<p>First world problems…poked my palm on a steak knife when emptying the dishwasher. I started thinking that if I loaded all silverware tines down, that that would solve the problem. Husband complained that sharp edges will cut the plastic silverware caddy. And that the tines/blades get cleaner if they aren’t buried in the caddy.</p>
<p>So, tines up, or down, CC?</p>
<p>Usually down, both to avoid injury and so you aren’t grabbing the working end when you’re putting the silverware away. They come out very clean, but if the silverware is getting scrunched together, then I’ll alternate up and down so they fit better. I hand wash steak knives, but I don’t think they would cut the caddy anyway.</p>
<p>I put mine tines up to get better washing but put all the knives in one certain spot (furthest back) to limit nicks.</p>
<p>It may or may not be true, but I agree with your H: tines up. I suppose it’s only because I’ve always done it that way. I don’t grasp the “working” part of the silverware when I unload it. I remove the basket and pull items out by the handle. I suppose it depends on the type of basket though.</p>
<p>We put tines up but steak knives go blade down.</p>
<p>Forks up, knives down.</p>
<p>We don’t put real knives in the dishwasher because we think it dulls the knives, but I tend to put anything sharp down. Chopsticks up.</p>
<p>No such thing as a silly question, right?</p>
<p>We wash steak knives by hand and put them blade down into the dish strainer. But if we did put them in dishwasher, it would be blade down (only forks and spoons go up). Because what is worse: food particles or blood? Really. The trip to the ER is going to cost you way more than the water/soap to rewash an uncleaned knife!</p>
<p>Forks up, knives down.</p>
<p>We were always taught forks and spoons up, knives down…</p>
<p>Tines down, including forks. I’ve jabbed myself on forks in the caddy before. My wife won’t let me put steak knives in the dishwasher.</p>
<p>Forks, spoons up; knives down. We wash our good steak knives by hand, though.</p>
<p>Miele’s silverware rack makes the answer easy: neither. Sideways. :)</p>
<p>Forks and spoons up, knives down. Better yet, make loading and emptying the dishwasher your husband’s job! :D</p>
<p>Tines,blades and spoons all go down at our house. Never had a problem with them not getting clean but then I don’t overload the dishwasher either.</p>
<p>They go up. They’re sectioned off away from the forks, spoons, and regular “smooth” knives, which are all placed up as well.</p>
<p>Tines down, so that you’re picking up the silverware by the handle. The other way seems both dangerous and unsanitary.</p>
<p>I do find it necessary, though, to rewash some knives, especially those used to spread peanut butter. So perhaps I’m doing it wrong.</p>
<p>My steak knives go in the dishwasher because they are cheap with plastic handles. But I LOVE them ( think Ginsu knife variety). I abuse them and they just keep slicing away. Someday, when I grow up ( HA!) I’ll get real knives.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Especially the idea of making my DH unload! But in reality, it’s my job, so I think I’ll go with knives down and everything else up. Or maybe I’ll just order out and eat with disposable utensils. A girl can dream, right? ;-)</p>
<p>I once fell over the opened dishwasher door with lower drawer pulled out. Thankheaven the tines were down!!!</p>
<p>What kind of knives? Our eating knives go in the dishwasher blade down. Our kitchen cooking knives get hand washed.</p>