Forget Cleaners, Use Vinegar on an Empty Load
When we decide to tackle any kind of grime in the house, we usually resort to harsh chemicals because we know it will get the job done quickly. These cleaners pose a myriad of health issues including skin irritation, asthma, fertility disorders and cancer. Not to mention how much harm they can do for the environment when they make it into the waterways. Natural cleaners like white vinegar can do the job just as efficiently without the toxic threat. Simply toss a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run your normal cycle. It will disinfect the inside, clean off any food particles and leave it smelling fresh and clean.
Scrape Vs. Washing
The whole idea of purchasing a dishwasher is for it to wash your dishes for you, right? It’s just plain silly to wash them in the sink before you load them in. The only thing you need to do to your dishes before filling up the trays is scraping some of the larger particles of food off so that it doesn’t get caught up in the drain.
Run the Hot Water before Starting
When you run your normal cycle, your dishwasher has to work hard in order to heat up the water. That means that the first fill cycle is always cold water until the hot water heater does its thing and sends hot water through to the dishwasher. Especially in winter, this takes a lot of extra time and energy to get to a stage where it can efficiently wash your plates. So before you start the washer, run the water in your sink until it’s hot to touch, then start up your usual cycle.
Put the Dishwashing Tablet in the Cutlery Holder
A little tip passed down from my mother-in-law that I now swear by is to put the dishwashing tablet in the cutlery compartment or on the bottom of the washer. Often when you put the tablet into its designated holder, it’s still intact by the time the cycle has finished. This is because sometime the holder doesn’t do its job and open to release the tablet. By putting it in near the bottom, it give time for it to dissolve and effectively remove the soap suds.
Clean the Drain
After a while, built up food can start to rot leaving your dishwasher with an unpleasant aroma. Every few months, pull the filter out of the dishwasher and remove any food or object that may have been caught up.
Do you have any dishwasher performance tips you swear by? Let us know in the comments below.
