Many people who regularly use a dishwasher have had a similar thought at some point: Is my dishwasher getting dishes clean enough? It’s a common question, and one whose answers often relate not only to the cleanliness your dishwasher is creating, but also to the long-term quality of the appliance and how its lifespan may be impacted.
At All Pro Appliance, not only do we supply the very best in dishwasher repairs throughout Utah, we also provide clients with basic expertise on how to use their dishwasher — both to create the cleanest possible dishes and, just as importantly, to do so while maintaining an efficient appliance that will meet or exceed its expected lifespan. As it turns out, many of the concepts here apply to both these categories; this two-part blog series will go over several best practices for loading and using dishwashers regularly.
Rinsing Themes
One common operational question we get from dishwasher users: Do I need to rinse my dishes before placing them in the dishwasher? The answer: It depends somewhat on the dishwasher.
Newer dishwashers, for instance, have a much more powerful dishwashing cycle, and many of them include a specific quick-rinse option. This means that while some newer models may not need pre-rinsing, it may be a good idea to do so anyway, at least initially. While you should always scrape off any large food particles or other debris before placing the item inside the dishwasher, you should refer to the directions from your appliance manufacturer for any additional rinsing needs.
Strategic Placement
One of the top themes for getting the most out of your dishwasher: Placing items strategically. Just because you can place one item into the dishwasher does not mean that another equally-sized item will fit in its place, or directly beside it.
You’ll want to take care when placing your dishes, glasses and other items in your dishwasher, accounting for both shape and size. For instance, square plates work well when stacked against each other, while round plates require more open space. Try to avoid placing two items directly beside each other if at all possible; this means that you should not leave one glass right next to another or place a dinner plate flush against a bowl instance.
Proper Settings
Your dishwasher has several different settings or formats, and these can make a difference in your machine’s performance. You may remember that most home dishwashers have several different modes, depending on the settings you choose: Heavy soil, Normal, Light soil and China/crystal (or some variation on these).
Each of these settings has an impact on how much water is utilized during the wash cycle, the number of times the water is sprayed and other factors. You can adjust these settings for a shorter or longer wash cycle, depending on your preference, but you should keep in mind that there are often tradeoffs between time and energy efficiency — for example, using a heavy soil setting will likely get your dishes cleaner, but this may also use more water.
For more loading tips for your dishwasher that will help it create cleaner dishes while also meeting or exceeding its lifespan, or to learn about any of our appliance repair services, speak to the staff at All Pro Appliance Service today.
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