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Getting the most out of your dishwasher
Ever wondered how to use your dishwasher properly so everything comes out spotless? This guide covers the essentials to help you get cleaner dishes with less effort.
If you’re fed up of dish-stacking debates or your pots keep coming out still dirty, our secrets are here to help you get the sparkling results you’re after.
How a dishwasher works
Let’s start with the basics. A dishwasher isn’t just a hosepipe in a box, it’s more like a mini car wash for your plates.
- Warm water fills the base, mixes with detergent, and is pumped around the machine.
- Spray arms spin, firing jets of water at your dishes from different angles.
- Filters catch the bits, so they don’t end up back on your plates.
- The water drains, fresh water comes in, and the rinse cycle begins.
- Heat or air drying kicks in, depending on your model.
That’s it. No magic. No tiny dishwasher elves. Just hot water, clever engineering, and a bit of patience.
Stacking tips for spotless results
Think of stacking your dishwasher like packing a suitcase - everything has its place, and cramming it in never ends well.
Do you need to rinse first?
Here’s the good news, you don’t need to scrub everything before it goes in. Modern dishwashers and detergents are designed to deal with dirty plates, but there are a few things you can do to help.
- Scrape, don’t rinse. Just remove big chunks of food and the dishwasher will handle the rest.
- Avoid driedon disasters. If something has been sitting out all day, give it a long soak or rinse so it doesn’t stick.
- Watch out for starchy foods. Mashed potato, rice, and pasta can be stubborn, so loosen them first
A few extra tips to keep things running smoothly
Don’t overload your dishwasher. If water can’t reach something, it won’t get clean. Check the spray arms spin freely before you hit start.
Use the right detergent. Tablets are easiest, but powder and gel work too.
Top up the rinse aid for streakfree glasses.
Clean the filter regularly. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps everything working properly.
Using a dishwasher is all about giving the machine the best chance to do its job. Stack things sensibly, scrape instead of rinse, and keep the filters and spray arms clean. Do that, and you’ll open the door to gleaming plates, sparkling glasses, and one less chore to worry about.
