The big dishwasher debate: should cutlery go up or down?

Countless household debates have been sparked off by the seemingly-simple act of loading the dishwasher. One recurring questions is – should you stack cutlery items up or down? 

Some might view stacking particularly sharp implements, such as knives, downwards as safer, as you won't accidentally cut yourself while loading other items. 

However, other people prefer to load cutlery items upright as they feel that it is the only way to truly get them clean and dry.

In fact, both arguments have merit, as you’ll see below. 

No matter which way you stack your cutlery, choose one of the best dishwashers for optimum results

The case for loading cutlery pointing up

When cutlery points upwards, it is more exposed to the water jets rather than being buried at the bottom of the basket. 

Also, you can visibly see if the cutlery is nesting together – when items nestle tightly together, the water and detergent can't circulate and clean them properly. 

Facing upwards, it's easier to spot any nesting items and separate them. 

The case for loading cutlery pointing down

Safety is key here. Sharper implements such as knives should be loaded with the blades facing down so you don’t accidentally cut yourself.

Another advantage is that it’s easier to unload items if their handles are facing up. Also, you avoid touching the ends of the cutlery.

What do manufacturers say?

LG advises to ‘place forks and spoons in the cutlery basket with their handles downwards’.

Bosch suggests knives should be placed sharp edge down, while other cutlery should be mixed up to prevent nesting and blocking off water.

Beko also says that knives should be placed with handles up in the air to ensure loading and emptying is comfortable and safe.

The verdict: which is best, up or down?

While we don't like to sit on the fence, we’d say both. Sharper implements should always be placed blade down.

For any really sharp knives, such as carving knives, you should handwash these anyway so that the water jets don't gradually blunt the blades. 

Everything else should be placed in an alternating pattern up and down to prevent them nesting together and give you the best chance of top-quality cleaning. 

While unloading may take a little longer, we think it's worth it.

Extra tips for loading cutlery

Longer utensils tend to be better off laid down on the top rack. If you put them in a cutlery basket, they could also potentially block the spray arms above from spinning. 

Cutlery baskets are generally easier to load and have the advantage of being easy to remove, and then taken to the cutlery drawer for quick unloading. 

Loading cutlery trays requires more precision. However, not having a cutlery basket can free up more usable space in the lower basket for larger saucepans and bakeware.

High-quality chef’s knives should be kept out of the dishwasher to prevent blunting. It’s also better to wash wooden items by hand to stop them from splintering.

For further advice, check out our complete guide on how to load your dishwasher