Experts reveal how to load your dishwasher this Christmas – and say the key is sticking a wash on BEFORE you sit down to eat your dinner

Loading the dishwasher is a chore that many people dread.  

And with so many pots, pans, plates and glasses used at Christmas, this task can be even more arduous over the festive period. 

Thankfully, help is at hand, as Which? has released a brand new guide on how to load your dishwasher this Christmas. 

‘While it’s less work than hand-washing everything after Christmas dinner, loading the dishwasher is still a chore,’ Which? said. 

‘But you can lighten the load by stacking your dishwasher efficiently.’

While it might sound laborious, the consumer champion advises sticking a wash on before you sit down to eat your dinner. 

‘Before you sit down to eat your Christmas feast, stick your dirtiest cooking dishes on an intensive wash (as long as they’re dishwasher safe),’ it said. 

‘This should get roasting trays and pans off the to-do list.’

Which? has summarised the best dishwashing strategy in four key steps – and says that planning is key. 

Firstly, Which? says you should prepare as much food in advance as possible to reduce the amount of washing up you’ll need to do on Christmas Day itself.

‘Prepare vegetables on Christmas Eve and parboil the spuds for your roast potatoes,’ it advised. 

‘You can even get them crisped up early on Christmas morning, avoiding the need to clean a crusty pan later in the day.’

Next, stick your dirtiest cooking dishes on an intensive wash before you sit down to eat your Christmas dinner. 

After dinner, use the main program to clean your dinner plates, cutlery and glassware. 

‘Depending on your dishwasher and how delicate your glassware is, you may be able to add champagne flutes into this wash, too,’ Which? said. 

Finally, if you’ve used any fine china or crystal, use a third, gentle wash. 

For your first dishwasher load, Which? recommends opting for an intensive programme

First dishwasher load 

For your first dishwasher load, Which? recommends popping all your dirtiest pans and trays in on an intensive programme. 

‘This washes at a higher temperature and water pressure, enabling the dishwasher to really clean the grimiest pans and trays,’ it explained. 

However, there are some key rules that you should follow. 

Firstly, make sure you remove any excess grease and oil, or you’ll risk it solidifying and blocking your dishwasher’s filter or drain. 

‘Collect any excess and dispose of it in your regular food-waste bin,’ it said. 

Roasting trays should go into the dishwasher face-down – but pay close attention to what yours are made of. 

While stainless steel is dishwasher safe, cast iron is a no-go – and aluminium is only fine if it’s been anodised. 

Once you’ve got the dirtiest pans and trays out of the way, it’s time to tackle the plates, cutlery, gravy jugs, and glasses

Which? said: ‘If not, harsh detergents can cause it to turn black.’

Finally, use the adjustable racks for taller items. 

‘Check the instruction manual for whether your dishwasher has an upper rack that can be lowered or raised,’ Which? added. 

‘Others use a system that requires you to remove the rack and adjust the runners.’

Second dishwasher load

Once you’ve got the dirtiest pans and trays out of the way, it’s time to tackle the plates, cutlery, gravy jugs, and glasses. 

When faced with stacks of dinnerware, you might be tempted to overload your machine. 

However, this will prevent the water and detergent from spreading around, leaving you with dirty plates. 

‘Try alternating larger and smaller plates next to each other to aid this,’ Which? said. 

Thankfully, Which? says that you only need to scrape the remnants off your plates and reassures there’s no need to rinse. 

‘You often only need to knock off lumps of leftover food before loading. Pre-rinsing could waste water unnecessarily,’ it said. 

‘The exception to this rule is if you’ve left your dishes sitting around all day before washing. 

‘If so, do give them a rinse before putting them in the dishwasher, for the best chance of getting everything clean.’

While many gravy jugs are short and wide, these are actually more difficult to wash. 

‘Consider using a tall gravy jug as it will take up less space in the dishwasher,’ Which? addded. 

For wine glasses and champagne flutes, Which? advises using a separate delicate wash programme – this will wash at a lower temperature and water pressure to better protect the glass. 

For wine glasses and champagne flutes, Which? advises using a separate delicate wash programme – this will wash at a lower temperature and water pressure to better protect the glass

‘Wash champagne flutes in the top rack, using a gentle program,’ it said. 

‘You might worry that this will cause them to go cloudy over time, but modern dishwashers and detergents prevent this from happening, even in hard-water areas. 

‘Just make sure the salt and rinse aid are topped up beforehand.’

Meanwhile, it’s probably safest to wash any good crockery by hand. 

‘Even delicate dishwasher settings can fade or damage the decorations,’ Which? warned.