We’re always scouring the web for the best appliance tips. Recently The New York Times offered this advice:

Simply scrape your dishes, don’t pre-wash. The detergent goes after the food.

Use just enough detergent. This is determined by how dirty they are, not how many dishes are in the load.

Powdered detergent works better than liquid or tablets.

Load properly, glasses on top, pots and pans on the bottom and don’t let items nest together. You can check your manual for the best way to load your particular dishwasher. Also, don’t impede the free movement of the sprayer arm.

Streaks and spots are caused by water droplets and are not permanent. A rinse aid will help prevent them.

My favorite tip: Open the dishwasher immediately after the cycle ends. The dishes are at their hottest and will dry very quickly, leaving shiny dishes with no spots.