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
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
how 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
detergent into
the dispenser until you’re ready to wash dishes, either.
(It won’t be fresh OR
If your powder detergent gets old or lumpy, throw it
away.
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
the main cup.
door of your dishwasher. Two, because
some cycles use two washes.
Open
NOTE:
detergent cup after it has
cup
been
unlatch the door and rotate the
See “Detergent
Guide
sure
CYCLE INDICATOR
DIAL is at OFF
adding detergent. Otherwise,
Cycle Indicator Dial a full turn the OFF
When the
cup contains
Grasp handle,
rotate and
it is best that the
be in a
the
cup will
and
before rotating the
Dial. This will help reduce the amount
detergent and
aid agent
the tub.
Detergent
Guide
(powder or liquid)
WATER (0-3
hardness)
MEDIUM WATER
grains)
HARD WATER (7- 12 grains*)
CYCLES
Cup
Open Cup
Main
cup
Open Cup
Open
I
POTSCRUBBER
Half Full
NORMAL WASH
+
Completely
Half Full
Completely
Completely
Full
Full
Full
WATER SAVER
Half’ Full
None
Completely
None
CHINA CRYSTAL
Full
SHORT WASH
RINSE HOLD
detergent
Use
no detergent
Use
no detergent
water. A
softener is recommended.
lime
Main Cup holds tablespoons;
build up in the water valve. The water valve may stick while open
cause flooding.
filled Open
Cup holds 2 tablespoons.
How to Prepare the Dishes for Washing
If this is your first dishwasher, or if you’re
NOTE: You may also want to consider removing
replacing a much older model, you may wonder
such as mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon
how much preparation your dishes need. Actually
juice and other foods that can cause discoloration of
very little. Scrape
bones, seeds, skins, toothpicks
stainless steel allowed to remain on dishes for a long
other
solids. Remove excessive quantities
period of time.
oil or grease.
The POTSCRUBBER cycle can wash heavily soiled
dishes and remove dried-on and baked-on
from
pots, pans and casseroles. Items with burned-on
soils need extra preparation.
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