DH requests this question be answered...

[dfchelbay]

DH asked me to post this questions that he would like answered. It seems he and I load the dishwasher differently and DH would like to know which way you all put your silverware in your dishwasher. Do you place them handles facing up, or handles facing down...and he'd like to know the reasoning behind why you do it that way. Thanks all (and welcome to my world).

 

[ekatiel]

Handles down-- the silverware gets spots otherwise . So, will your DH change his ways if the majority rules against him?! --Katie

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

We started doing it handles up when the kids were little and started "helping" unload the dishwasher -- didn't want little hands getting stabbed. We still do it this way. Also, it seems like even though our hands are clean, grabbing the business end of the utensils seems weird b/c you're gonna eat with that end.

 

[disney*mom*82]

handles up, my reasoning is the same as the pp. I dont want to take the silverwear out of there with my hands when they are clean, nor do I want to grab the dirty end of them when loading.

 

[deva]

We started doing it handles up when the kids were little and started "helping" unload the dishwasher -- didn't want little hands getting stabbed. We still do it this way. Also, it seems like even though our hands are clean, grabbing the business end of the utensils seems weird b/c you're gonna eat with that end.

No slicing fingers when you grab the handles and IMO quicker to empty with handles up.

 

[California Jenn]

Handles up -- DH complained he was being stabbed to many times the other way

 

[NotUrsula]

Handles down. The force of the water isn't strong enough to clean properly when it has to go through the mesh of the basket before it reaches the business end of the utensils.

I don't touch the business ends when I take the utensils out after washing. I lift out the entire basket so that I can grab them around the exposed part of the handle.

DH and I squabble over sorting the utensils into the basket. I prefer to save time by sorting them as they go in by type, so I put all the forks in one section, knives in another, etc.

 

[tzolkin]

I agree with NotUrsula.

I assume they get cleaner with the handles down. (My mom does them handles up and she always seems to have to wash out the basket because food is left behind.)

We also grab below the tops of the forks and spoons (and empty after washing our hands), so they're not getting dirty.

I wash all knives by hand, so the kids can empty the dishwasher and there's no issue of getting cut.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Handles up, for all the reasons posted.

 

[kevschickee]

I put the handles down that way the dirty part is showing

 

[MousekaMaddi]

because little helpers unload the dishwasher

 

[crisi]

Handles down, except on sharp knives which go point down (or preferably not in the dishwasher at all!). I also don't think the "business end" gets clean enough through the mesh. My silverware tray opens, so I can load and unload easily using the handles.

 

[GoHerd1028]

Ok...I load the dishwasher with the handles down so that the eating ends of the utensils dry without spots . Knives go in with sharp ends down so I don't cut my hands when I and loading or unloading the dishwasher. Now, I put all the forks in one section all the spoons in one section and so forth so that when I unload the dishwasher all I have to do is grab them and put them in the drawer.

 

[bdiddy]

We put all of ours down because to me when they are clean - I don't want to be touching the part that you are going to eat with.

It sort of grosses me out to think that people handle the part I put in my mouth. And yes, many of you may say "well, I wash my hands before I empty the dishwasher" but my guess is most people do not.

 

[luvmy3]

Sharp knives go handles up but I alternate everything else. My basket is on the door so I don't have much room for the utensils to spread out. If I put two spoons in a section together one just ends up sticking to the other and the one on the bottom doesn't get clean. So, I'll put one up and one down, throw a couple forks in the same way and a butter knife or two.
I don't handle any parts that go into mouths, my basket opens up fully so I can grab the handles when I unload.
I probably wouldn't disagree with the way my dh does it, mostly because I would be passed out on the floor from shock that he was actually loading it

 

[pantherlj]

handles up - no stabbing, easier to unload and no fingers on the parts we eat off of.

 

[RMAMom]

Tell him the handles go up and if he wants to know why he should google the image ... Fork Injury

 

[Chelley00]

Handles up. I've scraped my hand on forks before and it hurts.

 

[NJtoATL]

Handles up. Same reason as the others, don't to injure myself with an utensil.

 

[smkiya]

Handles up. I do this to prevent cutting myself on a knife or fork. I'm a little nutty though 'cause I always "wash" my dishes before they go in the dishwasher anyway.