Dishwashers help make kitchen cleanup a breeze in many households, so how to get best dishwasher performance.
After you place a load of dirty dishes in the racks, add detergent and begin the washing cycle, the dishwasher handles the rest.
But getting the best dishwasher performance from these machines may require a little manual intervention on your part.
Both internal and external factors affect your dishwasher’s ability to produce clean and spotless dishes.
Here are a few recognizable aspects of achieving the best dishwasher performance so that you can fully experience the benefits of owning and using this appliance.
1.
Replace your powder, liquid or gel dishwasher detergent with the newer, better-cleaning tablets or packets if you notice a white film on your dishes.
After several states banned phosphates from detergents, companies reworked their products and consumers quickly complained that dishes weren’t getting as clean as they used to.
Since then, improvements have been made to some brands. To reduce spotting on glassware, use a rinse aid in the marked dispenser.
2.
Remove any items that are not dishwasher-safe. For example, don’t wash plastic soda bottles that have glued-on labels.
The paper could clog the nozzles or drainage system in the dishwasher, affecting the cleanliness of the dishes.
Cast iron skillets can cause rust to remain on both your cleaned dishes and the interior tub. Refer to your owner’s manual for a list of dishwasher-safe items.
3.
Arrange the dirty dishes on the racks in an orderly fashion. For example, make sure large plates are evenly spaced and upright.
Haphazard arrangement may block the streams of water from reaching other dishes.
4.
Use a plastic scrubbing pad to remove tough stains off dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Use a plastic scrubbing ball on pots and pans.
You don’t have to thoroughly handwash or rinse the dishes in the sink. Apply just enough friction to loosen tough stains.
This also prevents large particles from clogging up the drain and filtration system in the dishwasher.
5.
Perform a periodic cleaning cycle. Run the empty machine with a dishwasher cleansing product.
If your appliance does not have a special maintenance or cleaning cycle, or if you don’t want to use a special cleanser, pour a small amount of vinegar into the soap dispenser and run a normal wash cycle.
This process removes built-up scale and minerals on the walls that may leave dishes spotty-looking after a washing cycle.
Perform this maintenance once a month or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
6.
Use the proper wash cycle for the size of the load and the amount of food on the dishes.
This single change may affect multiple cleaning factors, including raising the water temperature and increasing the cycle time for a thorough cleaning. Also, choose the sanitize cycle, where applicable, if you are concerned about germ elimination.
7.
Place a thermometer under the running hot water tap in the kitchen sink to test the temperature.
Most automatic dishwashers clean best when the incoming water temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees Celcius. Carefully increase the temperature at the water heater if the thermometer shows a temperature below 40 C, according to the manufacturer instructions and safety warnings.
If you have young children or other vulnerable people in your household, be cautious about raising the temperature since hot water can cause injury in seconds.
8.
Start the dishwasher when no one else in the house will be using hot water.
Simultaneously running other faucets and water-dependent appliances can reduce the amount of sufficiently hot water needed for automatic dishwashing.
In some cases, the cycle can be prolonged because the internal heating element needs extra time to heat the water.
9.
Use a toothpick or cotton swab to carefully remove food particles that have clogged the nozzles on the upper and lower spray arms.
You may notice that a few dishes on the top rack or bottom rack are not coming out clean, such as those in the corners.
A clogged nozzle prevents streams of water from reaching some dishes.
You may have to completely disassemble the spray arms to get at deeper obstructions inside the nozzle. Inspect and clean the nozzles once a month.
10.
Inspect and clean the filtration and grinding system at the bottom of the dishwasher.
You may notice a system clog or backup caused by dirt and debris that remains in the tub, affecting the cleanliness of your dishes. This component grinds down large food particles to keep them out of the pump.
You can refer to the specifications and diagrams in your owner’s manual to determine if your appliance has a serviceable filtration system.
Clean the filtration system once a month or according to the manufacturer instructions.
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