What is the correct order to wash dishes to prevent contamination?

Washing dishes in the order of glasses, plates, utensils, and pots/pans is correct because this method helps to prevent cross-contamination and ensures that dirtier items do not dirty the cleaner ones.

Starting with the glasses, which are usually the least soiled, allows for the use of cleaner wash water, reducing the risk of contaminating subsequent items. Plates may have food residues but are typically less soiled than utensils, which often require more scrubbing. Lastly, pots and pans generally have the most residue and grease, so washing them last prevents heavier soiling from contaminating lighter items.

This order is vital in a food safety context because it reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses by avoiding the transfer of bacteria or contaminants from dirty dishes back to the clean items. Logic dictates that the more contaminated an item is, the lower it should be prioritized in the washing order.