'The joy of anarchy.' The dishwasher debate dividing the internet.

Earlier this week, something chaotic happened.

Mia Freedman, co-founder of Mamamia, shared a series of photos on Instagram. In the post, she detailed exactly how she stacks her dishwasher when no one is looking. 

It was almost too compelling not to look, dissect and judge how another human utilises their own personal dish-cleaning robot. 

"There are two types of people who own dishwashers," Freedman began. "1. The people who feel passionately about how they should be stacked. 2. Those who could not give a single f**k.

"If you, like me, live with the first type of person but are yourself, the second type, you will appreciate how much I have enjoyed being alone in my house for a few days and hurling things willy-nilly into my dishwasher."

"Honestly, it’s the best holiday I’ve ever had. Who wishes to join me in the joy of anarchy."

Turns out the entire internet wanted to join her. Because chaos shortly ensued.

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A post shared by Mia Freedman (@miafreedman)

Comments flooded in on the post, with everyone scrambling to have their dishwasher opinion heard. 

The comments were... mixed.

"Honey, I have just realised we can never live together," wrote Logie-winning journalist Lisa Wilkinson. "You are Pete. And those spoons just sitting there waiting to hold all that disgusting dirty water once the cycle is over is giving me serious anxiety!!"

Understandable. 

"Live and let live I say, but I’m struggling with this," wrote award-winning broadcaster Tracy Grimshaw. 

Your feelings are valid. 

Another comment read, "My advice: if the other person is insistent about how to fill a dishwasher... let them do it. Life's too short." 

Very sound advice. 

"I feel this in my soul! I like to throw the dishes in the direction of the dishwasher and that’s where my effort and care factor starts and ends," said another. "F**k dirty dishes, and domestic drudgery!"

So true.

Another added: "I’m concerned you’re not eating enough solids #AllTheSpoonsAndMugs."

Good observation, but tea is life.

Among the thousands of comments, there were words of advice, intense critique and even more support. 

But because we're curious, we wanted to reach out to our wider Mamamia community to hear their best advice. 

Here's what they had to say. 

According to research, dirty dishes don't just go... wherever. 

One member of our community pointed us to a 2015 study led by Dr Paul Perez-Mohendano, which found the absolute best way to stack the dishwasher. 

Among the mounds of advice was probably the most important: the crustiest dishes sit in the middle. The plates and bowls with carbohydrate residue (we're looking at you, spaghetti bolognese...) should be in the middle because that is where the water blasts the most. 

As for plates with meat or egg residue, they can be stacked around the outer edges of your dishwasher. This is because the water blast isn’t as strong and detergents have a bit more time to do the cleaning.

The study also recommends dishwasher owners reject the advice given in user manuals by manufacturers. Apparently, the supplied instructions neglect to consider symmetry and water projection... which isn't helpful for the best clean.

Leave it long enough that your partner just ends up doing it.

If you're someone like Mel (someone who would just rather not pack the dishwasher at all), follow this advice: "I let my husband do it and definitely leave the room or house when he does. Somehow he fits in twice as much as I would and amazingly everything still comes out clean! My anxiety levels top out if I accidentally see his stacking."

Spoons face DOWNWARDS.

Unless you'd prefer to have your dishes collect pools of dirty water, of course.

BTW, knives face downwards too. If you disagree, feel free to let us know in the comments – because we're more than happy to never let this conversation die down. 

Feature Image: Instagram @miafreedman.

TAKE SURVEY ➤