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Dishwasher tip

 
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jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 24 9:59 am    Post subject: Dishwasher tip Reply with quote
    

If you use a dishwasher you will find it has 3 phases.

1. Hot water rinse.
2. Detergent release and wash cycle.
3. final rinse.

This means phase 1 is simply not very effective.
But you can cheaply buy big tubs a sodium bicarbinate and stick a dessert spool of bicarb in the dishwasher at the start.
I'm finding it extremely effective.

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46247
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 24 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

that might depend on the machine and the cleanser

we use SMoL tablets, salt(york water is not machine friendly), a little rinse aid and only 14 ltrs of water, most of it not hot per load

6 years in, it recently cost £12 for a reed switch and £125 for a bloke who knew it what it needed was a reed switch bargain
ps i knew it was a pump or valve, the reed switch is part of the control gear for both

about 50 yrs of using them, a good one, set for the incoming water and mechanically sound should not need chemical madmaxing tweaks as an every load regime

a good clean, that has assorted hacktweaks, sort every filter, hottest wash with no dishes and 2 tablets, then an upside jug of vinegar on a hot wash
then a proper set up for your water quality
then use decent tablets


pps after 50 decades, my advice is getting a new one or get a good one maintained for long term keeping

is the water mineral rich with things that block pipes and coat elements etc?
there should be a dial on the salt for the ion exchange filter to adjust to the local supply quality, that can help a lot

 
NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 24 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Used to be able to drop a bit of dishwasher powder on the door, so it could work in the pre-rinse. Now I just smush a bit of the tablet off instead.

If you have a free afternoon and enjoy nerdery:

https://youtu.be/_rBO8neWw04?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/Ll6-eGDpimU?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/jHP942Livy0?feature=shared

 
Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 24 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I use smol tablets, skip the prewash, dont use salt or rinse aid - (soft water here) - and am happy with the outcome.

the videos were interesting - having it explained etc, although my nerdy levels died off part way through the second vid.
the message makes sense though - if you are not happy with the results - use the prewash feature and add prewash detergent.

 
jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 24 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

To me it's a simple logic that clearly does work. a couple of pence of active cleaning on the first cycle can't be a bad thing.

 
Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 24 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

presumably you were not happy with the results your dishwasher gave before. What is your water like? hard?

 
NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 24 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:
To me it's a simple logic that clearly does work. a couple of pence of active cleaning on the first cycle can't be a bad thing.


bingo

I never understood folk who wash the dishes before putting them in a dishwasher (I knock any chunks off and do soak burnt bits though)

 
jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 24 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nicky cigreen wrote:
presumably you were not happy with the results your dishwasher gave before. What is your water like? hard?


Hard water and not exactly a prize winning dishwasher.

 
Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 24 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:
Nicky cigreen wrote:
presumably you were not happy with the results your dishwasher gave before. What is your water like? hard?


Hard water and not exactly a prize winning dishwasher.


I'm glad you found a cheap solution then.

I've been trying to get my head around the affect bicarb of soda will have on calcium build up in your machine. and whether sodium carbonate - aka washing soda, would be better or worse. Any idea?

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46247
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 24 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

not a ..... will be part of the problems, possibly all the problems

for both convenience, the big selling point of dishwashers and decent new ones are cheaper and more"eco-friendly" than a sink and hot wash water and rinse water and especially time

if you have a water meter, a dishwasher pays for itself rapidly
if you have "free" green leccy using that to heat a little water in a DW makes sense

they do wear out, old ones were not very efficient or easy to adjust for water quality etc

our bosch series 2 is quiet, nice clean dishes, and apart from a replacement reed switch very reliable since 2018, i have little idea of its real leccy use as our smart meter is so clever it can't be arsed to work
the new series 4 use a third less water and less energy

bosch or mielle, good efficiency(top of mid-range), mendable
for domestic appliances with moving wet leccy bits those are my go to firms

if the spec data for ours is correct, it paid for itself in saved leccy in about 3 years including the recent repair
the new equivalent S4 ones use less water and energy

i have mad maxed dishwashers long beyond their expected lifespan, it can be done(see wicker basket and glue to repair switches)

sometime it is better just to get a nice new efficient one

ps the leccy refund from the PV will more than cover a box that magics dishes clean with no bother

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46247
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 24 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

"life is too short for washing up" ref 50 Years A Dishpig by Dpack


 
Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15996

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 24 5:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Neither bicarb or soda will have much effect on calcium build up; you need acid for that and both of them are alkaline. Best way is to avoid it by using salt or dishwasher detergent that deals with it.

 
Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 24 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mistress Rose wrote:
Neither bicarb or soda will have much effect on calcium build up; you need acid for that and both of them are alkaline. Best way is to avoid it by using salt or dishwasher detergent that deals with it.


I was wondering if it would make things worse. I dunno, I have little experience with hard water, it's always a shock when we go somewhere with hard water.. my hair is ...strange... after a shower.. tea is disgusting... etc....

 
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