Loading the dishwasher: pointy utensils up or down?

[bbernardini]

My wife swears I'm the only person who loads utensils into the utensil-holding thingy with all the points down. Her family does it tines and points up. I say it makes perfect sense to do it my way, as it lessens the risk of injury. As a bonus, you're not getting your fingers all over the food-touching parts when you unload the dishwasher. Besides, you never know when a curious kitty might jump up while your back is turned.

So, thoughts?

[travisleit01]

1. Definitely DOWN! n/t

[kalian]

2. Points up here....

[Catherine Vincent]

5. They probably should point up with the rest but I insert

them down for safety reasons.

[Lars39]

3. Nope, me too. Pointy stuff goes down.

And I feel vindicated for using this method after reading about that toddler that was killed when he fell onto the dishwasher. :(

[sabbat hunter]

4. sharp knives.....

point down, forks point up, grab them from the handle, same for spoons

david

[librechik]

12. yeah, sharp things point down--except for forks

although I've been cut once or twice following this advice anyway--

[Sugarbleus]

6. Anything pointy....DOWN. n/t

[neuvocat]

7. Down.

Just like my momma told me to do.

[DulceDecorum]

8. I am SO with you

on all counts.
Especially the fingers on the freshly-washed silverware bit.

Plus I would absolutely HATE to have to tell the Emergency Room Nurse that my injuries were inflicted by my dishwasher.
I would simply have to lie.
"There were five of them. I had my back to the wall..."

[Booberdawg]

9. I put them up but may reconsider

[unblock]

10. there are only TWO reason to put pointy things UP

reason #1: you can cram more silverware into the tray that way.
but that's actually an argument for DOING THE DISHES MORE OFTEN!

reason #2: the silverware gets cleaner that way. but that's actually an argument for getting a better dishwasher or RINSING THE UTENSILS FIRST!

down, definitely, down!

[Robb]

14. Actually, there's only one reason

to put the pointy parts up.

(puts on plumber/expert cap)

If the pointy part penetrates through the plastic mesh of the basket far enough, it can potentially interfere with the spinning operation of the sprayer, either nicking against it and slowing it (bad) or stopping it completely (very bad). So if that's the case, as in a long thin knife, flip it over.

Otherwise, since dishwashers typically spray upwards, the dirtiest part of the utensil should be closest to the nozzle (just like you don't put a pan in upside-down).

:)

[TrogL]

11. Down

otherwise you'll be touching clean eating surfaces with dirty hands and/or cut yourself.

The basket has holes in the bottom to allow hot water to come up and clean everything. With the tines up, the hot water will have lost all its pressure by the time it gets there.

[kayob1]

13. Down

[madrchsod]

15. i load mine up

i just love it when a fork or knife jams under my finger nail.it really pisses me off when someone loads the pointy things up...

[LastKnight]

16. i throw crap into the dishwasher... where it lands... it stays NT lol

[southerngirlwriter]

17. Oh my GAWD!!! You have cats and she wants the pointy parts UP?

What is wrong with her?? (No offense...I'm just appalled for the kitty's sake).

I do not know ANYONE who puts the pointy things up.

Sheesh.

[shanti]

18. down!!!!

if you've ever been poked by an errant knife, you will change your evil ways! lol

[DemoTex]

19. DOWN, DAMMITT! DOWN!

THIS WILL BE THE UN-DOING OF MY 30-YEAR MARRIAGE!

[SoCalDem]

20. UP..UP..UP How else could you cut the shit out of your hand

when you reach in to straighten things out..:)

[Blade]

21. Points down...

for obvious reasons.

[ChemEng]

22. I load knives down, but other stuff both ways...(n/t)

[arewethereyet]

23. down

unless you like the sight of your own blood

[ThoughtCriminal]

24. Ask Tom Delay

Do opposite. Molly says it works every time.

[grasswire]

25. up

If you wash your hands before you empty the silver, they won't be dirty!! D'oh!

I have to admit, though, that emptying up pointy things sent me to the ER one night for some stitches. It was a filet knife. It severed some nerves in my hand that remain numb to this day, 15 years later.

But loading down had done exactly what was mentioned above -- interfered with the spraying arm.

[Gore1FL]

26. Points down

Why clean them if you are going put your hands all over them to take them out?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. Depends on whether I am in self mutilation mode or not

just kidding...pointy injurious side down...or I'll have to sue myself for negligence :D

[wanderingbear]

28. Up..That way when the dishwasher explods you will kill everyone.

[Bunny]

29. Up.

And I don't even have a dishwasher. So there.

[JM]

30. We are converts

We used to put the utensils in pointed up. In our washer, they tend to clean better that way.

Unfortunately, however, my wife works at Childrens' Hospital, and saw a trauma as a result of knives pointing up. Apparently a young child was dancing around the kitchen while the disheasher was open, fell, and landed on the knives. She wound up in critical condition severing a major vessel and I believe has been there over a week.

Since we have young kids who seem never to pay attention in the kitchen, everything is pointed down. I would add we put the longer sharp knives laying down on the top level pointed in...Perhaps that is a different thread. B-)

JM

[arwalden]

31. Down, down, down, DOWN!! (You Silly Goose)

[LibInternationalist]

32. Butter side down, of course

[terrya]

33. "Dishwasher"? I've heard tell of this miraculous machine.

Yet, sadly, I myself have yet to use this marvelous invention. :-)

[Padraig18]

34. Down, and here's the reason why:

Health dep't regs for food service sanitation require that they be loaded with pointed/rounded ends down, so that that part is not touched by your hands after they are washed. Completely logical. :hi:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

35. I load forks up, knives down

Hmmm.

[curse10]

36. Down, I'm afraid of getting cut

[BigMcLargehuge]

37. down

my wife has a bizarre points up in the drainer thing that irks the absolute shit out of me.

[grannylib]

38. Down, definitely. Safety first.

[Garage Queen]

39. For the love of Buddah, Points DOWN!

Seems you run a far greater risk of injury if the points are up.