Using a dishwasher may seem pretty simple and a chore that you shouldn't over complicate. However, if you are one of those people who rinses your plates or gives no thought to how you stack them, then there's some things you might want to note down. According to Andrew Laughlin, principal writer and researcher at Which?, there are five things that all dishwasher users should avoid doing.

       The first thing is something that's very common, and that is rinsing the plates before loading it up. Andrew said: "For some, the thought of not rinising plates before loading them into the dishwasher will fill them with horror. But I never bother rinising crockery - just scrape off any leftovers into the food bin and stick them straight in." In a report by consumer giant Which? Andrew highlighted that there are multiple dishwasher programs that pre-rinse dishes so "you don't need to waste water (and money)" giving them a rinse beforehand. He continued: "Modern, all-in-one dishwasher tablets are more than capable of taking on any mess thanks to a combination of powder and gel-based detergents."

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       The next thing dishwasher users shouldn't do is "bother with the detergent dispenser". Dishwasher dispensers can fail, leaving you with parts of "semi-dissolved tablets" and according to Which?, 6% of faults recorded with dishwashers were as a result of the dispenser breaking.

       Andrew says that popping the detergent straight into the body of your dishwasher will still work as the tablets dissolve on contact with water.

       Another thing to note down is the importance of maintence - dishwasher users should never skip this. Keeping on top of your maintenance will ensure your dishwasher remains in top form.

       Doing this includes topping up your rinse aid and salt, cleaning the filter and maintaining other parts of the machine.

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       The expert also advises to leave the door a little open after a cycle "from time to time" to allow air cirulation into the dishwasher which will prevent the build up of things like mould and bacteria.

       This one next tip is a big one - "ineffective loading is often behind dishwashers not cleaning properly," says Andrew.

       "Stack plates and flat items facing inwards so they are well covered by the spray jets, while pots, pans, deep bowls and other such items should face down. Make sure no large items are placed in a way that will block the spray arm.

       "Don't overfill the dishwasher, and make sure you space out dishes and cutlery so that the water and detergent can reach the whole load."

       Finally, the expert urged dishwasher users not to load certain items as "they can get damaged during cycles". Wooden items including spoons and chopping boards are a no-no as the water exposure can cause them to swell and splinter.

       Sharp knives should also never be put into the dishwasher as they can be made dull after repeated cycles and dishwashing non-stick items and most insulated mugs can cause their coatings and vaccum seals to ruin.