How to Get Peak Performance Out of Your Apartment Dishwasher
One of the most used appliances in your apartment is your dishwasher. You are likely running it a few times a week, and it reduces the amount of time and labor you put into your dishes.
Dishwashers keep your space tidy even when not in active use as a repository for your dirty dishes. They often use less water than hand washing, making them an efficient option as well. If you want to get the best performance out of your dishwasher, keep reading to see how best to use it and clean it so that it lasts. Small steps can help ensure that you always have clean, fresh dishes.
How to Use a Dishwasher
Before you start using your dishwasher, you'll want to know how many gallons it uses with each cycle. This is information you should know so you can plan out your water bill and how many times you want to run the dishwasher each week.
When you add dishes to the dishwasher, make sure you are stacking them properly, with cups on top, plates and pans on the bottom, all with the dishes facing the center. Be careful not to overcrowd the dishwasher, as too many dishes can interfere with the spray of water and detergent.
Make sure that you use a detergent made for the dishwasher. There are both tablets and liquid soap options. Regular dish washing liquid will cause excessive bubbles and can leak out of your dishwasher. You'll also be forced to run a second cycle to make sure the dishes are free of soap if you use the wrong type of soap.
Rinse Your Dishes First
Before you load the dishwasher, make sure you rinse your dishes first. Large pieces of food can clog up your dishwasher and make it harder to clean your dishes. Also, if there are large particles in the dishwasher, the detergent may end up stuck to them instead of cleaning your dishes. Pots and pans with cooked-on grease may require a manual scrub before they go into the dishwasher for the final cleaning process.
How Long Does a Dishwasher Run?
If your dishes aren't very dirty, you have the flexibility to choose a normal cycle. If you have some dishes that are still heavily stained, even after you rinse and initially scrub them, then you should opt for a heavy cycle. The heavy water cycle can use a few more gallons of water and stronger water pressure to ensure the dishes are getting cleaned and sanitized through the cycle.
When you run the normal cycle, expect it to last anywhere from an hour to about 90 minutes. A heavy cycle will last between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the brand of dishwasher and the degree of water pressure during the cleaning cycle. The dry time can easily double the overall time that the dishes are in the dishwasher. Heavier cycles also take a little longer to dry since there was more water used.
Clean Your Dishwasher Filter
Like any filter in any appliance, the dishwasher filter requires regular cleaning. Any debris washed off your dishes ends up here. When your filter gets clogged, bad smells leak out from the filter and can make your whole kitchen stink.
When the filter isn't clean, there is an influx of bacteria and rotting food that builds up in the dishwasher. The bacteria and debris can also affect how well the dishwasher actually cleans your dishes. You should check your filter after every few washes to clean it out and make sure it isn't getting too clogged.
Weekly Wipe Down
Once a week, it's a good idea to take a scrub brush, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and wipe down the walls and racks of your dishwasher. This prevents mold from growing in your dishwasher and also eliminates any odors that might be generated from food residue and bacterial build-up. You want to prolong the life of your dishwasher, and if there is grime and build-up developing, the dishwasher must work extra hard, causing it to break down sooner.
If your dishwasher isn't clean before it starts cleaning dishes, then it will carry the filth from the filter and the racks onto your dishes. This can produce bacteria and grime that you unintentionally carry throughout your home. It can leave you questioning whether or not your dishes are truly clean. It is a great idea to pick the same day each week and build a routine for this wipe down. You should allow yourself about 30 minutes to thoroughly clean the dishwasher each week.
Run a Clean Cycle Each Month
Each month, it is vital that you do a full vinegar clean cycle on your dishwasher. If you wash dishes more frequently than once or twice a week, you can move this cycle to biweekly. In this cycle, make sure you complete the following:
- Pour one cup of white distilled vinegar into a bowl in the center of the top rack.
- Put your dishwasher on the normal setting, and let it run empty without any other dishes.
- Ensure you are running a hot water cycle during this process.
Some dishwashers get stains from hard water, and this vinegar removes that from the walls and racks. This also breaks up any hard particles that may have been missed. As an added benefit, vinegar is a natural disinfectant. When you open your dishwasher after this cleaning cycle, it will smell clean, and there shouldn't be anything foul-smelling or lingering in your dishwasher.
Consider Adding a Rinse Aid
Name-brand Jet-Dry and other rinse aids can improve dishwasher performance and the appearance of recently-washed dishes, especially glasses and clear plastic items. You add this liquid to a secondary compartment near the soap dispenser roughly once a month. The liquid prevents hard water spots and helps water slide off items for a faster overall dry time.
Is a Dishwasher on Your Required List?
If you are apartment shopping in Williston, ND and a dishwasher is on your required list, then look no further than The Reserve at Elk Crossing. We offer a variety of floor plans, and each one comes with a dishwasher in the kitchen, as well as an in-home washer and dryer. One of our unique floor plans is sure to fit your needs. Schedule a tour today to see our community in person and find your new home in Williston!