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WaterTemperature Help prevent spotting How to choose and use
ControlSystem with a rinse agent, the right detergent.
To get dishes clean and dry you A rinse agent makes water flow First, use only powder or liquid
need hot water. Tohelp you get off dishes quicker than usual. This detergents specifically made for
water of the proper temperature, lessens water spotting. Makes use in dishwashers. Other types
your dishwasher has a water heating drying faster, too. will cause oversudsing.
feature that automatically senses For best dishwashing performance, Second, check the phosphate
the temperature of the water in the use of a rinse agent is recommended, content. Phosphate helps prevent
wash cycle and heats it, if necessary,
to the proper temperature. This Rinse agents come in either liquid hard-water materials from forming
water heating feature may allow or solid form. Your dishwasher's spots or film on your dishes. If
you to turn down your household dispenser uses the liquid form. your water is hard (7 grains or
more), your detergent has to work
water heater and save energy if Here's how to fill the rinse agent harder. Detergents with a higher
you're willing to let the dishwasher dispenser. Unscrew the cap. Add phosphate level will probably work
run a little longer while it heats the liquid rinse agent until it just better. If the phosphate content is
water to the proper temperature, reaches the bottom of the lip inside low (8.7% or less), you'll have to
For good washing and drying, the the dispenser opening. Replace the use extra detergent with hard water.
entering water must be at least cap. The dispenser automatically
120°E To prevent dish damage, releases the rinse agent into the Your water department can tell
inlet water should not exceed 150°F. final rinse water, you how hard your water is. So
How to test water temperature: If you accidentally spill: Wipe can your Extension Agent. Or your
area's water softener company. Just
Check your water temperature with up the rinse agent with a damp call and ask them how many "grains -
a candy or meat thermometer. Turn cloth. Don't leave the spill in the
of hardness" there are in your water.
on the hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher. It can keep your
dishwasher. Put the thermometer detergent from working. How much detergent should you
in a glass and let the water run __,_ use? That depends. Is your water
continuously into the glass until the /.._j /z ___ "_//__'__ "hard" or "soft"? With hard water,
temperature stops rising. If the you need extradetergent to get
water temperature is below 120°E, dishes clean. With soft water, you
adjust your water heater. _ need less detergent.
Helpful hints: If outside "'-_'/_)_-_, 4_._,,-"- Too much detergent with soft water
temperatures are unusually low, or _ not only wastes money, it can be
if your water travels a long distance harmful. It can cause a permanent
from heater to dishwasher, you may cloudiness of glassware, called
need to set your heater's thermostat "etching." An outside layer of glass
up. If you have not used hot water Your dishwasher's rinse agent is etched away! But why take a
for some time, the water in the dispenser holds 41/2ounces. This chance when it's easy to find out
pipes will be cold. Turn on the hot should last about 3 months. Fill the hardness of your water.
water faucet at the sink and allow it as needed. Do not overfill.
to run until the water is hot. Then Keep your detergent fresh and
dry. Under the sink is not a good
start the dishwasher. If you've
recently done laundry or run hot place to store detergent. Too much
moisture. Don't put powder detergent
water for showers, give your water
heater time to recover before into the dispenser until you're
operating the dishwasher, ready to wash dishes, either. (It
won't he fresh OR dry.)
If your powder detergent gets old
or lumpy, throw it away. It won't
wash well. Old detergent loses its
power. Lumpy detergent often
won't dissolve.
If you use a liquid dishwasher
detergent, these precautions are not
necessary because liquid detergents
don't "lump" as they age or come
in contact with water.