Are You Efficiently Using Your Dishwasher?
Your dishwasher is meant to make cleaning your dishes easier and healthier, but are you using your dishwasher in an efficient way? Below, you will find several tips that will help you make cleaning your dishes easy and efficient.
Don't Pre-Wash the Dishes
How much time do you spend scraping and pre-washing the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher? If your dishwasher is working properly, there should be no need to pre-wash your dishes. Instead, simply use a rubber spatula to scrape the food off of the dishes, and load them directly into the dishwasher.
Note: If the dirty dishes have been sitting around long enough for the food to dry onto them, they will need a little extra attention before being placed in the dishwasher.
Pre-Heat the Water
If your dishwasher doesn't have a built-in water heater, the water heater in your home should be set to 130 degrees for your dishwasher to work properly. Before you start up the dishwasher, run the hot water in your kitchen sink to get the hot water from the hot water heater to the water lines feeding into the dishwasher.
Use the Right Products
Don't spend your money on the cheaper dishwasher detergents. They may be cheaper to buy, but are they really getting your dishes clean, and do you have to use more of them to get good results? If your dishwasher isn't getting the dishes clean or is leaving residue on your dishes, it could be caused by cheap detergent.
Another product that many people neglect to use is the rinse aid. Most dishwashers have a rinse aid dispenser built into them for a reason. This product helps the dishes rinse completely, prevents hard water deposits from settling on the dishes, and expedites the drying process.
Clean the Dishwasher
You have two options for cleaning your dishwasher – purchase the products made for dishwasher cleaning, or use white vinegar to save some money. If you choose to use white vinegar, you simply pour two cups of white vinegar into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a wash cycle. This will break down the hard water deposits that have built up inside the machine and help it to work more efficiently.
If you use the tips above and your dishes don't come out perfectly clean, there could be an issue with your dishwasher that needs to be repaired. Talk to your local appliance repair technician, like those at S & S Appliance Service, to find out more.
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