Should Silverware Point Up or Down in the Dishwasher?

How to properly load the dishwasher is a long-debated topic—namely, which direction the silverware should point. One camp says the handles should point upward so they're easy to grab and put away, while the other says the handles should point down so items get a more thorough clean. We asked cleaning experts to share their opinions on the topic, and weigh in on whether there really is a right and wrong way to load silverware in the dishwasher.

No matter which group you side with, keep reading to learn the pros and cons of each loading method—and which one the experts recommend.

Silverware with Handles Pointing Up: A Better Clean

According to Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids, loading silverware in the dishwasher with the handles pointing down and the usable sides pointing up is the best way to achieve prime cleanliness.

"Facing the handle side down with the eating side facing up allows for maximum cleanliness," Willatt says. "Facing them this way allows for the sprayers and detergent to hit the eating surface more accurately which in turn gets them cleaner and can help get off any dried food or sauces."

Willatt says if you place silverware pointing down with the handles pointing upward, the water and detergent have to go through the dishwasher caddy, which might block some pressure. This may lead to unclean silverware.

Mattia Sala, the product manager for SMEG USA, agrees that silverware handles should always point upward, but adds that silverware should be properly spaced out within a dishwasher's silverware caddy. The only caveat to this method is it can be tricky to safely unload knives when their blade is pointing upward. To avoid any accidents while unloading the silverware, he says to always place knives with their blades pointing down and their handles pointing up. If your dishwasher has an upper third rack for utensils, Sala says to lay knives and cutlery there to avoid safety hazards and free up space in the silverware caddy.

Silverware with Handles Pointing Down: Convenience and Safety

Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO of Cleaning Express, says his team of professional cleaners always places silverware with the handles pointing up and the usable end pointing down due to safety, convenience, and better hygiene when you load and unload the dishwasher. "Provided you've picked up the silverware by the handles, you can easily tip it into the caddy without needing to touch the dirty end," he says. "Then, when you remove it from the dishwasher, you also don't touch the eating end." Avoiding touching the usable end will ensure silverware is completely clean the next time you need to use a utensil.

Better hygiene isn't the only reason Bogoyavlenskiy and his team load silverware this way. He says pointing the silverware down makes for safer unloading. "Handle-down silverware can lead to your poking or cutting yourself on forks and cutting knives," he says. "While this is not the end of the world, it's one thing you want to avoid if possible."

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, how you load your dishwasher is up to you and your personal preferences. If you prefer being able to quickly and safely unload your dishwasher, try placing silverware with the handles pointing up. If you want to ensure your silverware is getting a maximum clean, load the silverware with the handles pointing down and the usable end pointing up.

It's also important to consider what type of silverware caddy your dishwasher has to determine which loading method will work best. Bogoyavlenskiy says if your dishwasher has a relatively small and skinny caddy, try pointing silverware both handle-up and handle-down to fit as many items in the caddy as you can.