A dishwasher is a useful and no doubt convenient purchase for any housewife. A large amount of time is immediately freed up for doing your own business. But in order for the equipment to work properly and perform its functions of washing dishes efficiently, it needs appropriate care, including the supply of all the necessary household items. Consumers who first encounter such a technique often ask themselves where to put salt in the dishwasher, how much to add, why should it be used and how often should these procedures be carried out?
What products are needed for a dishwasher
First of all, these are detergents that are directly involved in the process of washing dishes. These include powder and mouthwash or tablets. According to the manufacturers, one capsule contains all the necessary components for one dishwashing cycle, including salt.
Dishwasher salt is also a must-have that must always be loaded and must be present in any program. This is a special composition, which, in most cases, consists of 99% ordinary salt, but specially processed for use in such devices.
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What is salt in the dishwasher for?
All manufacturers, including the leading company Bosch, indicate the mandatory use of special salt in the instructions for use for dishwashers. Even if combined tablets (powder, rinse aid, salt) are used for washing. This component:
- softens water;
- prevents the appearance of scale on the machine components;
- removes and prevents smudges and stains on dishes (rinsing does not always cope with this function);
- maintains the performance of the dishwasher ion exchanger.
Can I add regular table salt?
This question often worries many consumers who are used to using inexpensive household products. The answer is unequivocal - no. Bosch dishwasher salt is specially treated to fulfill its purpose. In table salt, there are enough additional impurities that not only do not fulfill the assigned functions of the dishwasher detergent, but also, most likely, harm the device.
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Where and what salt to pour
Any dishwasher has a special compartment for salt. It is located at the bottom, under the bottom tray. This is where you need to pour dishwasher salt. For convenience, this must be done through a funnel. Many consumers claim that after they open the compartment lid to refill the salt reservoir, there is water in there. It should be noted that this is the norm.
All the necessary products are purchased in specialized stores in the appropriate departments for dishwashers.
The most popular dishwasher detergent is tablets, which are placed in a special compartment on the lid of the appliance. It contains not only powder and rinse aid, but also a small percentage of salt. The use of such a composition is acceptable, but not sufficient. Experts recommend, even when using combination tablets, pour the regenerating or tableted salt into the lower reservoir. In this case, you can simply set the salt consumption in the dishwasher to a minimum and refill as needed.
How much salt is needed and when to add it
How much salt is needed is the most common consumer question. Typically, a standard package contains one kilogram of granular mixture. The entire contents of the box can be immediately poured into the reservoir. This volume is sufficient for several months. The consumption of the composition depends on several factors: the intensity of operation, the quality of the water, the selected softening mode.
The sensor on the display of the dishwasher will tell you that it is time to pour salt into the tank. Some models, after the light comes on, stop working. To resume operation, you must fill the compartment with salt, even if there is water. Therefore, it is recommended to always have it in stock.
How to choose the right mode of salt composition consumption
The adjustment of the water softener, as well as the compartment for powder and rinse aid, are located on the lid of the machine. Most models have 7 levels. 0 - soft water, 7 - hard water. Depending on how many combined detergents are used and on the quality of the water supply, the required level is selected. To correctly set the mode, you need to assess the quality of the water, this can be done in three ways:
- Get acquainted with data on the region (for example, from Internet sources);
- Use special test strips that determine the composition of the water;
- Use the household method: wash your hands with laundry soap - if the foam is quickly washed off, then the water hardness is high, if the solution is washed off for a long time, this indicates soft water. Also, the increased hardness is evidenced by limescale on plumbing equipment, which directly interacts with water.
In conclusion, it should be noted that during the operation of the Bosch dishwasher, you must constantly monitor the presence of special salt in it. Even if the tablets that contain it are used for washing, it is also necessary to pour salt granules into the designated reservoir, even if there is water in it. How much salt is needed and how often the compartment needs to be filled depends on the hardness of the water and the choice of softening program.
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Thank you for the article, but the video attached to it .. Does not quite correspond to what was written)) You write that it is unacceptable to put table salt in the dishwasher and immediately a video with table salt))
Good afternoon! Thanks for the comment.The attached video to the article shows where to pour, but we do not recommend using table salt. But some people do not follow the recommendations and substitute regular dishwasher salt.