Four habits cover how to load a dishwasher, and I'd start with scraping the plates. Big and dirty things go on the bottom facing the spray, cups and plastics go up top, and spoons are kept from nesting. The rest is reading what your own machine's maker says, because the makers don't all agree, least of all on cutlery.
A dishwasher rack is the wire frame that holds dishes in the spray. Most machines have two, and many newer ones add a shallow third rack at the top for cutlery and small tools. At Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island, 20 of the 53 dishwashers carried at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores name a third rack in the listing title.
I work the floor in Duncan. Merit's appliance lineup is carried at Campbell River and Port Alberni, so every model named here comes from one of those two stores or arrives as a special order. The loading advice is drawn from the makers' own manuals and help pages, with each maker named where they differ.
How to load a dishwasher correctly, one rack at a time
Loading a dishwasher correctly means every dirty surface can see a spray arm and nothing stops those arms turning. Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Samsung and LG all write their loading steps around that idea. Here is the order I'd follow, built from their manuals:
- Scrape, then stop. Bones, seeds, toothpicks and leftovers go in the bin or compost. Samsung's Canadian page says hard debris can damage dishes or cause a fault. Whatever slips past ends up in the filter that needs regular cleaning.
- Bottom rack first. Plates stand upright between the tines, dirty side toward the centre as Samsung suggests. Pots and pans go at the back and sides, tipped down.
- Then the top rack. Glasses, mugs, small bowls and plastics, open side down, with a little space between.
- Third rack, if there is one. Lay cutlery, serving spoons, lids and small tools flat or at an angle.
- The cutlery basket. Mix forks, spoons and knives so no two pieces cup together, and point the knives down.
- Spin the arms. Turn each spray arm by hand, and move whatever stops it.
- Close the door. Bosch warns that a piece sticking out can push the door open mid-cycle, letting water leak out that could damage the cabinets.
How to load a dishwasher diagram: what goes on each rack
A dishwasher loading diagram reads just as well as a table, rack by rack from the top of the machine down, with the makers' advice in one place.
| Rack | What goes there | Which way it faces |
|---|---|---|
| Third rack | Cutlery, serving spoons, spatulas, lids, coffee cups and small bowls on some models | Flat or angled toward the spray arm |
| Top rack | Glasses, mugs, saucers, small bowls, small plates, dishwasher-safe plastics | Upside down, small plates facing the centre |
| Bottom rack | Dinner plates, large bowls, pots, pans, casserole dishes, sheet pans | Plates upright; pots tipped down toward the spray |
| Cutlery basket | Forks, spoons, table knives | Knives down; the rest by your maker's rule |
How should you stack plates in a dishwasher?
Plates in a dishwasher don't stack at all. Each one stands on edge in its own slot between the tines, all facing the same way, so water can run down both faces. Bosch's manual for the 500 Series says plates up to 13 inches across fit in the lower rack. Small side plates can go upright on the top rack, facing the centre, as LG suggests.
Can bowls go on the bottom of the dishwasher?
Bowls can go on the bottom of the dishwasher, and large mixing bowls belong there. Set them upside down and angled, one bowl per gap in the tines, so they don't fill with dirty water. Some KitchenAid lower racks have sliding bowl tines that shift for bowls of different sizes. Cereal bowls fit the top rack or, on some models, the third rack.
Loading the dishwasher top rack and the third rack
The dishwasher top rack takes glasses, mugs and anything light or delicate. Open sides face down so water drains off, and LG's guide puts cups and glasses in the rows between the tines, not over them.
Plastics go up top too. Finish, the detergent maker, says the top rack keeps plastics away from the heating element at the bottom of the machine. That rule depends on the drying system, though. Merit's listing for the Bosch 100 Series says its PureDry system has no exposed heating element, so plastics can go on either rack. Samsung's Canadian page notes that some of its models advise against plastics on the lower rack, so the manual decides.
The third rack is a shallow tray above the top rack. KitchenAid and Whirlpool post the same advice for it: silverware, utensils, coffee cups and smaller bowls, loaded at an angle and pointed toward the spray arms. The angle also helps water run off, so things come out drier.
