Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs, Free & Clear, 45 count
Chemistry lessons for dishwashers
There are three main types of dishwasher detergents: the actual detergent, rinse aid and regenerating salt. This is what applies to each wash cycle. In addition, there are some additional tools: cleaner, antiscale and deodorant.
Detergent
There are special detergents for dishwashers and for washing dishes by hand. You should not experiment and use them for other purposes. Dishwasher products are not suitable for hand washing because they contain aggressive chemical components that are harmful to the skin. Conversely, ordinary dishwashing liquid is not suitable for the machine, because it forms a large amount of foam, which can lead to the formation of an airlock in the circular pump and, accordingly, breakdown.
The composition of detergents may include alkalis, surfactants, enzymes and bleaches. Enzyme products, whose action is based on the work of biologically active substances - proteases, amylases and lipases, effectively clean the dishes at low temperatures. They provide gentle cleaning and are suitable for washing dishes from the most sensitive materials. For example, silver. But strong alkalis, chlorine and to a lesser extent oxygen bleach, phosphate-containing substances are not suitable for any dishes. It should also be noted that dishes from some materials, such as wood or nacre, should not be washed in a dishwasher in general.
Detergents are available as powders or tablets. They are loaded into the compartment on the inside of the door. Some housewives prefer convenient to use tablets. But, on the other hand, the powder dissolves better, and it can be dosed more accurately depending on the amount of dishes and the degree of contamination.
Regenerating Salt
Regenerating salt is needed to make hard water soft. It is necessary if the stiffness exceeds 6 dH. In practice, tap water without additional purification almost everywhere contains a large amount of dissolved calcium salts, so if you do not have information on water hardness, it is still worth using a regenerating salt. That is, you can do without it, but it will shorten the life of the dishwasher, in addition, increase the consumption of detergents - they work worse in hard water.
Salt is loaded into the compartment at the bottom of the dishwasher. There is no need to do this every time - the loaded salt is enough for many dishwashing cycles, and when it ends, a special indicator on the dishwasher informs the owners about it.
Rinse
The rinse neutralizes detergent residues on the surface of the dish, and also gives it shine, helps the water to flow evenly, prevents the formation of stains and limescale. It usually contains weak organic acids, for example, citric acid and non-ionic surfactants. Usually they are produced in liquid form in bottles of 500-700 ml. Pour the rinse in a special compartment on the inner surface of the door of the dishwasher. As a rule, it is marked with an asterisk.
Combined funds
The listed products for dishwashers are sold both by themselves and in combination. There are a variety of pills "2 in 1", "3 in 1", "5 in 1", etc. If the packaging says "3 in 1", it usually means that detergent, rinse aid and regenerating salt are included. "5 in 1" implies the presence of additional components to remove specific contaminants. The advantages of the combined pills are obvious - it is usability. No need to mess around with a bunch of different powders and liquids, see if any of them has run out. The tablets will not crumble and spill. But they also have disadvantages. Tablets do not always dissolve completely, especially on short wash cycles.
Cleaner
The dishwasher maintains the cleanliness of your dishes, but over time it becomes thick with grease. Food residues accumulate on sprays, filters, in drains, on the internal surfaces of the machine, become a substrate for the reproduction of bacteria. Because of this, there is an unpleasant smell. Therefore, the dishwasher itself must also be periodically washed. For this purpose, special cleaners, splitting fatty deposits. It is recommended to apply them approximately once per 20 wash cycles.
Antinucipin
At about the same frequency, antinucipin powder is used to remove limescale. For the best effect, manufacturers recommend using it directly after the cleaner.
Deodorant
An optional, but pleasant addition to washing dishes - special deodorants for dishwashers. It is enough to fix the packaging under the top basket, and for the next few months the dishes will have a slight pleasant floral or citrus scent. At the end of the life of the deodorant is replaced with a new one.
Dishwasher tablets will provide an effective and easy dishwashing every day, and salt will protect kitchen appliances from damage. Use household chemicals properly, and your dishwasher will last for years.
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