Machines always make human life better. So it’s our responsibility to take care of the machines well. A few years ago, I bought a dishwasher after six months of planning and before that I kept asking myself whether it was essential or not for me. But guess what? The dishwasher made my day. From easily cleaning to wiping and drying the dishes is very impressive.
I used it to the maximum everyday and it is still working without any defects. If you can also maintain it properly, you also will be able to do this. The most important thing you have to do is read the steps to do the dishware before washing in the dishwasher and follow it.
Five Steps Before Dishwashing
The common belief about dishwashing is there are only two types of people. First, people wash dishes with hands and second, put them in the dishwasher to wash. But that’s not true. If you want to do less of your work as well as maintain your dishwasher, follow these steps.
Scrape Off Food Debris
There are different types of food wastes will remain while doing dishes. First we have to remove all the large food particles from the dishes.
Benefits: This can be very helpful in preventing clogging. Removing large food scraps helps prevent the dishwasher’s filter and spray arms from becoming clogged. The clogging will affect the performance of the dishwasher. Another benefit is reducing the odor; by doing this, you can avoid the residue build-up and odor it produces.
Place it Under Running Water if Necessary
You don’t have to rinse the dishes. But you place the dishes under running water if they have greasy or sticky solid residues.
Benefits: This will help loosen the particles and enhance cleaning performance. Washing the extra oils also prevents the residue build-up of food particles.
Check for Labels
Once, I accidentally put new plates on the dishwasher without removing the sticker. The sticker was mixed with detergent and food particles. So, it is better to remove the stickers on new dishes before putting them inside the dishwasher.
Benefits: By removing the stickers, it is helpful to prevent damage and maintain the efficiency of the dishwasher. It also avoids any contaminants like mixing it in detergent or wastes.
Avoid Overloading
Even if you have a lot of dishes to do, arrange them as per the manufacturer’s guideline. Try to add the detergent and water as per the instructions. Don’t put an overload on the dishwasher.
Benefits: Overloading in the dishwasher may damage vessels by cracking or breaking. This can be avoided by doing this. By maintaining the perfect water and detergent level, the efficiency of the machine will increase.
Prefer Wet Dishes
I always put the dishes in the dishwasher immediately after usage. Keeping it for a while can dry the debris on the vessel and will be difficult to clean.
Benefits: Dry dishes with debris will not be cleaned properly. By pouring some water over it or washing it as soon as possible will be helpful to clean.
Should You Rinse Dishes Before Stacking The Dishwasher?
My mother is always very much attached to all things in the kitchen. Sometimes, I felt that she was taken care of like a baby. When the new dishwasher is delivered home, she first rinses the dishwasher and then puts it on to reduce the workload. I just asked her then why did she bring the dishwasher if she was washing it with her hands.
Affecting the Efficiency of Dishwasher
Most people think that pre-rinsing is good for the dishwasher. Is it really good? Actually, it depends on the condition of the dishes. If your dish is wet and you have to wash it immediately, you can avoid pre-rinsing because it may affect the results of the dishwasher. Most of the dishwashers have sensors to identify how hard the debris is and increase the force of the jet according to it. But if you put the dishes that already washed may sense as light debris and give a light wash.
So you only have to remove the solid food particles from the dishes. If you are not removing those scrape properly, it will clog your dishwasher. Especially the new dishwashers have not powerful pumps like old ones. So the clogging chances are higher in new dishwashers.
Wasting Water
Many sites shows that my avoiding pre rinsing the dishes you can save water. Most of the Americans spend 10 to 12 minutes of pre rinsing all dishes that cause loss of 24 gallons. In the other side the dishwasher only need 4 gallons for per cycle. The pre rinsing will lost your 140 gallons of water in a week.
Exception in Pre-rinsing
I already told you that the pre rinsing will do or not depends on situation. If your dishes are left for a while and become extreme dry with debris, the cleaning will be too much for a dishwasher. The dish may have oily, milk and sticking starch, the pre rinse can do wonders. In this stage, you have to wet the dishes and pre rinse.
If you don’t want to waste the water in pre rinsing process, use a stale bread to clean debris. The bread and the debris can be use as food for the farm animals.
How to Maintain a Dishwasher?
To maintain the longevity and performance of the dishwasher, it is important to clean properly. Cleaning the filter regularly will remove the clogged food particles and debris. I’ve found that doing this once a week has kept my dishwasher running smoothly.
For cleaning this filter, you can remove the bottom of the machine. Try to rinse it in warm water, and to remove the debris properly, use a soft brush. Another important thing is to clean the door and seals. For this, use a damp cloth to wipe all around and inside of the dishwasher to keep it clean.
Additionally, the cleaning spray arm will be helpful in reaching water in all areas. I use a toothpick or a small brush to clear out any blockages in the spray nozzles, which has made a noticeable difference in washing performance.
Making a habit of these maintenance tasks on a monthly basis has been a game-changer for me. Finally, I used to run the dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack once a month to remove any other impurities and deodorize the interior. By doing these simple steps has not only extended the life of my dishwasher but also improved its efficiency.
Power of Good Detergent
Initially I wasn’t care about the dishwashing detergents properly. I used to purchase the detergents just saw on the store without thinking about it. Once I brought a new detergent powder and it made the rinsing more perfect. From that point, I used to research about it more. From my personal experience, the detergent capsules are best than the powder. It works wonder on even suborn debris and make the clean cling noise if scratch on it. I am not insisting you to buy capsules over powder, because it is way more expensive than powder.
I can also suggest you some best brands of dish wash detergents from my experience. Finish Powder Dishwasher, Seventh Generation and Nellie’s Dishwasher powder are my favorites. If you prefers capsules or pods, go for Cascade brand.
My Top Suggestions for the Best Dishwasher
Some of you always ask for my top recommendations and reviews about anything I share. So, I would just like to share my suggestions for a dishwasher for those who are planning to buy or replace the dishwasher.
Here are my top five dishwasher picks for 2024; I tried to mention the pros and cons of each brand. The first one is the Bosch 800 Series SHP878ZD5N; it is a standout choice. This can offer a combination of quiet operation and excellent cleaning performance.
In addition to this, its flexible third rack and advanced drying technology ensure that your dishes are both clean and dry. However, it’s pretty high price point and potential complexity in installation might be drawbacks for some users.
If you are looking for flexibility and precision, go for Miele G 7566 SCVi. With adjustable racks and a built-in detergent dispenser, it is very convenient for various cleaning needs. It also has a high cost and more features. The Samsung DW80R9950UG features smart technology and a sleek design that provides convenience with Wi-Fi control and a Zone Booster for tough cleaning.
The technology is the best highlight of this model. But it has so many complex smart features and confusing options that may not be suitable for all people. Especially those who are looking for simpler appliances don’t need to buy these at high cost.
The KitchenAid KDPM704KPS is famous for its ProWash cycle. This feature helps this model to adjust cleaning based on dish dirtiness, along with adjustable racks for larger items. The main issue with this dishwasher is that it can be noisier compared to some models and comes with a relatively high price tag.
For people preferring small machines with smaller spaces, the LG LDP6810SS is a compact option with a QuadWash system and smart technology. However, its slim design and small size result in less capacity. It also has smart features that may be somewhat complex.
Overall, the Bosch 800 Series SHP878ZD5N is my personal favorite, and I also have one. Stands out as the top favorite due to its balance of performance, features, and reliability, despite its higher cost. The top-notch performance will completely satisfy the users.
