A Primer On Dish Washers
A Useful Home Appliance
by Daniel Smith
Today there is rarely any modern house hold that does not
possess a dish washer. Often the service companies are flooded
with complaints about faulty or less efficient service of dish
washers as a result of wrong handling and inefficient use of
the machine by the home maker. Poor cleaning is always not the
result of a faulty machine but mostly because of poor usage.
The major factors that influence the performance of a dish
washer includes among others , the temperature of the water,
the use of appropriate detergent, timely refilling of rinse
additives, the loading practice and proper maintenance.
Let us examine these factors in detail.
Water Temperature:-
The ideal water temperature suggested by most of the
manufacturers of this utility is a minimum of 120 F to begin
with and around 140 F for removal of food soiling and to end up
at 150 degree Fahrenheit to ensure bacteria free utensils. In
restaurant conditions the temperature is usually set to 180
degree Fahrenheit as per the statutory health requirements. It
is commonly observed that as against the above standards most
of the home makers set the temperature at about 100 degree
Fahrenheit or less presumably to reduce the energy consumption
bill.
The ignorance of the basic requirement of optimum water heating
leads to various consequences. Low heating of water reduces the
cleaning efficiency of the machine leading to unclean dishes
left with food particles and bacteria. The concept of low
heating of water in dish washers claims to ensure the safety of
children by avoiding the possibility of scalding in bath.
The argument put forward for keeping the water temperature
lower is the safety of children and low consumption of
electricity; however the same has a negative impact on the
cycle length of the machine. In due course the normal washing
cycle of 40 minutes may stretch to 2 hrs or more. The sensible
home maker is well advised to follow the standard water
temperature requirement of dish washers suggested by the
manufacturers exploring other methods of safety for their
children.
Rinse additive:-
The refilling of the rinse additive is often forgotten by the
users. The purpose of the additive is to help the dishes dry
faster. Poor cleaning with water stains on dishes especially on
glasses is the result of low rinse additive level. The gap
between 2 refills is normally months apart and as such the need
for the refilling of the rinse additive is conveniently
forgotten.
Some of the dish washers provide a useful rinse additive
indicator, usually seen as a plastic eye beside the soap
dispenser that changes its color when the additive is low or
empty.
Proper Loading:-
The user is well advised to read the instructions for loading
of the dish washer. Proper loading helps the water to reach all
the nook and corner. The dishes and utensils are to be arranged
inside the dish washer in a systematic and orderly manner
instead of cluttering the inside of the machine, to help a neat
and healthy wash.
Use of Proper Detergents:-
A good and popular brand detergent is all the more essential
for the machine to give its best service. It may not be wise to
save a few dollars at the cost of the life of the machine or a
good wash.
One can choose either a gel or a crystal dishwasher detergent;
the only difference found in the former is that it dissolves
quicker and as such suitable for low temperature of water. The
crystal detergents may absorb moisture and may harden up making
dissolution difficult. Normally a box of detergent needs to be
exhausted within a period of 60 to 90 days. Hence, it is wise
to buy an ideal quantity of detergent to avoid any wastage; one
needs to understand that the detergent used for washing the
utensils in the sink cannot be interchanged with dishwasher
detergent. Each one has different formula.
In spite of all the precautions and better usage practices
should the machine develops any mechanical problems the same
need be immediately attended to. Normal complaints include
problems in draining, blocked filters, erratic water pressure
or broken parts. It is wise to go through the manual in detail
before reaching the service provider.
About The Author: Daniel Smith writes about Dishwashers
http://www.homeappliancesonsale.com and Dishwasher Home
Appliances.