Thanksgiving Battleground: Dishwasher Do's, Don'ts

A now-common household appliance can become a serious point of contention over the holidays. So, FOX 9 News got the dirty details on dishwasher do's and don'ts to make sure Thanksgiving cleanup doesn't become a catastrophic conflict.

"I unload it every morning and turn it on every night when I go to bed," said Dan Bovin.

It's hard to find anyone who doesn't know how to dishwasher, but differing preferences can create some dramatic divides.

"It drives me crazy when people put the spoons face down and they are all locked up against each other," Bovin admitted. "They don't get clean."

Especially as more and more Americans are becoming more budget-conscious, having to dish out extra dollars for detergent because of small slips can make some hosts hot.

"My sons, when they load the dishwasher, they put the glasses in sideways," said Marni Bovin.

The folks at Lowry in Uptown know a thing or two about doing dishes, since Stephanie Shimp says they serve anywhere between 500 and 1000 customers per day. Even so, Shimp says differing approaches to dish cleaning can lead to tension on Thanksgiving Day.

"Everyone has their own opinion about it," said Shimp. "I know I have my own way."

John Warner, of Warner Stellian, says newer dishwashers are much more powerful than their old counterparts, which brings some changes to conventional cleaning wisdom.

"It's suggested that you don't pre-wash dishes," he explained. "Let the detergent do its job."

Warner said loading silverware with the handles up will help whoever unloads the dishwasher avoid touching surfaces that will eventually make their way into mouths.

Warner also says contrary to popular belief, it costs less than 20 cents to run the dishwasher -- even when it's not full.

Yet, no matter how it's done and run, perhaps the best advice to avoid a holiday hassle is to defer to the host's preference.