When it comes to cleaning up after a big meal, a dishwasher really can be your best friend. However, if your method is shoving everything in and hoping for the best, you may want to reconsider.

We have a whole article on the best way to load your dishwasher, but there's one mistake that we're all guilty of making: putting our knives in the dishwasher.

According to the cookery experts, you should always wash your knives by hand. And we're not just talking about fancy kitchen knives.

It turns out that putting any of your knives in the dishwasher will eventually blunt them, meaning you'll save money long-term if you put a bit of elbow grease into keeping them clean.

"Some dishwashers have extremely high water pressure, which can dull blades quickly. The small crystals in dishwasher detergent can also be abrasive," said a chef at HelloFresh.

Let's face it, no one wants dull knives that can never cut through anything properly. In fact, chopping with a blunt knife isn't just irritating, it's actually more dangerous as applying more pressure to the blade makes you more likely to hurt yourself.

Instead of putting them in the dishwasher, wash your knives in hot, soapy water with a sponge or dish cloth. Then dry them thoroughly before putting away.

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