Home Appliances
How to quick start your dishwasher.
Before starting your new dishwasher for the first time, make sure to follow these six simple steps and achieve the best results. From now on cleaning loads of dishes by hand is a thing of the past!
Step 1: Measure the water hardness.
Step 1: Measure the water hardness.
For good results, your dishwasher needs soft water with low amounts of lime to prevent spots of white lime scale appearing on utensils and inhibit glass corrosion. That’s why it’s important to determine the water hardness before using your dishwasher for the first time. One option would be to use water hardness test strips, which can be purchased online or at pharmacies. You can also look up the water hardness via searching your zip code online or check with your local water supplier.
Step 2: Adjust the water softening system.
Step 2: Adjust the water softening system.
Once you’ve determined the hardness of your tap water, adjust your dishwasher’s internal water-softening system as required. You’ll find the instructions for this in your user manual together with a water-hardness table showing the necessary settings.
Step 3: Top up the salt.
Step 3: Top up the salt.
For the water softening system to function properly, it needs dishwasher salt. To add salt, undo the screw cap and fill the salt dispenser with water (only required when using your dishwasher for the first time). Then pour in the salt using a funnel until it is full and the water runs out. Screw the cap back on and turn the dishwasher on or run a cleaning programme to ensure that salt overflow is immediately washed away. Never fill the salt dispenser with detergent as this can damage the water softening system.
Step 4: Add rinse aid.
Step 4: Add rinse aid.
To give you stain-free utensils and clear glasses, your dishwasher needs rinse aid. Open the rinse-aid dispenser by pressing and lifting the plate on the cover. Then, carefully pour the rinse aid to the max line. Mark the filler opening and close the cover until it clicks shut. To avoid excessive foam during the next rinse cycle, remove any rinse aid that has spilt over with a cloth.
Step 5: Add detergent.
Step 5: Add detergent.
You can use tablets, powder or liquid dishwasher detergent in your appliance, but never washing-up liquid. The detergent dose should always be individually adjusted depending on how soiled the dishes and pans are. The graduated detergent dispenser helps you to add the correct amount.
If you’re using combined tabs such as 3-in- 1, 4-in-1 or 5-in-1, bear in mind that these products contain not only the detergent but also rinse-aid, salt replacement substances and additional components such as glass protection or stainless steel cleaner. These combination detergents usually only work up to a water hardness of 21°dH. If your water hardness is higher, you’ll need to add salt and rinse aid.
Step 6: Run a hot cycle.
Step 6: Run a hot cycle.
Once you’ve followed these five steps, run a hot wash without loading the dishwasher. When the wash is finished, your kitchen helper is ready for its first load.
Right or wrong: What can be put in a dishwasher?
Cooker hood filters vs. wood
Cooker hood filters can certainly be washed in your appliance – so say goodbye to annoying scrubbing and cleaning. On the other hand, wood is better washed by hand. Not only can it warp at high temperatures, it swells when wet and can crack, creating an ideal place for bacteria to breed.
Shower heads vs. knives
Save yourself time and effort cleaning lime scale off your shower head – it’s fine to put in the dishwasher. Sharp knives, however, should be washed by hand as even one washing cycle can damage the blade and cause bluntness.
Plastic toys vs. crystal glass
If your child’s toys don’t contain batteries, you can happily clean them in your dishwasher. It’s hygienic, too. But your expensive crystal glasses are better washed by hand. Dishwasher detergent and salt can damage the surface and cause glass corrosion.
Copper vs. toothbrush holders
Copper needs special treatment and should be cleaned by hand – it can turn black due to an oxidation process inside the dishwasher. In contrast, toothbrush holders are easy to clean and keep hygienic. Simply pop them in your appliance every now and then.
Baseball caps vs. non-stick pans
It might sound odd, by you can wash caps in your dishwasher. There are even special holders for them. Simply place them on the upper rack and use a low temperature programme. In comparison, non-stick pans shouldn’t be cleaned in the dishwasher. Salt, detergent together with the water pressure damage the coating and take the ‘non’ out of your non-stick pans.
