How to Test Water Temperature
Higher water temperature is needed to dissolve grease
and activate powder detergents. If the water temperature
is less than
use the WATER HEAT BOOST
option. See WATER HEAT BOOST section.
Check your water temperature with a candy or meat
thermometer. Turn on the hot water faucet nearest
the dishwasher. Put the thermometer in a glass and
let the water run continuously into the glass until the
temperature stops rising. If the water temperature is
below
adjust your water heater.
Helpful hints: If outside temperatures are unusually
low, or if your water travels a long distance from water
heater to dishwasher, you may need to set your water
heater’s thermostat up. If you have not used hot water
for some time, the water in the pipes will be cold. Turn
on the hot water faucet at the sink and allow it to run
until the water is hot. Then start the dishwasher. If
you’ve recently done laundry or run hot water for
showers, give your water heater time to recover before
operating the dishwasher.
To improve washability if the water is less than
and you cannot adjust your water heater: Select a longer
cycle and fill both detergent cups at least half-full with
detergent.
How to Use a Rinse Agent
The rinse agent makes water flow off dishes
quicker than usual. This lessens water spotting
and makes drying faster, too.
For best
performance, use of a rinse
agent such as JET-DRY brand is recommended.
Rinse agents come in either liquid or solid form.
Your dishwasher uses the liquid form.
How to fill the rinse agent dispenser.
Unscrew the cap. Add liquid rinse agent
it just reaches the bottom of the lip
inside the dispenser opening. Replace the
cap. The dispenser automatically releases
FULL
the rinse
agent into
the
rinse
water.
If you accidentally spill: Wipe up the rinse
agent with a damp cloth. Don’t leave the spill in the
dishwasher. It can keep your detergent from working.
If you can’t find any rinse agent, write:
CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
(“JET-DRY”)
Corporate Centre 1
55 Federal Road
Box
Danbury, CT 06813-1991
How to Choose and Use the Right Detergent
First, use only powder or liquid
Your water department can tell
detergent specifically made for
you how hard your water is. So
use in dishwashers. Other types
can your county extension agent or
will cause
your area’s water softener company.
Second, check the phosphate
Just call and ask them how many
content. Phosphate helps prevent
“grains” of hardness there are in
hard-water materials from forming
your water.
spots or film on your dishes. If your
How much detergent should you
water is hard (7 grains or more),
use? That depends. Is your water
your detergent has to work harder.
“hard” or “soft”? With hard water,
Detergents with a higher phosphate
you need extra detergent to get
level will probably work better. If
dishes clean. With soft water, you
the phosphate content is low (8.7%
need less detergent.
or less), you’ll have to use extra
detergent with hard water.
Too much detergent with soft water
not only wastes money, it can be
harmful. It can cause a permanent
cloudiness of glassware, called
“etching.” An outside layer of glass
6
is etched away! Of course, this takes
some time. But why take a chance
when it’s easy to find out the
hardness of your water.
Keep your detergent fresh and
Under the sink isn’t a good place to
store detergent because there is too
much moisture. Don’t put powder
detergent into the dispenser until
you’re ready to wash dishes, either.
won’t be fresh OR dry.)
If your powder detergent gets
or lumpy, throw it away. Old
detergent often won’t dissolve. If you
use a liquid dishwasher detergent,
these precautions are not necessary
because liquid detergents don’t
“lump” as they age or come
in contact with moisture.
