Dishwasher expert shares ‘important’ dos and don’ts

With energy bills increasing, it is important to get the most out of your household appliances, including the dishwasher. LG’s senior product specialist of home appliances, David Palmer, has shared how Britons can “avoid dishwasher disasters” as well as how to get the best cleaning result from it. From not overloading it to cleaning the appliance, there are various ways to make it more efficient.

1. Don’t overload

The expert explained: “If you put too much inside your dishwasher, some items will block others. Allow enough space for effective cleaning by making sure nothing clangs together when you give the racks a little shake test.

“There’s no right or wrong when it comes to stacking. Organisation is helpful when unloading, however, if you sort your spoons all together, it’s likely they’ll nest into each other and won’t get clean.

“To get the best results, some models come with a third rack for utensils and cutlery which holds items apart and allows for more shelf space, helping to get rid of any stubborn muck.”

2. Don’t use too much detergent

The most “common” mistake many people make is using too much detergent when it comes to the dishwasher.

Not only does this cost more money, but it can also scratch dishes as well as result in cloudy glassware and visible spots.

To avoid this, the expert said Britons should perform a “simple hack” which involves placing a full bowl of vinegar on the top rack before a cycle which acts as a rinse aid and combats water staining.

3. Don’t worry about load direction

For many dishwashers, the sprayer arm works from the middle out, which means Britons want to place items facing the middle of the machine to ensure they get a proper wash.

However, some appliances now come with four arms instead of two, meaning homeowners don’t have to worry about the direction in which they load their plates.

It is important to check which type you have before placing items in various different directions to get a proper clean.

4. Do use rinse aid

The expert said: “We’re often unsure of what this magical substance does, but rinse aid helps your dishes dry better, which is helpful if you’re skipping the heat cycle to save energy, or if your dishes are still wet when your cycle finishes.

“Today, consumers are turning to shorter cycles to help save energy and cut costs, and LG recommended saving time and water with their half load cycle for smaller loads.

“However, it’s not always the case that a shorter cycle is best. If washing a full load, the eco cycle is always the most effective, though it may take slightly longer.

“Today, consumers are turning to shorter cycles to help save energy and cut costs, and LG recommended saving time and water with their half load cycle for smaller loads.

“However, it’s not always the case that a shorter cycle is best. If washing a full load, the eco cycle is always the most effective, though it may take slightly longer.

“The slower heating of water and longer cycle means the wash has the same effectiveness with less water and energy.”

5. Do clean your appliance

A common belief is that dishwashers are always clean, seeing as they clean dirty dishes on a daily basis. However, over time, they can collect food debris and soap residue as well as gunk.

This needs to be wiped away and the filter also needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. There are a variety of dishwasher cleaners on the market, including a homemade mix of lemon and white vinegar.

6. Don’t just stop at dishes

The pro noted: “Your dishwasher can clean more than just your dishes – put your appliance to work.”

Britons can also wash a variety of kitchen tools as well as food storage containers, but it is always best to check manufacturers instructions before doing so.

7. Don’t waste time rinsing

David continued: “Although scraping off bits of food is important, you don’t need to rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher as this often makes the soap less effective.” If you do forget to clean off food, make sure to check the filter and give it a regular clean.

8. Don’t run the appliance when it isn’t full

If you’re running out of cutlery or plates, it can be tempting to run a load just so you can instantly clean a few dirty dishes. However, according to the expert, this is one of the “worst things” to do in terms of the environment.

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