How to Use a Dishwasher
Thanks to dishwashers, people no longer have to deal with scrubbing, soaping and rinsing their dirty plates by hand. A dishwasher is a very helpful mechanism to have in the kitchen, but do you know how to work it properly? If you don’t, here’s a helpful guide on how to use a dishwasher.
What You’ll Need:
Dishwasher
Dirty dishes
Rubber spatula or knife
Water
Dishwashing detergent
Procedure:
Familiarize yourself with the structure of your dishwasher. Open it, then locate the main sprayers are. This gives you an idea of where the dirtiest dishes (those that need more work) should be placed.
dishwasher
Purchase a dish detergent that works well for your unit. The manufacturer would usually specify a particular brand of detergent that works best. Don’t use anything other than that brand, otherwise it might produce too much foam that can damage your machine or might result in poorly washed dishes.
If the dishes are heavily soiled, scrape the food remains from them first. You can use a rubber spatula or knife for this task. The spatula is preferable, since it won’t scratch the dishes. As for containers or utensils that have been used for baking, pre-soak them in water and detergent first.
Fill your dishwasher cups with the required detergent, then close the top.
Load your dishwasher properly. Maximize the space, but don’t overload the unit. A dishwasher that’s too overloaded might result in poorly cleaned dishes. Here are a few tactics to remember when loading your dishwasher properly.
The heaviest and biggest items, such as the pots and pans, should go in the bottom rack.
Delicate glassware, cups and plates should be at the top rack. Make sure that when you put in the pots, glasses and cups, they are facing upside down. This will cause the cleaning water to run off surfaces, and avoid being collected in them.
Put the flatware and cutlery on the cutlery trays or in a basket. Make sure you don’t cram too much, because water might not cover and clean all of them. Also, put spiky or sharp items in the tray or cutlery basket, to avoid injuries while unloading or loading the dishwasher.
Items made from different metals should be placed apart from each other. This might cause erosion or flash rust.
When you load the dishes, slide out the top rack first, then the bottom rack. Be careful when stacking the dishes, so you won’t drop and break anything.
Small utensils, such as lids, straws or chopsticks should be handwashed. They can fall off the rack easily, and might accidentally burn on the heating coil at the dishwasher’s bottom.
Close the dishwasher’s door securely, then set the timer and wash load setting. Refer to the instruction manual that came with your unit. Turn the switch on, then let the machine do its work.
Unload your dishwasher carefully, checking if everything has been washed appropriately.
Check and clean your dishwasher frequently, so you’ll be able to find out if there are problems and will solve them quickly.
The dishwasher is a modern innovation, but for it to be well-functional, it must be used properly. Just follow these tips and your unit will always stay in good shape and will perform its best.