Top dishwasher tips

Are you a stacker or a rearranger? The Consumer Council team have been researching this issue and we discovered some really useful tips about whether people are using their dishwasher properly and, importantly, how doing so can save you money.

Firstly, and apparently the most common failure of dishwasher users, is the issue of putting salt in your dishwasher. The reason it is there is to counteract the hardness of the water you are using. Ignoring the refill light on the dishwasher can create two problems; firstly your water pipes and workings of your home appliance can see a build-up of limescale, which ultimately can develop into furring of the pipes and not only an inefficient dishwasher but also one which could break.

Also, the harder the water is, the harder it is to create a lather from soap. You may notice this when you go away and take a shower. Putting salt in the dishwasher helps soften the water so that you are getting the maximum cleaning power from your dishwasher tablets. Ignore the salt sign and you may be completely wasting your time putting detergent in your dishwasher as it simply can’t get going.

If you take a look on Jersey Water’s website, you will see that Jersey’s mains water is rated as ‘slightly to moderately hard’, so keeping an eye on the salt warning light is essential.

We also learnt that while most people scrape waste food into the bin before putting items into the dishwasher, many have started washing their pots and plates – some in hot water – before stacking them in the dishwasher. Not only does this waste water (and money), it negates the efficiency of modern dishwashers to do a good job with less water, and it also doesn’t give the detergent anything to grip onto and clean.