AddingDetergent
Liquid dishwasher detergent
Powdered dishwasher detergent
See phosphorus content on product labels.
What kind of detergent to use
Use automatic dishwasher detergent only.
Other detergents are too mild and much too sudsy to work in the dishwasher.
Different brands of dishwasher detergent have different amounts of phosphorus for softening water. If water is hard and phosphorus content is low (6.0% or less), you may need to use more detergent or use a brand with a higher phosphorus content (8.7% or higher).
Do not add detergent until you are ready to wash. Fresh automatic dishwasher detergent is necessary for best washing results.
Store detergent tightly closed in a cool, dry place.
Cover | Cover Latch |
Use covered section for...
Light Wash Cycle
Use both sections for...
Pots 8 Pans Cycle
Normal Wash Cycle
Hard
Medium
soft
‘The detergent dispenser
The detergent dispenser has one section with a cover and one without.
lPut detergent in both sections for cycles with two washes.
l Put detergent in the covered section only for cycles with one wash.
lPush the cover down until it is latched.
Detergent in the open section falls into the dish- washer when the door is closed. The covered section opens automatically when the main wash starts.
NOTE: It is normal for cover to open partially when dispensing detergent. The cover will open fully when the door is opened.
How much detergent to use
The amount of detergent to use depends on the hardness of your water. If too little is used, dishes won’t be clean. However, if too much is used in soft water, glassware will begin to etch.
Find out your water’s hardness by asking your local water department, water softener company or county extension agent.
lHARD - Fill 1 or both sections to top line if water hardness is 8 or more grains per gallon, or 136 or more parts per million.
lMEDIUM - Fill 1 or both sections to middle line if water hardness is 5 to 7 grains per gallon, or 85 to 119 parts per million.
lSOFT - Fill 1 or both sections to bottom line if water hardness is 0 to 4 grains per gallon, or 0 to 68 pans per million.
