UK households clash over correct dishwasher loading methods

Households across the UK are regularly at odds over the correct way to load a dishwasher, with common disputes arising from overfilling it, not pre-cleaning dishes and the orientation of plates. A staggering two-thirds of those living with others have had disagreements or full-blown rows about the proper way to stack this essential kitchen appliance, according to a poll of 2,000 adults.

The survey revealed that most quarrels revolve around how to correctly place cutlery, what items belong on the top and bottom racks, and who should be responsible for loading and unloading. The data from OnePoll.com showed that 51 per cent of people follow a specific method when loading their dishwasher, while 30 per cent simply put things where they can fit.

Interestingly, nine out of ten respondents are convinced that their way of stacking the dishwasher is the right one. This belief has led 46 per cent of people to re-stack the dishwasher after someone else, due to disagreement with the other person's method.

In some cases, people have resorted to washing dishes by hand after they were inefficiently stacked in the dishwasher by someone else and came out still dirty.

On average, households run their dishwasher five times a week, but it's only fully loaded for four of these cycles. This inefficiency has caused arguments in 18 per cent of homes, with 16 per cent citing it as a personal bugbear.

The study was commissioned by Ecover in collaboration with The Tetris Company, launching a new version of the classic game to inspire people to break away from wasteful dishwashing habits.

A spokesperson for Ecover said: "As rebels of the cleaning aisle, we love doing things differently - and teaming up with Tetris is a fun, unexpected way to bring harmony to households and make eco-awareness click with all generations."

Ecover has also teamed up with father and son duo, Larry and George Lamb, to put their stacking to the test.

Larry said: "I'll admit, when it comes to stacking, I'm more of an architect, while my son takes more of a raccoon approach - but that's the fun of it. At the end of the day, it's about using the machine the way it's meant to be used.

"This retro-inspired game isn't just nostalgic - who can forget the 90s arcade waves? It's also about bringing families together, sparking a bit of friendly competition, and showing how small actions, like stacking the dishwasher properly, can save water and energy."

Maya Rogers, president and CEO of Tetris, said: " This version of the game allows us to take that same sense of challenge and fun and apply it to a real-life puzzle in homes across the UK.

"It's nostalgia with a modern purpose: play, stack, and save resources while keeping the peace at home."

TOP THINGS HOUSEHOLDS DISAGREE ON OVER THE DISHWASHER:

Overfilling the dishwasher

How to stack cutlery (e.g. pointing upwards or downwards)

Putting items in the dishwasher without cleaning food off them first

What items to put on the top shelf and bottom shelf

How to effectively use the dishwasher

Responsibilities (e.g. who should load and unload it)

What direction to face plates in

What direction to face bowls in

Not grouping all the same items in one place

Whether to rinse or not to rinse dishes

Putting a cycle through without the dishwasher being full

A favourite item which isn't dishwasher safe being damaged

What setting to put the dishwasher on

Opening the dishwasher immediately after a cycle when items are still warm and wet

Dishwasher salt not being topped up regularly enough

Not putting the cycle through and then running out of plates/bowls etc.

Whether wine glasses should go in the dishwasher

Whether wooden items should go in the dishwasher

How often to put a cycle through

What time of the day to run the cycle through