In the average Essex home, the dishwasher is used every day wonderful inventions that save lots of time, money and water. Overtime dishwasher performance can decrease; this is usually due to neglect or improper use.
Dishwashers are simple to use properly and maintain, follow these simple steps to improve dishwasher performance.
Remove Excess Food Before Washing
Scrape all leftover food off your plates and into the bin before loading into the dishwasher.
A common complaint is
“what’s the point in having a dishwasher if you have to scrape the plates! You might as well just wash them in the sink!”
Wrong!
Scraping removes the excess food allowing the plates to be cleaned thoroughly while in the dishwasher. Dirty plates laden with congealed food are harder to clean, a dishwasher full of food particles cleans plates far less efficiently.
Load Properly
There are only so many items you can fit in your dishwasher; overloading will stop some items getting cleaned properly. Read the manual and put everything where it’s supposed to go. Plates go at the bottom, spaced out and facing downwards. Mugs, glasses and bowls go at the top, place at an angle. Space cutlery out in the cutlery basket forks and spoons facing up sharp knives always facing down (for safety).
Quality Tablets & Detergent
Cheap dishwasher tablets and detergent generally do a poor job so much so you might have to rerun the load!. Always use the best tablets and detergents you can afford. When using detergent always use actual dishwasher detergent (never use washing powder designed for washing machines or handwash). Measure out the correct amount of detergent never use too little or too much.
Use The Correct Settings
Modern dishwashers have several settings. The setting you require will depend on the load. The low-temperature glassware setting won’t clean your heavily soiled pots and pans while the heavy-duty setting won’t do your wine glasses any favours. Read your manual and become familiar with the settings.
Install A Water Softener
Essex is a hard water area (the third highest in the country) hard water can leave a cloudy residue on your glassware. If this becomes an issue, consider installing a water softener. Softer water’s kinder to your dishwasher and glassware.
Remove & Clean Filter
Your dishwasher filter in the base will collect up a build-up of food after a while. Periodically remove any food and run your filter under the tap.
Clean Your Dishwasher
Periodically clean your dishwasher by running empty on a regular cycle with white vinegar instead of detergent. You can scrub the interior walls and racks with white vinegar also. Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Check For Leaks
A leaking dishwasher is a sign of a worn-out rubber seal. Locate and replace seals as necessary.