Items that are not dishwasher-safe often have a warning on their packaging or right on the product, so check the product before you add it to your load. Try not to let your dishes sit for more than 24 hours. The less time you leave them sitting in your dishwasher, the less likely you are to have caked on food and grease.

If you have a full load that is heavily soiled, you should add in a second pod. Be sure not overload your dishwasher. [2] X Research source Be aware that very light dishwashing loads may have leftover residue from the pod, so you may want to wait to turn on your dishwasher when you have a close to a full load. [3] X Research source

Close the latch tightly on the dispenser before closing the door to your dishwasher. [4] X Research source Do not try to pierce or open the dishwasher pod in any way. The casing of the pod is meant to help measure out the individual packaging of the pods, as well as easily dissolved in the dishwasher with the contents. Breaking the outer casing of the pod can create a mess and can be irritating to your skin. [5] X Research source

Fill the rinse-aid dispenser in your dishwasher with the finishing liquid, and it will automatically add the correct amount of liquid to the load for you each time.

Choosing a powerful dishwasher pod will ensure that you don’t have to use an extra one (and extra water and energy) on another cycle if there is food left behind. Look for pods that are labeled with concentrated cleaning power, for example, “15 X Power” or “12 X Power. ” This means there are more grease-fighting ingredients per pod. Depending on your preference, you can choose between scented pods, which come in fragrances like Fresh or Lemon, or if you’d prefer you can opt for the odorless pods with no added dyes or fragrances. High-quality dishwasher pods tend to steer clear of toxic ingredients like synthetic dyes and chemicals, which will be printed on the labels. [6] X Research source

In general, if you are looking for a more eco-friendly product, make sure to pick a dishwasher pod that is biodegradable and free from artificial fragrances and phosphates. [8] X Research source It’s good to remember that even if a product states on its packaging that it is “green,” you should always read the list of ingredients because this may not be the case. [9] X Research source

Keeping your pods away from the sink and stored in a kitchen cabinet near the dishwasher is optimal. [10] X Research source