Cutlery in a dishwasher: points up or down, by maker
Whether cutlery goes points up or down in the dishwasher depends on whose manual you read. Every maker below that names knives puts the blades down, so nobody reaches into a basket of edges. They split on forks and spoons.
| Maker | What it says about the basket |
|---|---|
| Bosch | All silverware with the points and sharp edges down, kept from nesting |
| KitchenAid and Whirlpool | Knives down, forks up, spoons alternated; the same page also says forks and knives blades down |
| Samsung Canada | Knives with handles up; spoons and forks with handles down |
| Frigidaire Canada | Mix each section, some pointing up and some down; keep silver apart from stainless |
| LG | Sharp items such as knives pointing down, in the separators |
| Finish (detergent) | Forks and spoons handle down, knives blade down |
Finish's reasoning for handles down is that the dirty ends of forks and spoons stay spaced out for a thorough clean. Points down is the safer reach when unloading. I'd point every knife down in any machine and follow the manual for the rest. And if you own good silver, Frigidaire's note applies: mixing it with stainless can damage the silver finish.
Loading pots and pans, and the pre-rinse question
Pots and pans in a dishwasher go on the bottom rack, at the back and sides, tipped down toward the spray. KitchenAid's loading page says not to stack them, since stacked pans block the arms.
Scrape dishes for the dishwasher, don't rinse them
Natural Resources Canada says that with the right dishwasher and detergent there is "no need to pre-rinse" dishes. KitchenAid adds that modern detergent is made to work on food particles. Bosch's manual says not to pre-rinse under running water. The Capital Regional District, which supplies Greater Victoria's water, puts it plainly: "Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost" instead.
Soak burnt pots and pans first
LG's loading guide makes one exception. It suggests soaking scorched pots and stuck-on food, such as steamed egg, for about an hour and pre-washing them before loading. A pan with a baked-on crust is the one case where a soak in the sink earns its water.
On water use, the NRCan dishwasher page says washing by hand wastes more energy and water than an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher. It puts certified models at, on average, 12% less energy and 30% less water than a standard model. The CRD's advice is to run full loads rather than hand wash. Its reservoir has to last the year, dry summers included.
Bosch's manual makes the same point about full loads. It says to load the number of place settings the machine is rated for, to save energy and water. How long a full load runs depends on the cycle you pick.
What should not go in the dishwasher?
The things that should not go in the dishwasher are the ones heat, water and detergent ruin. KitchenAid and Whirlpool both say wooden utensils can warp or crack, and that copper and cast iron can be damaged or lose their finish. Finish adds that cast iron can rust. Bosch's manual lists more:
- Wooden utensils and dishes
- Decorative glass, antique dishes and hand-made pottery
- Plastic that isn't heat-resistant
- Copper and tin
- Dishes soiled with ash, wax, grease or paint
- Very small items
Bosch also warns that decorated glassware, aluminum and silver may fade or discolour. Good kitchen knives stay out as well. Wüsthof's care page asks owners not to put its knives in the dishwasher, citing the heat and the knives rubbing together during the cycle. Hand-wash a good chef's knife and dry it straight away.
Is it OK to put plastics in the dishwasher?
Plastics are OK in the dishwasher when they're marked dishwasher safe. Bosch's safety section says not to wash plastic items unless they carry that marking, and to check the maker's advice for any that don't. Put marked plastics on the top rack unless your manual allows the bottom. Light lids and containers can flip and fill with water, so wedge them in. Frigidaire suggests a covered section of the basket for small lids.
