how to clean a dishwasher

Loulou2010

catslovelycats wrote: »

Interesting. Mine does wash things properly when the salt has run out. I discovered this when it suddenyl didn't wash things very well then seemed to stop cleaning things altogether :eek:. Realised the salt had run out, refilled it and all was fine again.:)

ours is ok for a wash or two without salt but then it doesnt barely clean

TRYINGTOSWIM

bit o/t but I bought tesco value dishwasher tablets for about 1/3 cost of my normal finish ones and they are great. you do need rinse aid witht hese but still works out loads cheaper.

Ches

This is interesting. The dishwasher here came with the house and as we have never had one before and we have no instruction book, I haven't known what exactly is the correct thing to do. I was told about salt but the dishwasher tablets said there was no need. What sort of salt do you buy ? There is a salt container but it is full of water is this right? and how much salt do I put in?
BTW I do clean the filter and have run it with DW cleaner when we first moved in.

mummyroysof3

Ches wrote: »

This is interesting. The dishwasher here came with the house and as we have never had one before and we have no instruction book, I haven't known what exactly is the correct thing to do. I was told about salt but the dishwasher tablets said there was no need. What sort of salt do you buy ? There is a salt container but it is full of water is this right? and how much salt do I put in?
BTW I do clean the filter and have run it with DW cleaner when we first moved in.

my salt bit is full of water too, the book says i need to put in 2kg of salt, a light comes on when mine is low i just pour salt in and keep checking if the light has gone off lol

i notice that the mugs and glasses dont clean properly when the salt is low, weird

i dont run it empty just to clean it, its used every day but i do check the filters every couple of days and if the waste pipe looked dirty i would clean it out:)

Loulou2010

TRYINGTOSWIM wrote: »

bit o/t but I bought tesco value dishwasher tablets for about 1/3 cost of my normal finish ones and they are great. you do need rinse aid witht hese but still works out loads cheaper.

i also use rinse aid too. our diswasher beeps if its run out of salt or rinse aid :mad:

Ches wrote: »

This is interesting. The dishwasher here came with the house and as we have never had one before and we have no instruction book, I haven't known what exactly is the correct thing to do. I was told about salt but the dishwasher tablets said there was no need. What sort of salt do you buy ? There is a salt container but it is full of water is this right? and how much salt do I put in?
BTW I do clean the filter and have run it with DW cleaner when we first moved in.

we get asda's own dishwasher salt. we have a funnel looking thing that we fill up and thats enough. not sure if its full of water... it right at the bottom of the dishwasher and a pain to get to so normally do it without looking

zippychick

ive merged this with the cleaning a dishwasher thread Zip

Ches

Thanks I will have another look as I didn't see a funnel just a large cap thing (has salt written on it) that you unscrew and take out. The water is inside the space left so would I pour salt into the water before replacong the cap?

Minihauk

Ches wrote: »

Thanks I will have another look as I didn't see a funnel just a large cap thing (has salt written on it) that you unscrew and take out. The water is inside the space left so would I pour salt into the water before replacong the cap?

Yes, unscrew the cap, pour in the salt - the water will flood out as the salt goes in, but that's ok! Don't put salt in the dispenser and then leave it, always fill it and run it straight away or the salt will sit which will ruin the machine. I usually put half a box/packet in at a time, but guess when it needs it as mine has no light to tell me when it is running low.

Ches

Thanks Minnihauk. I haven't a light either so will do as you suggest. Judging by previous posts the lack of salt may be the reason why the things are not being cleaned all that well. TBH I haven't been impressed with the DW up to now but this may be the reason.

LilacPixie

Anyone have any idea how to do it?? I usually just run a full hot cycle using a bottle of dishwasher cleaner but at £2.15 in my local Mr S compared to 75p earlier this year I am looking for something a bit more MSE. Hubby been made redunadant so its cost cutting all over the place for us.