As with any kitchen appliance, proper use will enhance the performance of your dishwasher. Everything from the quality of your water to the way you stack the dishes can affect the efficiency of your own kitchen model. We’ve collected a few tips to help you gain the best results from any dishwasher that’s installed in your home.
Samsung, one of the brands we represent in our Atherton Appliance & Kitchens and BSC Culinary showrooms, offers these steps for getting the most out of your dishwasher:
Is your water hard or soft?
Soft water doesn’t rinse soap as well as hard water, but the good news is that you’ll need only a fraction of the recommended amount of dishwasher detergent if your water is soft. Hard water, on the other hand, means you should stick with powder detergents. Gels won’t rinse off as well in a hard water environment and can cause build up. A rinse agent can eliminate spots. Regular white vinegar works well, and can also help keep your dishwasher free of gunk.
No need to pre-rinse.
Today’s dishwashers should be able to handle all of the grime and residue that has collected on your dishes. Pre-rinsing dishes and cutlery by hand is no longer necessary, and the practice also wastes water.
Load your dishwasher properly.
If you overcrowd your dishwasher, the spray nozzles won’t spin correctly and could even hit the dishes. Water and cleaning agents will also be less likely to find every surface. On the other hand, if you run your dishwasher when it’s half empty, dishes might bang around inside and even break (and again, you’ll be wasting water). The solution is to stack your dishes properly so that you can wash a full load while avoiding overcrowding. Large plates go on the bottom rack, leaning toward the center. You can fill in extra space once they’re loaded, adding large bowls and pots and pans if space allows (they should facing toward the middle or down). Glasses, bowls, plastic-ware and large serving utensils should all be placed in the top drawer. It’s OK if glasses and bowl rims touch, as long as the dishwasher is full. And remember – only wash dishes and other items (such as storage bowls) that are dishwasher safe; you don’t want to deal with melted plastic in your dishwasher.
Some items should be washed by hand.
According to Samsung, the following items should always be washed by hand:
- Chef knives
- Lead crystal
- Delicate glassware
- Copper
- Cast iron
- Sterling silver
- Pewter
- Hand-painted objects
- Antiques
- Glued, wooden items
- Plastic NOT labeled dishwasher safe
- Paintbrushes
- Tools
RealSimple.com notes that many homeowners use only the “normal” cycle on their dishwashers, ignoring the many options that will expand its capabilities. The site recommends that you try the following settings in order to learn what your dishwasher can do:
Quick Clean: This setting is designed for a fast wash for lightly soiled dishes, such as wine glasses used for a cocktail party.
Top Rack: Some models allow you to turn on just the top sprayer so you can do a load that consists only of glasses, coffee mugs, and other top-rack items.
Sanitize: This setting will run a cycle that lasts longer than a regular wash and heats the final rinse water to about 155 degrees to kill germs. This can come in handy if a member of the family is sick.
High-Temperature Wash: If you want the water 5 to 10 degrees hotter that usual for better cleaning, use this setting. But make sure the items in the dishwasher can take the heat. Don’t use this setting for delicate dishes like crystal or fine china.
Heavy Wash: This is your dishwasher’s work horse: the setting allows for an extended main wash and rinse with water that’s about five degrees hotter than that of a normal cycle. When the dishes are really dirty, use it.
China/Crystal: You might want to consider always hand washing these items, but if you do wash them in the dishwasher, use this shortened wash and rinse cycle, which also provides slightly cooler water.
Rinse Only: If all you need is a 5- to 10-minute rinse without detergent, use this setting (for example to quickly rinse plates and wash away odors when the dishwasher isn’t yet full). Then run the machine when you have a full load.
Air Dry: This setting will save you energy by letting your dishes air dry without the use of the machine’s heater.
Delay Start: If you don’t want to listen to the dishwasher run, this setting allows you to set the unit to turn on at a later time, maybe after you’ve headed up to bed.
Your dishwasher is one of the most heavily used appliances in your home. With a little knowledge and experimentation, you can run it efficiently and be rewarded with clean, spotless dishes every time.
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