Other Laundry Hints

Keeping your veggies fresh
Cleaning the Kitchen
Cleaning glass and ceramic cooktops
How to improve the use of your dishwasher
Improving your dishwashers drying
Cleaning your refrigerator
What can and can't I freeze?
Cleaning stainless steel
What temperature should my fridge be?

Improving your dishwasher's drying

Good drying results depend on several factors.

Some items are difficult to dry even when all recommendations are followed. For example, cups and glasses with concave bottoms will hold water at the end of the cycle. And plastic and Teflon* items have a porous surface which tends to hold water droplets. So, towel drying of these items may be necessary.

You can improve drying results by following these tips:

Use Rinse Aid
A rinse aid such as Finish Rinse Aid greatly improves drying results and prevents water spotting. These non-toxic products help water slide off the dishes more easily. For dishwashers with an automatic rinse aid dispenser (located in the door), use a liquid rinse aid. For models without a dispenser, hang a rinse aid basket or disc in the back right corner of the lower rack.

Use Heat Dry When heat is added to the dry portion of the cycle, the heating element operates intermittently to greatly improve drying results. The difference in energy use between heat dry and air dry equals about $5 per year based on washing six loads per week.

Use Hot Water
Hot water is essential to achieving proper drying results. The water heater should be set at 140 degrees F. if water heating options on your dishwasher are not available or not selected. If water heating options are used, the water heater may be set to deliver a minimum of 120 degrees F water to the dishwasher. To check the water temperature, first place a thermometer in a glass. Next, position this glass under the faucet in the sink nearest the dishwasher and run hot water into the glass. Once the temperature stabilizes, read the temperature from the thermometer.

To ensure the dishwasher is filling with the hottest water possible, do the following:

• Before starting the dishwasher, let the faucet at the nearest sink run until the water is hot.

• Avoid running the dishwasher while hot water is being used for other activities like showers or laundry.

Use the Proper Amount of Dishwashing Detergent
Dishwasher detergents contain ingredients that improve the sheeting action of the water and aid in drying performance. The amount of detergent depends on the water hardness and degree of food soil. A general recommendation is to use one teaspoon of detergent for each grain of water hardness, with a minimum of three teaspoons. When using a concentrated detergent, decrease this amount by half.

Load Properly

• Face soiled surfaces to the centre.

• Keep large items from shielding small items.

• Load only one item between each set of tines.

• Avoid placing glasses over tines. This interferes with cleaning and drying results.

• Place silverware in the basket with some handles up and some down.

• Check the User's Guide for more loading recommendations.

*Brand names are trademarks of the respective manufacturers.