Merit dishwashers with a third rack or a special wash zone
Merit lists 131 dishwashers. Of those, 53 are carried at our Campbell River or Port Alberni store, and 78 are special orders that show "Call to order" on the listing. These are the third racks and wash zones as each listing describes them, priced online before applicable taxes and read November 1, 2026.
| Dishwasher | Third rack or zone | Price and store |
|---|---|---|
| KitchenAid KDFS324S | Third Level Jet Rack with its own jets; the maker says it fits 7 extra mugs and 3 extra bowls, against two other KitchenAid models | $1,099.99 to $1,199.99, Campbell River and Port Alberni |
| KitchenAid KDPS624S | 360 Max Jets third rack; the maker says it fits 10 extra glasses and mugs, against two other KitchenAid models | $1,399.99 to $1,499.99, Campbell River and Port Alberni |
| KitchenAid KDTF924P | FreeFlex Fit third level rack | $1,799.99 to $1,899.99, Campbell River |
| Samsung DW90F89T0U | 3rd rack with a drinkware area washed by six spinning nozzles | $1,249.99 to $1,299.99, Campbell River |
| Bosch 500 Series SHP65CC5UC | Flexible third rack | $1,449.00, Campbell River |
| Midea MDT24P3CST | Third rack plus a Bottle Wash Zone, 5 jets aimed inside bottles and travel mugs | $899.99, Port Alberni |
| Whirlpool WDT750SAK | Removable third rack and a 3-piece splittable silverware basket | $849.99 to $999.99, Campbell River and Port Alberni |
| Frigidaire Gallery GDSH4735AF | Third level rack, fold-down tines and a stemware holder | $999.00, Campbell River |
| LG STUDIO SDWB24 | Height adjustable 3rd rack | $1,599.99 to $1,699.99, Campbell River and Port Alberni |
Where a price is a range, the finish changes it. The KDPS624S listing also has an option to wash only the top two racks, for a small load of glasses and cutlery.
Where general dishwasher loading advice falls short
- Your own manual beats any guide, this one included. Rack shapes differ by model, and KitchenAid's own help page tells owners to check the owner's manual for their racks.
- Nesting spoons. Two spoons cupped together stay dirty in the middle. Frigidaire's note is short: water spray can't reach nested items.
- A tall item over the detergent cup. Bosch warns against blocking the detergent dispenser lid, or the detergent can't get out.
- Unloading from the top. Bosch says to empty the bottom rack first, so water on the cups doesn't drip onto clean plates, and to let hot dishes cool a few minutes.
Where these dishwasher loading facts come from
- Natural Resources Canada, Use your dishwasher more efficiently for big savings, checked November 2026.
- Capital Regional District, Indoor Water Use, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, Use and Care Manual for the SHP65CC5UC dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- KitchenAid, Properly Loading a Dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- KitchenAid, Using Dishwasher Features for Improved Loading, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool, Properly Loading a Dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire Canada, support article on loading the silverware basket, checked November 2026.
- Samsung Canada, How to properly load your Samsung dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- LG, How to Properly Load the Dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- Finish, How to load a dishwasher, checked November 2026.
- Wüsthof, How to Clean Your Wüsthof Knives, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture, dishwasher listings with prices and stores, read November 1, 2026, checked November 2026.
Asking about a dishwasher at Campbell River or Port Alberni
The dishwashers above are at Merit's Campbell River and Port Alberni stores. A call before the drive is worth it to ask which ones are set up to look at, and to open the racks. Bring the width of the opening and the tallest pot or platter you'd want to fit. If noise matters, ask which is the quietest dishwasher on the floor and what its dBA rating is.
- Our Campbell River store is at 1300 A Homewood Rd.
- Our Port Alberni store is at 2935 Third Ave.
Phone Campbell River about a dishwasher, (250) 286-0868
Phone Port Alberni about a dishwasher, (250) 724-6644
For one of the 78 special orders, the line on the listing is (250) 746-5527. A special order takes a deposit, and the rules for special-order deposits and exchanges are written up separately. Merit backs the maker's warranty and orders the parts, and the case for buying from a store here on the Island has its own page.
Every model, stocked or special order, is on one page of all 131 Merit dishwashers. Another built-in that needs the right opening is covered in sizing a cabinet opening for a wine cooler or beverage centre. The rest of our kitchen writing sits with Merit's other guides to buying and caring for appliances.