensils might result in nesting such as spoons spooning. Might that reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning of those utensils?

Speaking of utensils in the dishwasher, I've occasionally stabbed myself on a steak knife when removing utensils from the dishwasher.

That raises the question of why do many steak knives have pointy tips?

I have never had occasion to stab my steak, nor have I ever noticed anyone else doing so with their steak. If I need to stab a piece of steak for some reason a fork will handle that just fine.

I intentionally alternate spoons with forks to ensure that adjacent spoons don't prevent each other from getting cleaned. And I put all knives in one area by themselves; I still have to avoid poking myself, but keeping them separate makes it easier to focus on the knives all at once.

But agreed, no idea why a kitchen steak knife would need a pointed tip.

I guess it depends on the dish washer, mine has individual slots for each utensil so this won't happen. They all get a margin of space between one another.

Miele dishwashers (maybe they exist for others brands too but I've only ever seen them on Miele) have a cutlery tray at the top of the dishwasher which allows you to lay cutlery down next to each other.

Emptying is then simply grabbing the entire group and placing straight into the drawer.

Example: https://www.miele.com/media/microsites/ubc/images/Jubilee/13...

Widely available in all brands as far as I can tell. I don't get it all (had several chances to try it, family), in my experience it moves work from the unloading phase to the loading phase. I'd rather do it in the former. I know other people love it. When I was planning our kitchen, the lady said (jokingly) it's a religious issue.

I have this (ours is a Bosch) and it’s wonderful. Cutlery goes from being a jangly hassle to an absolute breeze, and it also means there’s more space in the rest of the washer for everything else.

Yep, same idea as the vertical arrangement in many less expensive models!

Grouping similar things results in spoons spooning each other and not getting clean!

Lies! You should do the sorting once they're already clean, because they're easier to handle then. When you're loading it they're all dirty, put them wherever is quickest.

isn't this just a zero-sum game? The time you save by unloading is spent while loading it

depends on how you load. during loading items more likely come in a random order, especially if a single meal is not enough to fill the machine, but you collect items throughout the day until the machine is full. so if you are handling one item at a time already, might as well use the opportunity to sort right there.

Interesting idea. I intentionally do the opposite because spoons stick to each other.

I dislike double handling.

If the dishwasher is awaiting dirty things, then whoever carts their own dishes into the kitchen can stick it straight in rather than place it on a bench for anyone else.

If the dishwasher is full of clean things. Then empty it, and put your dirty thing in.

Of course, it is a fantasy to ensure others in my household see things the same way.

The person who unloads should decide. Nothing worse than unloading a dishwasher with the spoons sticking together, cups full of pools of water, dishes still dirty because they were stacked too tightly, etc etc

Sounds like a recipe for someone who never starts the dishes in the first place to complain about folks who do!!!!

/s

Don't block the spinny thing. Don't leave anything where it can fall through onto the heating element and start burning. Make sure things can't flip over and fill with nasty greywater that sloshes onto everything else.

The number of times people have done me the "favor" of loading my dishwasher and broken these rules has made me sweat it too.

As long as the dishes come out clean, then fine. If the way the dishes were loaded prevented some items from getting clean, then we have a problem.

Early on my wife and I had a blow out argument about the dishwasher. Truth is we just started living together and we had some little annoyances bottled up and the dishwasher is what broke the camels back that evening. But, we remember it as the dishwasher fight. And, she does all the dishes now because I’m standing my ground that there is nothing wrong with my method, it’s just not hers. Happily married and have been living together for almost 20 years now and I haven’t loaded a single dish in almost as long. It actually worked out brilliantly for me now that I think about it.

Why is it that people are always so quick to suggest (couples) therapy? Is it so unlikely that two adults can work something out between themselves, especially if they are in a marriage? Being married is essentially figuring out these mini conflicts, so you better be good at it. That's not to say that counseling cannot help, but it always seems like such an overreaction. Also: please don't take relationship advice from random strangers :)

Because very often:

1. It's not about the disagreement. It's about what's behind the disagreement.

2. Many people cannot or will not discuss matters amongst themselves. Getting an impartial third-party engaged (and one who doesn't have a stake in future relationship(s) with the disputants) can have a hugely useful "unsticking" function.

Mind, there are many therapists and therapy methods, not all work, and some practitioners are incredibly ineffective.

Totally agree that conflict resolution is a key component of marriage. I suggest couples therapy as it provided me (and others) with a larger toolbox to address conflicts in general. Of course, if a couple can satisfactorily figure things out themselves, then no need! But that's not the picture that OP painted.

Hmmm. That escalated quickly.

Or it could be the thing they joke and laugh about how different they're from each other. Taking extreme absurd examples at each other. Maybe even recording a TikTok video.