Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher at home, you know just how convenient they can be – they are quite the timesaver for sure! However, let’s face it – most of us just pile in as many dishes as we can and then turn it on when it’s full and let it work its magic. Is that all there is to it, though? We say no way! To get the most out of your dishwasher and keep it around for as long as possible, remember these six things:

  1. Stop overcrowding. One more plate might not seem so bad, but it could be the difference between your dishes coming out dirty or clean! When too many dishes are put in at once, some of them might come out with dirty spots, meaning you’ll have to run the dishwasher again or start hand washing – just do it right the first time!
  2. Choose the right cycle. Shorter cycles may seem like the right choice if you want to save water,  but they may not be the best if you have a ton of super dirty dishes! Just like you would with your washing machine, always make sure you’re choosing the appropriate cycle based on how many dishes you have to clean.
  3. Rinse before washing. Washing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher seems silly, which is why we would never tell you to do that! What we will tell you, though, is that it never hurts to rinse off major food particles before loading up so that your dishwasher doesn’t have to work as hard, and so that you don’t risk the development of clogs.
  4. Clean with vinegar. Normally we wouldn’t suggest running your dishwasher when it’s empty so that you don’t waste water, but when it comes to cleaning your dishwasher, doing so is just fine! In this case, just toss one cup of white vinegar into the bottom of your dishwasher and then have it run on a regular cycle.
  5. Run hot water first. Before you turn your dishwasher on, let the water run in your sink until it’s hot. Doing so will encourage the use of hot water as soon as your cycle starts rather than cold, which is especially helpful as temperatures drop and the water takes longer to warm up.
  6. Know your water. Does your home have hard or soft water? Hard water can cause a ton of problems, so if that’s what your dishwasher is using, you’ll want to look into water softening.

Speaking of water softening, did you know that we can help with this? There are a number of benefits of water softening, such as it makes cleaning easier, extends the life of your appliances and keeps your plumbing systems cleaner, so having your hard water addressed (if applicable) should be a no brainer! To learn more about our water softening services, please give us a call at 714.630.8766 or fill out our request service today form right here on our website!