Washing the silverware

[Timsup2nothin]

So, this thread may not be up to the society shaking standards to which we are all accustomed, but I need some backing and know that I can count on my rational friends here at CFC OT.

My gf and I are having a dispute over the loading of the dishwasher; specifically the silverware bin.

One of us says the stuff should be dumped in the bins handles first, the other says handles up.

The handles first advocate says that crowding all the business ends together down in the bin keeps them from getting clean, so having the business ends sort of fanned out above the bins is better.

The handles up advocate says that while the person emptying the dishwasher is one of us and can be counted upon to have washed their hands, there is certainly nothing good about having to grab a freshly cleaned spoon by the business end to put it in the drawer for person unknown to use later.

What say you?

By the way, answers of the "I've always done it this way, though I have never thought about why" sort shall be mercilessly mocked, so be prepared.

 

[BenitoChavez]

I place my silverware handles up. Reason being that if its placed handles down and you're careless when you're unloading the dishwasher you could accidentally injure yourself on a fork or knife.

I've heard arguments that handles down is the way to go because it will keep your silverware from piercing the bin.

I personally value my hands over the bin.

I've never really considered the cleanliness of the silverware to be a determining factor. I haven't noticed a difference between handles down or handles up but I can see how not washing your hands while handling the "business" ends could make them dirty. So I guess that's another reason for handles up.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Nicely written OP to avoid bias .

The framework of comparison is between how effectively it gets washed handle-up versus the post-wash effects of touching the business end.

If you have anything on your hands post-wash at all, you're likely to leave at least a little something on that spoon you grab, which if you grab by the end means you'll eventually put that in your mouth.

In contrast, if you grab the handle nothing from your hand will make it to the part you stick in your mouth at a later point, which is important because you are not washing the utensil in the interceding time.

Handle up has a marginal improvement in time-utility, in that you don't have to be as careful about poking yourself with forks or knives.

Finally, is there any evidence that placing them in handle-up offers an inferior wash? Best I can envision, spoons can align in a stuck position while up or down if not placed carefully for example, and if you put the utensils in handle-up you win up fitting fewer of them in the same-area size bin because the handles are more narrow.

On these grounds, absent further evidence, handle-up appears to be the superior choice.

 

[BvBPL]

Obviously this can be affected by the dishwasher in question.

It is my personal experience that more dishwashers can be expected to better clean silverware when it is placed handles in rather than handles up.

Furthermore, the concern that the handles up crowd have of fingerprints and such on the business end of the silverware does not strike me as significant. If you are just using your silverware with your intimates then they already have your couties whereas if you are serving guests you are well advised to give the flatware a quick wipe with a cloth napkin before placing it.

A better argument for handles up is safety. When you have you flatware handles up you won't accidently stab yourself when reaching for a knife. This is more of a concern for those with children.

 

[JollyRoger]

On a related note, should a particular wooden spoon be designated for discipline only or is it ok for wooden spoons to be mixed use for both culinary and disciplinary purposes?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

On a related note, should a particular wooden spoon be designated for discipline only or is it ok for wooden spoons to be mixed use for both culinary and disciplinary purposes?

Depends on who you are disciplining, and exactly how you are going about it. Wood is a porous surface, and some things just can't be undone.

 

[LucyDuke]

Sharp knives with blades away from grabbing zone. Other utensils distributed as irregularly as possible to minimize chances of spoons spooning.

If you wash your hands properly then there's nothing bad about grabbing a spoon by the business end. Spoons spooning in the wash is certainly worse.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Handles should be on top, because that's how you'll be grabbing them when you empty the dishwasher. Especially if it's something sharp. Any decent dishwasher will clean the silverware all the same either way.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

I wash mine in the sink because I'm a luddite.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Sharp knives with blades away from grabbing zone. Other utensils distributed as irregularly as possible to minimize chances of spoons spooning.

If you wash your hands properly then there's nothing bad about grabbing a spoon by the business end. Spoons spooning in the wash is certainly worse.

If the spoons have that good a time, can't you just throw them back in for another round? Maybe get some little spoons out of it?

 

[tesb]

if you put it in with handles being down you can simply get a towel when emptying the dishwasher thus avoiding finger prints on the silverware and hand injuries (which should not really occur, it is silver, not sharpened hardened carbon steel)

 

[LucyDuke]

If little spoons appear be sure to distribute them as irregularly as possible to minimize chances of little spoons spooning.

 

[CavLancer]

You think you got problems, I don't have a dishwasher! Oh aren't we on the high social strata, la de da! Shall I tell you where to stick your silverware then? /Monty Python off.

Put the knives down and everything else up.

 

[BvBPL]

On a related note, should a particular wooden spoon be designated for discipline only or is it ok for wooden spoons to be mixed use for both culinary and disciplinary purposes?

Wood spoons are fine for both but do not use bamboo for, uh, discipline. It can splinter.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

So, this thread may not be up to the society shaking standards to which we are all accustomed, but I need some backing and know that I can count on my rational friends here at CFC OT.

My gf and I are having a dispute over the loading of the dishwasher; specifically the silverware bin.

One of us says the stuff should be dumped in the bins handles first, the other says handles up.

The handles first advocate says that crowding all the business ends together down in the bin keeps them from getting clean, so having the business ends sort of fanned out above the bins is better.

The handles up advocate says that while the person emptying the dishwasher is one of us and can be counted upon to have washed their hands, there is certainly nothing good about having to grab a freshly cleaned spoon by the business end to put it in the drawer for person unknown to use later.

What say you?

By the way, answers of the "I've always done it this way, though I have never thought about why" sort shall be mercilessly mocked, so be prepared.

I have a dishwasher in my apartment, but have never used it. I just never have enough dishes dirty at the same time to need the dishwasher. Plus, the water is apt to be turned off in this building at any time during the week for maintenance, and we don't usually get advance notice.

However, back when I lived in other places with dishwashers, it was handles up. I got the business end of a knife or fork tine once too often.

On a related note, should a particular wooden spoon be designated for discipline only or is it ok for wooden spoons to be mixed use for both culinary and disciplinary purposes?

Wooden spoons should never be used for anything but cooking or baking. There is no good reason whatsoever to use them to hit someone, especially a child.

 

[LucyDuke]

I use wooden spoons for nonviolent nonculinary purposes. I object to your objection.

 

[Ajidica]

Wooden spoons should never be used for anything but cooking or baking. There is no good reason whatsoever to use them to hit someone, especially a child.

Who said the person receiving discipline was a juvenile.
It is Texas, after all.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

@LucyDuke: Using them for craft projects or other decorative purposes is acceptable.

 

[Birdjaguar]

You think you got problems, I don't have a dishwasher! Oh aren't we on the high social strata, la de da! Shall I tell you where to stick your silverware then? /Monty Python off.

Put the knives down and everything else up.

Put the [sharp] knives [points] down and everything else [business ends] up. If you are worried about your germy hands dirtying your flatware, you've missed the obvious point that they have already spread to most other places on you. Germs keep us healthy. If you harbor a dangerous infectious disease, then don't unload the dishwasher if others use your dishes.

 

[cardgame]

Birdjaguar's got it on point. Knives are handles up, the rest is handles on bottom.

That is, assuming you care enough about it to ensure these kinds of standards are met. Knife handles go up for safety, everything else I don't care about.