A few generations back washing the dishes is all about manual labor. This is why it could be a dreadful chore that almost anyone is not fond of doing.
Thankfully, with the advancement in technology, many home appliances and gadgets have been developed for our convenience.
One of these wonderful inventions is the dishwasher. With it, piles of dirty plates and kitchenware are not a problem. However, like many appliances, you also need to know how to properly use and care for your dishwasher.
Knowing how many ounces of dishwasher detergent per load to use and how to properly place utensils, plates and kitchen tools is just a start. So, stick around to found out more.
How Dishwasher Works
The very first dishwasher was unveiled back in the 1850s and was invented by Josephine Cochrane. It was said the reason for her invention was to protect her precious China while washing them.
From the time when it was first invented, dishwashers have evolved. However, the interesting question is how does it work. First and foremost, unlike the usual dishwashing by hand, dishwashers are designed to automatically do all the dishwashing for the user.
The cycle typically starts as the machine takes cold water from the source it is attached to. Once it has enough amount of water for the process, the machine will start to heat the water.
The heating process is made possible because of heated think metal bars presence in the machine.
The heated water is then pumped inside the machine and enters two spinning paddles which spin the water around like sprinklers. The paddles create hot spinning jets of water that fire upward onto the dirty plates.
The water cycles back from where it started and is heated again and sprayed onto the dishes. The large debris from the dirty dishes falls into a sieve at the bottom of the machine, while smaller bits simply flush down the drain.
Proper Usage and Care for Dishwashers
Like other home appliances, you need to familiarize yourself and understand how properly use them. Additionally, you also need to know how to appropriately care for and maintain your dishwasher.
1. Pre-rinse the dishes.
Although dishwashers are designed to automatically wash dirty dishes, it would be helpful to do a pre-rinse of these dishes to get rid of any large bit of food.
2. Loading the bottom rack.
The bottom rack of your dishwasher should contain plates, bowls, pans, pots, and casserole dishes. Place them facing the spray nozzle of the dishwasher. Your silverware should be in the silverware rack and flat pots and platters should be placed near the back.
3. Loading the top rack.
The top rack of your dishwasher should contain mugs and glasses but make sure to place them face down.
4. Correct amount of dishwasher detergent.
The amount of detergent you will use is also important. You need to know how many ounces of dishwasher detergent per load is needed. The right amount of detergent will greatly depend on the size of the dishwasher and its dispensing cup.
However, typically it will take two ounces of detergent to fill a dispensing cup and run a load. Make sure not to add too much since the soap residue could stick to your dish and might not be rinsed thoroughly.
5. Be extra careful when loading plastics.
You need to be careful when you are loading plasticware into the dishwasher. Plasticware is lightweight and easily move around inside the dishwasher if not properly loaded. Make sure to securely place them on racks, so they will not dislodge once the wash cycle starts.
6. Set the cycle depending on how dirty the dishes are.
If your dishes are not extremely dirty, you can opt to set your dishwasher on the lightest wash cycle. This should be enough to clean them thoroughly. Usually, dishes used for everyday eating and drinking can be washed using a light dishwashing setting.
On the other hand, there are also dishes and kitchenware that can be extremely dirty such as those that are used for baking and cooking. To make sure that these are washed thoroughly, you can opt to set your dishwasher on a heavy wash cycle.
7. Clean your dishwasher regularly.
Finally, your dishwasher needs some cleaning too like any other equipment. This is an essential part of properly maintaining your dishwasher. Start by cleaning the exterior of your dishwasher.
Dishwashers with plastic exteriors can be wiped down with a sponge and soap water. Meanwhile, dishwashers with stainless steel exteriors should be cleaned with a glass cleaner.
Be sure to avoid spraying the glass cleaner directly into the dishwasher, rather use a paper towel to wipe it down.
To ensure that your dishwasher runs smoothly, you also need to regularly clean the built-in filters. The filter can be easily pulled out and is typically found at the bottom rack. You can use a sponge or a spray setting of your faucet to clean out debris stuck in the filter.