The Bosch third rack is the shallow top tray built for flat and small items, and the best way to use it is to keep it for utensils, spatulas, ladles, small cups and other slim pieces, with everything laid flat and nothing sticking above the tray. Used that way it frees the two main racks for plates and pots, gets utensils cleaner than a basket does and avoids the most common complaint, which is dishes that fall through or block the spray arm.
What should go in a Bosch third rack?
Think of the third rack as a utensil tray that sits above everything else. Forks, spoons, butter knives, ladles, spatulas, whisks, tongs and measuring spoons all fit well, as do small cups and ramekins. Because the tray is shallow, long thin items lie flat along it instead of standing in a basket, and that exposure to the spray is why utensils often come out cleaner than they do from a silverware basket, where spoons nest together and shield each other.
Lay the pieces in a single layer and alternate the direction of nested items such as measuring spoons, so water reaches the whole surface. Do not stack. Two pieces lying on top of each other leave a dry, dirty strip where they touch.
Keep the tray itself clean, too. Food bits collect in the slots and along the rails, and they can drop onto the lower rack or end up in the filter. Pull the tray out every few weeks if your model allows it, rinse it under the tap and check that the wheels or glides run smoothly. A tray that sticks is usually dirty rather than broken, and a stuck tray is the reason people stop using it.
What is the difference between the standard and the MyWay third rack?
On our model list, the standard third rack appears on 300, 500 and 800 series models, and the 100 series has none. The 800 series models with the MyWay flexible third rack are described as holding larger pieces, including cereal bowls, large serving utensils and ramekins. If you cook for a family and own a lot of oddly shaped serving tools, the flexible version is the more useful one. If you mainly need a place for silverware and small utensils, the standard tray does the job. Check your owner’s manual for how your tray adjusts, since the folding parts differ between models.
How do you load the third rack so it cleans well?
- Load the lower rack first and check that nothing sticks up into the path of the tray.
- Lay long utensils flat with the bowls and heads at alternating ends so they do not nest.
- Keep sharp knives pointing away from you and away from the door seal, and check that nothing hangs through the slots.
- Put light items on the tray’s edges or hold them down so the spray cannot flip them. A small plastic lid that flips over can block a spray arm.
- Close the door gently and watch the first minutes of the cycle if you have loaded something new, to confirm the spray arms still turn.
The spray arm above the lower rack, and the one that serves the third rack, must spin freely. Our guide to Bosch dishwasher spray arm maintenance shows how to check and clean the arms and the nozzles.
What should you never put in the third rack?
- Tall or round items that rise above the tray and press against the upper tub or block the spray arm.
- Delicate glassware that can tip and chip against the rails.
- Large lightweight plastic pieces that can flip in the spray and land on the heater or in the filter area.
- Anything with a wooden or glued handle that the manufacturer says not to wash in a dishwasher.
- Heavy pots, which belong on the lower rack where the water pressure is strongest.
For the other racks and the rest of the load, our Bosch dishwasher loading mistakes guide covers the common errors, and the RackMatic adjustment guide explains how to raise the upper rack for tall items.
Why are utensils still not clean or not dry?
If utensils come out dirty, the most common reasons are overloading, nesting, a blocked spray arm or a clogged filter. If they come out wet, it is usually the drying cycle, since small items hold water and plastic does not dry as well as metal. Open the door at the end of the cycle and let steam escape, and use the drying option your model offers. Our guide to understanding Bosch dishwasher cycles and settings explains which cycle and options to choose for a mixed load.
Is a third rack a reason to choose one Bosch tier over another?
It can be, if you do a lot of loading by hand and need flat space for utensils. The 100 series does not have one, and the 300, 500 and 800 series do, with the MyWay flexible version at the top of the 800 series. If the third rack is the feature you are buying for, compare the models in our Bosch dishwasher series comparison before you decide.
