The many myths about dishwashers can cause damage, pushing us to make the wrong decisions. There are many “rumours” and legends about these appliances, and they are not all true. One of many, “dishwashers use more water than handwashing!”
Let’s debunk 5 false myths, and learn how to get even cleaner dishes and a dishwasher that works perfectly.
SEE ALSO: The 10 rules of good dishwasher use
Regardless of personal preferences, all dishwasher soaps’ primary function is to remove dirt with the help of hot water. However, not all products are identical: the characteristic to check when buying soap is whether it is “all in one” or not. Indeed, some also carry out the function of salt and rinse aid (usually the tabs). In general, dishwasher soaps are different in terms of format (liquid, powder, tabs), function (all in one or just soap), and environmental impact.
One of the great dilemmas for people using a dishwasher is exactly this: should dishes be rinsed before loading or not? Of course, you need to remove leftover food, nuts, lemon seeds, small bones, and other similar residues, but there is no need to run dishes under the tap or wipe them with a sponge and soap. The important thing is to get rid of the large bits of food, even just with a tissue thrown directly in the bin. The dishwasher will take care of the rest!
By now it’s well-confirmed: washing dishes by hand uses more water and energy than washing them in the dishwasher. A normal wash cycle in the dishwasher uses up to six times less water than handwashing. Furthermore, this appliance uses heat from the water, which is not the case in the sink, where the heat is lost into the air. Would you like some data? Awash cycle with a normal level of dirt uses around 25 litres of water, whereas handwashing uses 120 litres…
In the dishwasher, the dishes are washed at a high temperature and the dirt is removed with an efficient combination of soap, mechanical action, heat, steam, and intersecting jets of water. If your dishes are still dirty after two hours of washing, there is something wrong: in most cases, the dishes are loaded badly, or the dishwasher is too packed. When you load dishes into the dishwasher, you should respect a particular order, which is also illustrated in the instruction booklet for the appliance: have a look!
A dishwasher that is used regularly bears a significant workload. If it is maintained well, it can last many years. Regularly cleaning the filter, using salt and rinse aid (depending on the instructions), and eliminating possible bad odours are not useless gestures; they make a difference. One of the most important maintenance procedures for a dishwasher is removing the scale and grease that builds up inside. For this job, it is worthwhile to use specialized products – so-called “dishwasher care” products – such as Mister Magic® Protector Dishwasher Care, which works to fight scale, grease, and another build-up. Mister Magic® Protector Dishwasher Care also helps to keep the filters and drainage pipes in excellent condition and is a gentle treatment made from natural ingredients.
