| Improving Your Dishwasher's Cleaning Results
For best results, review the following information.
Water Conditions
This is the most variable condition encountered by dishwashers. Special steps may be needed to compensate for water temperature and hardness.
Temperature
For good cleaning and drying results, hot water is necessary. The incoming water temperature should be between 120-140 degrees F. to properly activate the detergent, melt greasy food soils and warm the interior for good drying results.
If for any reason the water temperature is 120 degrees F. or below, select a water heating option on your dishwasher which thermostatically heats the water to the proper temperature.
To check the incoming hot water temperature, place a thermometer in a glass and set it in the sink below the faucet. Allow the water to run into the glass until the temperature stabilizes and take a reading.
To ensure the dishwasher is filling with the hottest water possible, do the following:
- Let the faucet at the kitchen sink run until the water is hot before starting the dishwasher. This is important if the dishwasher is a long distance from the water heater.
- Avoid running the dishwasher while hot water is being used for activities like showers or laundry.
Hardness
Water hardness must be considered when determining the proper amount of detergent to use. A water quality company such as Culligan or Kinetico or the local water utility can determine water hardness. This level may be stated in terms of parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg). If water hardness is stated in ppm, divide the number by 17.1 to determine the gpg. The most commonly used table to describe water conditions is:
0-3 gpg - Soft water
4-9 gpg - Average water
Over 10 gpg - Hard water
If water is extremely hard (over 15 gpg), it is difficult to get good results in any dishwasher without mechanically softening the water. White spots or film may appear on glasses and dishes. This white deposit is due to hard water minerals remaining on items after water has evaporated. If conditions are not adjusted, the cloudy film or spots will get progressively worse and cleaning will be unsatisfactory. For information on preventing hard water filming, read "Removing Hard Water Filming on Your Dishes".
Likewise, hard water minerals may build up on the dishwasher tub and washarm(s). It can generally be removed by use of a dishwasher cleaner such as Dishwasher Magic* or Glisten* according to package directions. The combination of soft water, too much detergent and excess heat can cause erosion on the surface of glassware. It is a permanent condition called etching. For more information, read "Preventing & Removing Cloudy Glassware Stains".
Rust
Iron or manganese in the water supply can affect results in several ways. The dishwasher and dishes may become yellowed or have stains that are brown, red or black. These stains may be removed from the interior using Dishwasher Magic* and from dishes using RoVer Rust Remover*. Do not use RoVer on metal items. To use RoVer:
- Fill both detergent cups with RoVer Rust Remover.
- Set the controls to complete a normal wash cycle.
- Follow with a light wash cycle using detergent.
- Do NOT use RoVer with dishwashing detergent.
* Brand names are trademarks of the respective manufacturers.
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