5 tips for sparkling dishes from the dishwasher...

Have you ever opened your dishwasher after a cycle and found your dishes looking a little dull? Here are some tips and tricks to get sparkling clean dishes every time.

To rinse or not to rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher?

Using a dishwasher can reduce water consumption by 3 to 4 times compared to washing dishes by hand. But by rinsing your plates thoroughly before starting your wash cycle, not only do you not reduce your water consumption, but you waste it. Water is a scarce commodity, and every little gesture counts to conserve it.

However, it will be necessary to scrape off large food particles. Don't forget that some foods (eggs, milk, lipstick, tea stains, tomatoes, etc.) tend to stick to dishes, and it's better to rinse them lightly with cold water. Moreover, if you don't start the wash cycle immediately, it would be good to plan for a rinse cycle.

Caution! It is important to regularly clean the filter so as not to obstruct it with food debris.

    Electrolibre's advice: A dishwasher is not a trash can... too much food residue can impair its function and develop bad odors.

Loading your dishwasher correctly

• Leave space between plates, in the cutlery basket, and between glasses so that water can circulate freely and everything is properly washed and rinsed.
• Place cutlery between the tines to secure them better. Use the convenient prongs on the racks to place bowls, plates, and glasses. This will help separate glassware for proper cleaning.
• Arrange utensils in the designated basket, with knife points facing up. Some utensil baskets have perforated lids that act as dividers; use them to prevent forks, knives, and spoons from sticking together. This way, your utensils will always be better cleaned.
• The bottom compartment is more exposed to heat, as it is close to the heating element, suitable for the dirtiest and least fragile items.
• Do not overload the dishwasher. Water needs space to circulate to wash and rinse properly between each item.
• Check that the spray arms rotate without difficulty; if necessary, move the dishes.

Using a good detergent and rinse aid

Quality cleaning is achieved with a good dishwasher but also with a good detergent.

Tablets and pods, with their slower dilution than powder, liquid, or gel detergents, are generally more effective. Place them in the designated dispenser, and the detergent will be released at the ideal moment in the program. There's no need to add any to the pre-wash dispenser.

A rinse aid is highly recommended, even essential, if you want your dishes to be sparkling and free of spots or white residue.

    Electrolibre's advice: Read the labels of dishwashing products carefully! Some products contain phosphates. For ecological reasons, they should be avoided. Also, be careful with using vinegar as a rinse aid; its acidity could damage the seals.

Check your water temperature

Set your water heater to 120-125 degrees Fahrenheit for the ideal clean dish temperature; a higher temperature could cause drying too quickly. This means the water evaporates before it can gently drain away and carry off the last bits of food. If you continue to see a film of dirt stuck after a cycle, the solution could be as simple as lowering the temperature.

    Electrolibre's advice: Before even starting your dishwasher, give it a head start by running hot water from your sink faucet. The first cycle will then immediately begin with hot water instead of cold water.

DID YOU KNOW...

Today's dishwasher programs use less water but last a little longer.

A new ENERGY STAR® certified dishwasher uses more than twice less energy than washing by hand and saves nearly 5000 gallons of water per year.

Source: Maytag.ca