Isn’t dishwashing manually boring? Plus, if you are a procrastinator, then you agree that washing the dishes is the least favorite thing ever.
Especially on winter days, when the water is chilled like ice, the water hurts your fingers. Washing the dishes on those days is not only boring but painful too.
But there is a solution that has been invented. And that is, a dishwashing machine or a dishwasher A dishwasher is a machine helping you automatically clean your dishes, bowls, and cutleries. Isn’t that so cool?
You could just put all your dirty plates and pans in on a device that will make them squeaky clean without you requiring to wet your hands.
Also, unlike manual dishwashing, it treats the dishes with much more care. And does not scrub the ceramic plates which could leave marks on them. They use warm water for most dishes, and if the utensil is delicate, cold water is used.
How Does A Dishwasher Work?
Contents
To wash the dishes in the dishwasher, firstly you need to load the dishes. Then, of course, you need to add the detergent, set the washing cycles, and turn it on. Now, let the dishwasher do its job while you sit quietly! To specify, a dishwasher works by-
- Adding the water.
- Heating the water to the temperature it finds appropriate
- Opening the detergent dispenser at the time
- Spraying the water in order to clean the dishes
- Draining out the dirty water
- Spraying more water to clean them more thoroughly
- Draining the water again
- Heating the air to dry the dishes.
Dishwashers also have a tracker to ensure that the dishes function properly. There is a sensor that detects the water temperature. Some dishwashers also have a sensor that detects whether the dirt is coming off the dishes or not.
One of the main conflicts that arise is how to load a dishwasher correctly. Everyone feels that their way of loading the dishwasher is correct. But know this, there is a specific way of how to load it properly.
Basic Rules To Follow While Loading A Dishwasher
- If you have leftover food on your plate make sure to throw it in a bin and not put any solid substance in the washer as that has the potential to ruin it.
- Don’t rinse the dishes beforehand.
- Place any curved dishes like bowls in such a way that the dirtiest side faces downward.
- Also one should make sure that the water can flow up to each surface, be it the lower or the upper racks.
- Dishes that have a round bottom such as glass and cups should be placed in such a way that the water will drain off the surface.
- Forks and spoons should be placed in the basket so that the handles face downward. Knife handles should be put carefully so you don’t have trouble taking them out.
- It is important to check whether the device is spinning properly without hitting any surface.
- Make sure to place the cutleries in a way that doesn’t restrict the spin.
- Never block the detergent dispenser with a large item. This is so because if the dispenser does not open freely, the dishes will automatically not be cleaned.
- If you place a big plate or lid in front of the dishwasher detergent dispenser, there is a strong chance that the dispenser will not open freely.
- After the wash is done, always check for any residue left in the dispenser and if there is, make sure to place your dishes correctly next time.
How To Load The Top Rack
The top rack of the dishwasher is for cups, glasses, saucers, and dishes. Preferably smaller dishes. Again, keep in mind to place it in such a way that the dirty side faces downward.
Many might worry that washing in a dishwasher may result in chipping of the utensils. To prevent that from happening, it is best to place the utensils a bit distance from one another so that they do not touch.
The other small ones like containers, lids, and plastic storage bins, should be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Since the items that may be placed in the top rack are usually small, it is possible you can fit in some more of them if the placing is correct.
The entire rack can be adjusted up and down. Some glasses are too tall and you might be thinking for so long that it is not possible to wash them in the dishwasher, but well, you can.
How To Load The Bottom Rack
This rack is primarily kept for bigger items like pots, pans, baking pans, frying pans, and so on. Your dinner plates can also be cleaned here.
Big casseroles can also be fitted here. Again, place them in such a way that the dirty side faces downward. Make sure that they are not nested. Check the water spray directly hits the dirty surface because otherwise it won’t get washed properly.
Taller items should be placed on the side so that they are not blocking the detergent dispenser. Large dishes can also be fitted into those racks.
Right Way To Load The Silverware
Silver utensils are of course costly, and hence need to be handled with care. Many might think putting silverware in the dishwasher will spoil them and result in scratches,
But the answer is that it depends on how you load your silverware in the dishwasher.
Here is how you can perfectly load your silverware into the dishwasher-
- The forks and spoons should never be placed in the same section unless the direction is alternated. They will nest and not be cleaned otherwise.
- Knives should be loaded with bladed towards the downward side.
- Forks and spoons should be placed such that the dirty part is placed towards the portion spraying water.
- Large utensils like ladles and spatulas should be placed on the top racks.
Tips For Getting Best Results From A Dishwasher
- Clean your dishes regularly with detergent
- Make sure the water heater is so that extreme temperatures do not spoil the outer layer
- The dishwashing should start with lukewarm water, and not cold water so let the water get hot mildly at first
- Use the correct amount of detergent and always look at the chemicals to make sure that they are not too harsh
- If your water is hard, then you should go in for more detergent with each washing circle
- Be sure that the detergent is finely powdered. If you use liquid detergent soaps, that would be the best
- Some items like cast iron cookware and ceramic-coated cookware should never be placed in a dishwasher
Conclusion
Loading a dishwasher is the first basic task that everyone using a dishwasher needs to perform. Until and unless you load the dishwasher, there is no use in putting the detergent.
It is a matter of practice and could take time for one to master it. It is not possible to load a dishwasher perfectly one day after using it.