Dishwashers have been around for several decades, yet many households don’t have them. Besides, many that have them don’t use them as much as they could.
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Top 7 Dishwasher Myths You Need to Stop Believing
The reason for this lies in the multiple false ideas that abound. Outdated and mistaken beliefs prevent people from getting the best from their dishwashers. It is time to burst the seven dishwasher myths you need to stop believing;
Myth 1: Dishwasher Are for Big Families
Many people have the notion that they won’t have enough dishes to justify the use of dishwashers efficiently. However, dishwashers come in different sizes, and you can get an even smaller one to suit your small family.
For instance, you can opt to buy a portable one that can fit on spt countertop dishwasher. Most of these portable dishwashers come with 8-9 place settings, smaller ones can have 4-6 place settings, and the good thing is that they work as efficiently as a standard-sized model. Before buying a dishwasher, it is useful to consider the number of dishes available.
Many small dishwashers feature the half-load option when you need to wash just a few items. This means that only the lower and upper basket contents are cleaned during the wash cycle.
Myth 2: Electricity Bills Will Shoot
The truth is that dishwashers use energy for heating up the water in their cabinets. The cabinets hold very little water meaning that only a little bit of electricity is required.
In fact, washing by hand is less energy efficient since you have to warm enough water to pour into the skink to do your dishes.
This makes washing by hand less energy efficient as compared to washing using the dishwasher. This means that you will be using less electricity when you opt to use a dishwasher.
If you are still not sure of this, you can look for Bosch 500 series dishwasher as they are known to have top-notch environmental ratings from Energy Star, the global standard when it comes to energy-efficient consumer products.
Myth 3: Your Best Glasses Will Get Damaged In the Dishwasher
Glassware is suitable for dishwashers. However, depending on the condition of your unit and the type of glass, in a few instances, your glasses may become cloudy. The clouding effect can be a result of two things;
Lime deposits are caused by hard water. This can easily be removed by rubbing with vinegar or citric acid. This is normally a problem in areas with hard water, but you can rectify it by having sufficient rinse aid.
Glass Corrosion is caused by washing away the surface of the glass. This cannot be rectified. This can happen as a result of poor glass quality, excessively softened water in your dishwasher, high temperatures in your dishwasher, or long wash cycles. To avoid this problem, here are several tips;
– Pay attention to the quality of the glasses you are buying and ensure they are dishwasher-proof. Also, set your water softener unit correctly.
– Only wash your glasses at low wash temperatures.
– Ensure that your rinse aid dispenser setting is adequate
– Use a Finish protector to protect your glass against corrosion.
– Use dishwasher detergents that have been tested and proven to be effective
– Once the wash cycle is over, open the dishwasher door briefly to allow the water steam to escape. This is important even if your machine is equipped with a dryer fan. Also, only remove your glasses once your best dishwasher has cooled down.
Myth 4: Dishwasher Occupy Excessive Space
Dishwashers are a valuable and useful labor-saving investment for their owners, who soon realize the many benefits that it comes with. However, many non-owners fear that they won’t find space for it in their kitchens.
However, you can get dishwashers that range in different sizes. For example, the modern portable dishwasher can even fit in a 45cms cupboard, while compact ones like Kitchenaid kdtm354ess can fit on worktops. KDTM354ESS models can come with up to 9 place settings while compact ones can have 4-6 place settings. The best thing is that these dishwashers work as efficiently as a standard-sized model.
Before you purchase a dishwasher, it is quite useful to review the number of dishes to be cleaned and the space needed for it to fit in the kitchen. For people who would want to buy standard-sized dishwashers, there are models such as Bosch 500 series dishwashers that feature a half-load option for when you need to wash a few items.
Myth 5: Dishwasher Are Not Effective For Pans and Pots
In the past, dishwashers were only for cleaning dishes. However, pans and pots can be cleaned effectively using proper power cycles. However, you may require additional detergents designed for pots and pans and higher temperatures. But before washing your pots and pans, it is important to read the instructions provided by your dishwasher’s manufacturer.
Myth 6: A Standard Dishwasher Takes At Least Two Hours to Complete a Cycle
This is not true as there are various wash cycles with different durations. For energy-saving cycles, recommended for normal soil levels and everyday loads, this can be true as the water is heated up and circulated in the dishwasher in a much longer time as compared to intensive cycles, which saves a lot of energy.
However, running your dishwasher during the night can help you save more money because of cheaper electricity rates. If you are cleaning lightly soiled dishes such as cups, saucers, and glasses, you can use short/delicate cycles that will only take about 30 minutes to run.
Myth 7: Washing by Hand Saves More Water
This is Untrue: A dishwasher uses a little amount of water than washing by hand. In fact, if you open your dishwasher when running, you will see very little water at the base of your appliance. This is because the dishwasher cleans and recycles the water in the cabinet. Portable dishwasher models such as Bosch SHX3AR75UC and KDTM354ESS are highly water efficient.
There you have them; the top seven myths that many people believe in which are not true. We do hope that you are now enlightened about the false facts that have been holding you back from investing in a dishwasher
Top 7 Dishwasher Myths Uncovered
Are you suspicious of dishwashers? Do you sometimes avoid using them for intended purposes? In fact, there are people who use them as dish racks because of the plenty of excuses that have been raised regarding using these appliances.
