There’s nothing difficult about loading a dishwasher, nor do most people feel there is anything interesting about the task. But surely we can all agree that anything’s better than washing dirty dishes by hand? The best way to ensure you never have to scrub another dirty plate or glass is by learning how to efficiently load your machine.

The following best practices will not only save time and energy, they’ll also avoid expensive broken stemware and even ensure your dishes come out cleaner. Trust us, this illustrated guide on how to properly load the dishwasher is about to improve your life in ways you never knew possible. (No… seriously!)