Make Unloading Your Dishwasher Easier With Ina Garten's Clever Storage Tip

Who else puts off emptying a clean dishwasher as long as possible? If your hand is up right now, don't worry; we're right there with you. There's something about unloading a dishwasher that feels incredibly difficult. Maybe it's having to sort the silverware, trying to find a spot for that bowl in a packed cupboard, or having to walk all over your kitchen to put things you use every day away. Instead of entering a standoff with your machine every time it's clean, try one of Ina Garten's top kitchen storage solutions. Garten told House Beautiful (via YouTube) that she stores items she uses on a daily basis, like plates and glasses, in the cabinets across from her dishwasher.  

Being able to access the cabinets more directly means no muss, no fuss, no hitting your step goal while emptying the machine. "So all I have to do is unload the dishwasher, turn around, and put it away," the cookbook author and host of "Barefoot Contessa" said in the interview. "If the dishes are stored on the same side, I'm always walking around the dishwasher to put it away, and then coming back again." By keeping daily essentials directly across from her dishwasher, Garten makes the chore of unloading it easy. The good news? You can, too.

Putting Ina Garten's storage tip into practice in your kitchen is easy. The key is choosing the right spot. The next time you unload the dishwasher, notice what you use on a regular basis. Then, take a step back and study the layout and storage of your kitchen. Is there at least one cupboard or open shelves available directly opposite of your machine? This will be the best spot in your kitchen to store your dinner plates and whatever else you use most often. If your kitchen doesn't have storage across from the dishwasher, look to see if there's a spare cupboard or drawers next to it.

Next, practice the movement. Yes, you'll probably feel a little silly. But it's better to feel silly for a second to make sure that spot works for you instead of doing the work to reorganize your kitchen storage and discover too late that your chosen cupboard is too hard to get to. If it feels good, reorganize your cabinets so your most-used items — think plates, cereal bowls, water glasses — are within easy reach of your dishwasher.

To make unloading the dishwasher even easier (and help each dish get squeaky clean), load it strategically. Group similar plates, bowls, and pans by size and type in the bottom, and organize coffee cups, glasses, and smaller items together on top. Sort dirty silverware by type in the silverware basket or tray. This way, you can unload all your water glasses at once instead of going back and forth between cabinets.