Good dishwashing starts with HOT water.
To get dishes clean and dry, you need hot water. To help you get water of the proper temperature, your dishwasher automatically heats the water in the wash cycle. For good washing and drying, the entering water must be at least 120”F. To prevent dish damage, inlet water should not exceed 150”F.
How to test water temperature:
Higher water temperature is “ needed to dissolve grease and activate powder detergents. Check Yourwater temperature with a candy or meat thermometer. Turn on the hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher. Put the thermometer in a glass and let the water run continuously into the glass until the temperature stops rising. If the water temperature is below 120”F adjust your water heater.
Helpful hints: If outside temperatures are unusually low, or if your water travels a long distance from water heater to dishwasher, you may need to set your water heater’s thermostat up. If you have not used hot water for some time, the water in the pipes will be cold. Turn on the hot water faucet at the sink and allow it to run until the water is hot. Then start the dishwasher. If you’ve recently done laundry or run hot water for showers, give your water heater time to recover before operating the dishwasher.
To improve washability if the water is less than 120”F and you cannot adjust your water heater: Select a longer cycle and fill both detergent cups at least
How to use a Rinse Agent
A rinse agent makes water flow off dishes quicker than usual. This lessens water spotting and makes drying faster, too.
For best dishwashing performance, use of a rinse agent such as JET- DRY brand is recommended.
Rinse agents come in either liauid or
HOWto fill the
rinse agent | m | |
dispenser. |
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Unscrew the cap. | ~u,lx #f | |
Note the FULL | ||
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line on the tip | 1— |
of the cap. Add the liquid rinse agent until it just reaches the top of the FULL line. Replace the cap. The dispenser automatically releases the rinse agent into the final rinse water.
Your dishwasher’s rinse agent container holds 472ounces. This should last about 3 months. Fill as needed. Do not overtlll.
If you accidentally spill: Wipe up the rinse agent with a damp cloth. Don’t leave the spill in the dishwasher. It can keep your detergent from working.
If you can’t find any rinse agent, write:
BENCKISER CONSUMER
PRODUCTS, INC.
(“JET DRY”)
55 Federal Rd.
P.O. Box 1991
Danbury, CT.
How to choose and use the right detergent.
First, use only powder or liquid { detergent specifically made for
use in dishwashers. Other types will cause oversudsing.
Second, check the phosphate content. Phosphate helps prevent
Your water department can tell you how hard your water is. So can your county extension agent. Or your area’s water softener company. Just call and ask them how many “grains” of hardness is in your water.
How much detergent should you use? That depends. Is your water “hard” or “soft”? With hard water, -
you need extra detergent to get | - |
dishes clean. With soft water, you |
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need less detergent. |
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Too much detergent with soft water |
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not only wastes money, it can be |
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harmful. It can cause a permanent |
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cloudiness of glassware, called |
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“etching.” An outside layer of |
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glass is etched away! But why take |
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a chance when it’s easy to find out |
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the hardness of your water. |
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Keep your detergent fresh and |
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dry. Under the sink isn’t a good |
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place to store detergent. Too much |
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moisture. Don’t put powder |
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detergent into the dispenser until |
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you’re ready to wash dishes, either. |
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(It won’t be fresh OR dry.) |
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If your powder detergent gets old |
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or lumpy, throw it away. Old |
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detergent often won’t dissolve. If |
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you use a liquid dishwasher |
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detergent, these precautions are not |
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necessary because liquid detergents |
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don’t “lump” as they age or come | ;{? |
in contact with water. | b |
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