How to Test Water Temperature
Higher water temperature is needed to dissolve grease
activate powder detergents. Check water temperature
with a candy or meat thermometer. Turn on the hot water
nearest 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
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.
you have not used hot water
for some
time,
the
water in
the pipes will be
Turn on the hot
water faucet sink
it to run until water is hot.
Then start 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 water is less than
and you
adjust your water heater: Select a
longer cycle
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
form.
Your dishwasher uses the liquid form.
How to fill the rinse agent dispenser.
Unscrew
the cap. Note the FULL
on
the tip the cap. ADD liquid rinse agent
until it just reaches the top of the FULL
line. Replace the cap. The dispenser
FULL
automatically releases the rinse agent
into the final rinse water.
Your dishwasher’s rinse agent container holds
approximately 4 ounces. This should last
about months. Fill needed. Do not overfill.
If you accidentally spill:
Wipe up the rinse
agent with a damp cloth. Don’t leave the
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 I
55 Federal Road
Box 1991
Danbury, CT 06813-1991
How to Choose and Use the Right Detergent
First, use only powder or liquid detergent
specifically made for use in dishwashers.
Other types will cause
Second, check the phosphate content.
Phosphate
prevent hard-water materials from forming
spots or film on your dishes. If your water is hard
(7 grains or more), your detergent has to work harder.
Detergents with a higher phosphate level will
probably work better. If the phosphate content is
low (8.7% or less), you’ll have to use extra detergent
with hard water.
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.
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.
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. (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
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.
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