The Little-Known Hack That'll Give You Some Extra Room In Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers provide a level of convenience that is almost unbelievable. These widely-used appliances convert the time-consuming task of washing dishes into an almost fully automated process. While dishwashers are undoubtedly helpful, they also present their own assortment of problems. For example, tall dishes often do not fit into the top rack of the machine due to how close the rack is to the "ceiling" inside. If you've encountered a similar issue yourself, there is a little-known hack that'll give you some extra room in your dishwasher. Depending on the brand and model of your machine, your top rack might include levers you can press to then raise and lower the rack. In other dishwasher models, the top rack can be adjusted by simply grabbing both sides and then pulling it up or down to your desired height.

Keep in mind that your appliance may not have this feature, but if it does, knowing this clever dishwasher hack can make your life much easier. Read through your user manual to determine whether this hack is an option for you. If you are able to confirm that your appliance does have a top rack adjustment feature, take a look inside of your manual to find instructions on how to operate it. The process does not look the same for all machines, so you'll want to make sure you pull it off properly to avoid causing damage. You'll be able to use your dishwasher better after mastering this trick.

To give you an idea of just how simple this process is, let's explore how to adjust the top rack of dishwashers from one of the most popular appliance manufacturers, Samsung. It is important to note that the rack should only be adjusted while empty. To lift the top rack in many Samsung dishwasher models, simply pull it out all the way, then pull firmly upward. This will cause the rack's adjuster handle to latch automatically in the new position. Raising the top rack can free up more space below, allowing the bottom rack to hold plates up to 12 inches in diameter. When you are ready to lower it, squeeze the adjuster handles on either side of the rack and simultaneously push the rack down to your desired height. After lowering all the way, the top rack of a Samsung dishwasher can accommodate plates, bottles, and glassware up to 8 inches tall. 

If you are one of the unlucky few who cannot adjust the top rack of your appliance to make more room, you can try a few other tricks to get large dishes and cookware to fit into your dishwasher. One option is to remove the utensil holder from the bottom. This might provide you with enough room to prevent your large dish or cookware piece from hitting the top shelf. If all else fails, simply hand washing large items can be enough to successfully clean pots, pans and other large items. This may be better anyway, since using the wrong dishwasher settings can damage them.