However, we are here to expose the myths and reveal to you some of the preconceptions that people have concerning dishwashers that aren’t true.
Dishwashers like Bosch Dishwasher and Kitchenaid Dishwasher are actually designed to help you, and not to hurt you or the environment. Therefore, you need not fear. Here are the top seven dishwasher myths;
Myth 1: Dishes Have to Be Pre-Rinsed Before Putting Them in the Dishwasher
The Truth: Modern dishwashers such as Kitchenaid Dishwashers and Bosch Dishwashers are designed to eliminate food particles from the pots, pans, silverware, and containers in a safe manner.
You don’t need to pre-rinse your dishes since they are fitted with the ProScrub Option which has many targeted spray jets. All you are required to do is to scrap the food particles off the dishes into your garbage disposal, and then place the dishes in your appliance.
When it comes to soiled-up dishes, it is best to load them facing down in the lower rack and choose the pans and pots cycle.
Myth 2: I Can Put Any Drinking or Cooking Item in the Dishwasher
The Truth: the dishwasher is only equipped to handle dishes, utensils, and pots. There are a few items that should not be placed in a dishwasher. These include;
– Wooden spoons and cutting boards
– Cast iron pans and pots
– Dishes and glasses that have painted decorations or metallic trims
– Some chef’s steak knives
Most dishwashers offer a list of items that you can and can’t place in the dishwasher.
Myth 3: It Doesn’t Matter How I Load My Dishes
The Truth: is this is one of the most confusing things when it comes to dishwasher usage. To know how to load dishes in your dishwasher correctly, you need to consult its user manual. If you don’t have time to go through it or you misplaced it, here are several tips;
– Load the dishes vertically and ensure there is ample space between each dish. This will ensure that water coming from the three spray arms, can reach all the dishes
– Pans and pots should be placed in the lower rack with the soiled side facing downward. If your dishes such as pan, have stuck-on messes, place them towards the back wall so that the ProScrub of your portable dishwasher can wipe it clean
– Place the silverware in the dishwasher baskets. By placing them in the oval holes, spoons and other silverware pieces will be reached by the water. If you have to load the basket without placing the silverware in the oval holes, you need to stagger the orientation of the silverware
– Place durable plastic items on the top shelf of your dishwasher
Myth 4: A Dishwasher Fills Up with Water Hence Increases My Water Bill to Greater Percentage
The Truth: if you open your dishwasher door in the mid-wash, you will see very little water- in fact, less than a bowl full in the base of your appliance. This is because the dishwasher cleans and recycles small amounts of water. It is calculated that ten liters of water have the equivalent cleaning effect of 4,000 liters, passing through the appliance.
Myth 5: Items Washed by Hand Are Cleaner Than Those from the Dishwasher
The Truth: to get a thorough clean when using dishes by hand, you need to put in more effort and apply force as this is the main cleaning factor.
A hand-wash liquid is less effective in the temperature that the water that you will be using to wash your dishes in manually.
The maximum temperature of the water you can comfortably touch with your hands is about 45 degrees. This cannot make your detergent to be a mild formulation.
However, with the best dishwasher, the temperatures can rise to 70 degrees Celsius, which will make the detergent formulate in a way that various food residues like protein, starch, and bleachable stains can be removed.
Studies have shown that a dishwasher leads to better cleaning results of the dishes than washing by hand.
Any poor cleaning results could be caused by the use of low-quality detergent or poor loading.
Myth 6: A Dishwasher Consumes More Energy Power Which Means High Electricity Bills
The Truth: A recent study proved that washing dishes by hand consumes more electricity than using a dishwasher.
This is because a dishwasher heats up the water which is then used to clean dishes and get recycled around the machine. The less water is used, the less energy power is needed to heat the water.
Compared to hand washing, dishwashers use much less water. The best Bosch dishwasher needs as little as 6.5 liters of water to clean dishes which would require 49 liters of water when being cleaned by hand. This is according to Intertek.
Dishwashers heat up the water in an efficient way by using a continuous-flow heater that results in less heat loss. In hand-washing, you have to heat the water in a tank and pour it into the sink. This leads to a loss of water temperature. However, the dishwasher is insulated, which helps avoid heat loss.
Myth 7: Bacteria Builds Up Inside Damp Appliances
The Truth: Bacteria are everywhere in our lives, and we face them every day. At home, you get bacteria mainly in the kitchen.
This is due to high humidity, food remains, and lack of proper kitchen hygiene. Indeed, wet and dirty hand wash, kitchen drain, and tea towels provide good living conditions for bacteria, if they are not cleaned regularly.
However, the high temperature in the interior space of the dishwasher coupled with the bleach in the washing detergent ensures that bacteria are eliminated in a dishwashing cycle.
However, food remains can build up on the door seals and gasket of the dishwasher. Because these parts don’t get into contact with detergent and water, they need to be cleaned regularly by hand.
Clean your dishwasher door gasket with a damp cloth to remove food remnants and other debris. Also, remember to clean the door seal, located in the dishwasher at the bottom of the door.
There you have them; 7 myths people have concerning dishwashers. We hope this will change your perspective toward dishwashers.
