Flatware should be deposited randomly, with knives, forks and spoons mingled, some pointing up and some down. That way water can flow freely among them. Items should be loaded according to size, with small things up front and big ones in back. This helps to disperse the detergent evenly. Plastic should go on top, away from the most intense heat.
Powdered detergents seem to work a bit better than liquid gels.
And unless you want a room full of soapsuds, don't even think about Joy or Ivory Liquid as an emergency substitute for dishwasher detergent. I asked about the best brand of detergent, saying my wife claims only Cascade doesn' t leave traces of soap scum on the glasses. But Savage said he has used both Cascade and Electralux. The biggest problem Savage has found in checking when a dishwasher isn't operating properly is a faulty water valve that doesn't allow enough water into the machine. But on the other hand, when families don't load a machine correctly and an item such as a knife falls out and down into the working parts of the machine, it causes a stoppage.