So, you’ve got a dishwasher with a cutlery tray instead of a basket—nice choice! These trays (usually located at the very top of the dishwasher) are great for keeping utensils separated, which means better cleaning and no nesting spoons. But if you’re just tossing everything in randomly, you might not be getting the best results.
Let’s go over the right way to load your dishwasher’s cutlery tray for the cleanest, shiniest utensils every time!
1. Lay Everything Flat and Spread Out
Unlike a cutlery basket where utensils stand upright, a cutlery tray requires you to lay everything flat. The key here is spacing—if you pile utensils on top of each other, water won’t reach every surface properly.
✔ Spread them out so each piece has space.
✔ Avoid stacking spoons or forks directly on top of each other.
2. Keep Knives in Their Designated Slots
Most cutlery trays come with special grooves or slots for knives. Always place them blade-side down for safety and to prevent dulling.
✔ If your tray doesn’t have designated knife slots, lay them flat and make sure they don’t touch each other.
3. Group Similar Items Together
For easier unloading (and to avoid losing your favorite teaspoon in the abyss of the dishwasher), try this:
✔ Forks in one section, spoons in another, knives in their place.
✔ If you have a ton of cutlery, alternate between different types to prevent them from sticking together.
This little trick makes unloading way faster—trust me!
4. Angle Spoons and Forks Slightly
If your tray allows for it, slightly tilt spoons and forks instead of laying them completely flat. This helps water and detergent reach every surface, leaving you with cleaner utensils.
✔ If your spoons are too flat, water might just slide over them instead of really scrubbing them clean.
5. Don’t Overcrowd the Tray
Yes, it’s tempting to cram every single utensil in there to avoid doing another load. But overloading your cutlery tray blocks water flow and leaves food residue behind.
✔ If you have too many utensils, remove a few and run another cycle later.
6. Avoid Placing Small Items Loose in the Tray
Tiny items like measuring spoons, bottle caps, or corn holders can fall through cracks and get stuck in the dishwasher’s moving parts.
✔ Use a small dishwasher-safe container to keep these items secure.
7. Double-Check Before Starting the Cycle
Before you hit Start, do a quick check to make sure nothing is overlapping or blocking the spray arms. A little adjustment can make a huge difference in how clean your cutlery gets!
Final Thoughts
A well-loaded cutlery tray = cleaner utensils, no rewashing, and faster unloading. Just remember:
✅ Spread everything out – no overcrowding!
✅ Use designated knife slots to protect blades.
✅ Angle spoons & forks for better cleaning.
✅ Keep tiny items secure so they don’t disappear mid-cycle.
Follow these simple steps, and you’ll get sparkling clean cutlery every time! Now, go load that tray like a dishwasher pro.