Interesting Dishwashing Article

You don't need to pre-rinse, according to this article.

Surprising uses for your dishwasher

Here is a fun article that suggests some odd things you can - as well as things you probably shouldn't - put in your dishwasher.

Click here to read the article.

Appliance use and care

With care, appliances get shot at longer life.

That ancient hand-crank washing machine may have been an enormous pain for our great-grandmothers, but it was built to last.

Today's modern appliances are built for energy efficiency and convenience for the user, but they also have a shorter lifespan.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers says today's washers need to be replaced about every 12 years, and most other appliances don't last much longer.

And as far as specific brands, none lasts significantly longer the others, according to Consumer Reports. Their studies show that, across the board, appliances from a wide variety of manufacturers carry similar life spans.

All appliances can break down before their optimal end dates or fail to work at peak performance if not properly maintained. To make the most of the life they do have, follow the maintenance suggestions in the user manual or try these tips from Consumer Reports:

Refrigerator

Life expectancy: 14-17 years

• Clean the compressor coils every few months or so (typically, coils are at the bottom of the unit).

• Keep gaskets on the refrigerator and freezer doors clean with mild detergent and water, not bleach, to ensure a good seal and prevent wasted energy.

• Check the gasket seal by closing the doors on a dollar bill; replace the gasket if the bill falls out or can be easily removed without opening the door.

Stove

Life expectancy: 17 years

• Place heavy pots and pans gently on smooth-top models to avoid breakage.

• Never cover drip pans and bowls with foil; it can short-circuit the burner.

• Keep reflector bowls (beneath burners) shiny and clean, which affects how efficiently they reflect heat up to the pan or pot. Replace them when they can no longer be cleaned.

• Gas stoves: periodically clean burner ports with a needle and don't poke the igniter or spray it with oven cleaner.

Wall oven

Life expectancy: 17 years

• Check door seals for damage.

• If heat is escaping from an older oven, adjust or replace the gasket.

Washing machine

Life expectancy: 11-14 years

• Remove grit from the screens where the hoses attach to the water supplies.

• Don't overload the washer beyond its manufacturer-recommended capacity.

• Install the washer on a level and well-supported subfloor to prevent vibration and banging.

Dryer

Life expectancy: 13 years

• Clean lint filter after each use to keep air flowing freely.

• Each year, clean the entire exhaust duct to keep it from clogging and creating a fire hazard.

Microwave

Life expectancy: 9 years

• Avoid turning on when empty and avoid putting metal inside.

Dishwasher

Life expectancy: 11 years

• Replace a dish rack with worn or rusted tines.

• When loading, make sure silverware and dishes don't catch the spray arms to avoid damaging the arms.

• Inspect the spray arms for paper, glass or other debris, which can clog holes. Remove any obstructions. If you find glass, inspect the pump housing for glass, as well as any seals that it might have punctured.

• If your dishwasher has a manual-clean filter, clean the filter regularly, as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Projection TV

Life expectancy: 30,000-60,000 hours, about 3½ to 7 years if used 24/7

• Screens can scratch easily, so be careful when cleaning them.

Conventional tube television

Life expectancy: 30,000 hours, about 3½ years if used 24/7

• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Remove dust from screen and vents. Keep screen brightness (contrast settings) low to prolong picture life and reduce chance of "burn in," a permanent disfiguring of areas of the screen.

Dishwasher maintenance tips

Interior cleaning & deodorizing: You don't need to clean the interior of your dishwasher if you use it regularly. If it goes unused for a week or more and begins to mold or smell bad, you can run an empty cycle (using dishwasher detergent).

Exterior cleaning: Just clean the exterior of your dishwasher with a damp sponge and a little dish detergent.

Dish rack repairs: If the plastic coating wears off of the tines of the dish racks in your dishwasher, they may corrode and rust. Kits are available to buy so you can touch your racks up.

Filter cleaning: On many dishwashers, there's a filter near the bottom, or under the lower spray arm that needs to be cleaned regularly. If you have this sort of filter, check your owner's manual to find out how to remove and clean it. If it has holes in it, replace it to protect the pump and motor seals from particles that may be in the dishwasher.

