How to Choose and Use the Right Detergent
Use only powder or liquid detergent specifically
made for use in dishwashers. Other types will cause
How much detergent should you use? That depends.
Is your water “hard” or “soft”? With hard water, you
need extra detergent to get dishes clean. With soft water,
you need less detergent.
Your water department can tell you how hard your
water is. So can your county extension agent or your
area’s water softener company. Just call and ask them
many “grains” of hardness there are in your 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 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 dry. 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.
(It won’t be fresh OR
dry.)
If your powder detergent gets old 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.
Detergent Dispensers
You’ll find two detergent dispensers on the inside
door of your dishwasher. Two, because
some cycles use
washes.
Open
cup
“Detergent Usage Guide
(Be sure the CYCLE INDICATOR
DIAL is at OFF
detergent. Otherwise,
the detergent
“~-G
the main cup.
NOTE:
detergent cup
it has
been
unlatch the
and
the
Dial full turn the OFF
When the
cup
Grasp handle,
rotate and
is best that the
be in a
Dial.
will help
the
detergent
rinse aid agent spillage
the tub.
Detergent Usage Guide
(powder or liquid)
WATER (0-3
hardness)
MEDIUM WATER (3-7 grains)
HARD WATER (7- 12 grains*)
CYCLES
Main Cup
Open Cup
Cup
Open Cup
Main
Open
POTSCRUBBER
NORMAL WASH
Full
Full
Full
LIGHT WASH
None
None
SAVER
Full
SHORT WASH
RINSE & HOLD
no detergent
Use
no detergent
Use
no detergent
]
A
is
Without it.
Main Cup
build up in the
The
Open Cup
2 tablespoons.
How to Prepare the Dishes for Washing
If this is your first dishwasher, or if you’re
NOTE: You
also want to consider removing
replacing much older model, you
wonder
foods such as mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon
how much preparation your dishes need. Actually
juice and other
that can cause discoloration
very little, Scrape off bones, seeds, skins, toothpicks
stainless steel if allowed to remain on dishes for a long
other hard solids. Remove excessive quantities
period of time.
of oil grease.
The POTSCRUBBER
can wash heavily soiled
dishes
remove dried-on
baked-on
pots, pans and casseroles. Items with burned-on
soils need extra preparation.
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