Why You Don’t Need a Dishwasher Cleaner: A blog detailing the proper maintenance and care of your dishwasher.
This is not a blog post. It is a full-on clickbait article, from the headline to the pictures of sparkling clean dishes down at the bottom. The piece is designed to drive traffic to this Amazon listing for the product that you don’t need at all.
Here’s how it works.
First, you don’t know how to properly care for your dishwasher: “I used to think I was pretty good about keeping my dishwasher clean, but after learning about some of these amazing tips, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing.” See! You’re doing something wrong with your dishwasher! The author goes on to mention that she found out she was doing it wrong on Facebook (of course), but don’t worry because now she knows and she’ll share.
Next, this product will save you time and money: “The best part about using these cleaners is that they are so easy to use and only cost $9.” The author then links out to her preferred brand of product (not an affiliate link!). She recommends you do this monthly, which means if you buy 24 packs this year, you
It’s amazing how many people don’t know how to properly clean and maintain their dishwashers. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that’s you, and that’s why you’re looking for a dishwasher cleaner. Well, I’m here to tell you that if you properly maintain your dishwasher, you won’t need a cleaner.
The first step is understanding how your dishwasher works. There are four main parts: A pump which sprays water onto the dishes at high pressure; an electric heating element which heats up the water; a sump where detergent is stored; and a vent which keeps the water inside the washer at the right temperature so it doesn’t cool down too quickly. When all those things work together, your dishes come out clean.
So what do cleaners like Affresh and Finish have that your dishwasher doesn’t? Nothing! It’s just detergent in a different package, at twice the price.
And as much as I’d like to sell you some more expensive detergent, I can’t in good conscience recommend that you spend money when it isn’t necessary. So I’ll tell you how to make sure none of those parts of your dishwasher get clogged up in the first place:
Run white vinegar
If you have done your research, you know that a dishwasher is the best tool for keeping your dishes clean. But did you know that even a dishwasher needs to be cleaned from time to time?
One of the biggest problems people have with their dishwashers is the buildup of soap scum, hard water deposits and food particles inside the tub. The best way to prevent this problem is by keeping your dishwasher clean.
So how do you keep your dishwasher clean? The answer is simple. You don’t need a special cleaner or product to keep your dishwasher clean, just some vinegar and baking soda.
Dishwashers are one of the most energy efficient appliances in your house. They use less energy and water than hand washing dishes. However, over time lime scale and food residue build up in your dishwasher, reducing its efficiency. Dishwasher cleaners are designed to clean this buildup so that your dishwasher can operate at peak performance.
There are two types of dishwasher cleaners: tablets and liquid gels. Tablets are designed to be run in an empty dishwasher on a full cycle, while liquid gels are added to the wash cycle along with the detergent. Both work by dissolving the lime scale buildup in your dishwasher’s pipes and heating element, allowing for better drainage and more efficient heating.
Some manufacturers recommend using these cleaners once a month for best results. If you have hard water or do not use your dishwasher very often, you may want to use these cleaners every other month. It is also important to keep your dishwasher free from food residue buildup by scraping dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
If you don’t think that using a cleaner is necessary, it isn’t going to hurt anything if you wait longer between cleansings. The most important thing is that you keep your dishes clean and sanitary!
The best dishwashers are the ones you don’t know are there. They work quietly in the background, day in and day out, keeping your dishes spot-free and clean. But how do they do it? What makes them work so well? The truth is that a lot of it comes down to proper maintenance. After all, if you want something to last for years without fail, you’ve got to take care of it. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide detailing everything you need to know about dishwasher maintenance.
The Basics
Most people think the secret to keeping their dishwasher clean is buying some kind of special cleaner or additive. These products make big promises but they rarely deliver on them. If you want your dishwasher to run well and last a long time, all you need is a little elbow grease and some common sense. You see, most of what accumulates in your machine is caused by food residue and soap scum. All grime build-up can be avoided with just a few simple steps:
Regularly inspect your machine for signs of rust or corrosion
Remove standing water from the bottom after each cycle by using a towel or mop
Clean off any built up residue from the inside walls with vinegar
Check seals
If you have an old dishwasher, there’s a good chance it has a built-in filter. This should be cleaned regularly, but not with detergent or any other harsh chemical. For one thing, detergent can clog the filter, and for another, you don’t want to risk contaminating your dishes with cleaner residue.
The best way to clean your filter is to take it out and wash it by hand, then dry it and return it to the dishwasher. If you’re having trouble removing the filter, consult your user manual; most filters are easy enough to remove, although sometimes they’re held in place with screws. (You should also refer to the user manual for advice on how often to clean the filter.)
If you do have a filter on your dishwasher, this means that you should never use a dishwasher cleaner like Jet Dry or Finish Powerball Tabs. These products claim to leave your dishes spotless and are marketed as replacements for detergent – but if you have a filter, they’ll just clog it and make your dishwasher less effective.
Dishwashers are not magical. I know, I know: opening your dishwasher and finding clean dishes inside is a bit like magic. But it’s not magical. There’s no fairy living inside your dishwasher. And you don’t need to buy special detergent or run “cleaner” through it every so often to keep it working correctly.
If you notice that your dishwasher isn’t cleaning as well as it should, the first thing to check is whether you’re using the correct settings. Not all settings are the same! The difference between “Normal Wash” and “Pots & Pans,” for example, is a much more intense wash cycle that uses higher water temperatures and more water pressure. If you see that your dishes aren’t getting clean but they were before, try running them on this setting instead.