Spray arm cleaning: Over time, the small holes in the spray arm(s) of your dishwasher may become clogged with bits of paper, toothpicks, glass, etc. Your dishwasher will do a better job of cleaning your dishes if you take a moment to clean out these small holes, from time to time.

Dishwasher FAQs

NOTE: When experiencing problems with any appliance, the first thing the customer should do is check to see that there is power going to the unit by checking the breaker box.

Which detergent type is better: liquid gel or powder?

We recommend the powdered/granular detergents--like Cascade--because sometimes the gels don't perform as well. We've also found that prominent brands are better than some of the generics.

Do I need to clean the inside of my dishwasher?

It depends. If you use the dishwasher at least twice a week, you don't need to clean the inside. Otherwise, if it begins to get moldy inside--or if the residual water at the bottom of the dishwasher smells bad--put detergent in the soap dish and run the dishwasher empty, through a complete cycle.

Do I have to rinse my dishes before washing them?

Not usually. Most dishwashers handle the normal food residue left on dishes after eating, if you first scrape the dishes to remove any larger bits of food. But if anything is burned, melted, or stuck to the dishes, rinse and scrape them well, before you put them into the dishwasher. Leaving some residue is actually best, because the protein in the food reacts with the soap for more effective cleaning.

My dishwasher takes too long. What's wrong?

It may be a model that pre-heats the water. If so, and if the water entering the dishwasher is cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat the water. To avoid the wait, increase the incoming water temperature before turning on the dishwasher. Do that by running the kitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase the temperature of the hot water to the entire house at the hot water heater. Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees fahrenheit.

Should there be water in the bottom of my dishwasher?

Yes. All dishwashers leave a small amount of water in the bottom, to keep the seals and pump wet. If the seals dry out, they can become brittle and begin to leak water.

My cups and glasses are coming out spotty and filmy. What's wrong?

For spotting only, try using the heated drying cycle. If that doesn't help, try one of the rinse-aid products you can find at your supermarket. Film can be caused by a couple of things:

· It could be from a lack of water flow within the dishwasher.

· It also could be from hard water. If you can remove the film with vinegar, it's probably caused by hard water deposits.

Etching--a corrosion of the glass--can be caused by using too much detergent. A rainbow hue on the glasses is the first sign of etching. Try cutting in half the amount of detergent you use.

Do I really have to run the water in the sink before starting a cycle?

Yes. Dishwashers work best with very hot water. Letting the water at the sink run for a few moments (until it's hot) before turning on the dishwasher brings hot water to the dishwasher faster.

Dishwasher efficiency tips

Here are several tips to help you get the most out of your dishwasher:

· 80% of total energy used by dishwashers is to heat water; therefore, use a short cycle or economical wash, which will use less hot water.

· The “rinse and hold” cycle uses up to 7 gallons of water each time it is used.

· Scraping off dishes is all that is necessary, there is no need to rinse them before putting them into the dishwasher.

· A dishwasher still uses less water than doing dishes by hand and the water used in a dishwasher is hotter and kills more bacteria.

· Check owner’s manual on recommended water temperature (usually between 130 – 140 degrees).

· A heating element in the dishwasher will allow you to set the water heater to a lower level.

· Make sure the dishwasher is properly loaded and full to allow it to clean thoroughly and save energy.

· Use dishwasher during “off peak” hours (use timer if available) to take advantage of lower electrical rates.

· Let dishes air dry (use energy saver switch if available).

· When racks rust in a dishwasher they may break apart and go into the pump and wreck it, which can result in a costly repair bill.

· Small holes in the wash arms can become clogged with mineral deposits, which can lead to complaints of the dishwasher not cleaning properly. To re-open holes use small pin and hot vinegar.

How to uninstall a dishwasher

How to hook up a dishwasher

Is your dishwasher drain installed properly?

Common dishwasher problems

Please click on link to view tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8NeIOo5Bk