The Essentials Of Any Dishwasher



With every dishwasher it is important to look after and maintain it well so it can not only keep its efficiency high but also have a high lifespan. Some dishwasher brands are not cheap and by not looking after them effectively it will only cost you money in the long run. Understanding your dishwasher is important and many owners do not fully understand the many factors. Therefore they tend to run into problems or do not actually know the effectiveness of certain elements.


Dishwasher Salt

Dishwasher Salt

The most important element is the dishwasher salt, by not having any salt you will be eventually damaging and reducing the efficiency of your dishwasher. If you notice your dishwasher is not cleaning as well as it has done in the past, ensure you check the dishwasher salt levels. At least once a month should you ensure that the salt is capped so it isn’t running out!

So how does it help? All dishwashers contain a water softener segment which uses the salt to keep it efficient, what this is actually doing is removing the harder particles (calcium and magnesium) in the water that can produce lime scale and clog up any spray holes in the dishwasher. Before the water runs into the actually dish washing section it builds up at the bottom where the water softener takes place and makes use of the salt.

Results – Therefore having dishwasher salt contained within the dishwasher at all times ensures the water is ‘soft water’ to decrease the chances of lime scale and clogs in the spray holes and tubes. From this you will experience possible dirty dishes, defiantly less efficiency, increase in energy costs and dishwasher rinse aid will not work effectively giving more streaks on your dishes and glass ware.

Important – You should never use any other salt then specified dishwasher salt, by using other salts such as table salt will actually do the opposite and help make the water ‘hard water’. This is due to the particles in the salt. Granular salt is the specific salt as it is very pure and ideal for dishwashers. If you are unsure always check with the manufacturer, Finish is a highly recommended manufacturer. View our recommended Dishwasher Salt products here: Dishwasher Salt.


Dishwasher Rinse Aid

Dishwasher Rinse Aid

What is dishwasher rinse aid? Rinse aid is in fact used very little within your dishwasher and typically used at the end of a cycle during the hot rinse stage. It will help prevent streaks on your dishes and glassware by causing less droplet clusters and helping items dry more efficiently.

Dishwasher rinse aid is therefore essential to get a more gleaming and shiny result as well as drier dishes and glassware.


Dishwasher Cleaner

Dishwasher Cleaner

Over time and usage of any dishwasher will create a build up of grease and unappealing smells. This certainly does not create a great atmosphere, especially in any kitchen! This is where dishwasher cleaner is essential by helping remove those smells but also keeping your dishwasher hygienic and clean. With grease and dirt build ups it can block filters, pipes and spray jets which will definitely cause damage and produce dirty dishes… So don’t let that happen, get dishwasher cleaner! We recommend such dishwasher cleaner as: Dishwasher Cleaner


Dishwasher Tablets

Dishwasher Tablets

The main aspect for dishwasher tablets is to help with he actual cleaning of your dishes. They should be helping to soften stains and remove grease and not only helping your dishes but keeping grease from blocking pipes and spray jets also. There are many brands of dishwasher tablets and particular brands may act different with your dishwasher brand or even just with your own experiences.

From some previous customer experiences they see the prices of dishwasher tablets are too expensive which points them towards the cheaper range. The important aspect here is how they not only clean your dishes but also keep your dishwasher clean and protected. By using the cheapest selection of dishwasher tablets you may be causing damage to your dishwasher! These tablets may contain sand which may harm dishes and your dishwasher…However it is all about trial and error along with researching and knowing the contents of the tablets. We do recommend finish dishwasher tablets as they have proven to be effective overall: Finish Dishwasher Tablets

Importantly there is also at times mix up with 3 in 1 tablets…these tablets do contain salt, rinse aid and dishwasher cleaner. However even though they contain dishwasher salt you still need to add salt to your dishwasher! This is because the water softener requires salt to maximize efficiency and when the salt is in the tablet it does not get to the water softener. 3 in 1 tablets are more effective in cleaning and rinse aid is not required if you have 3 in 1 dishwasher tablets.




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