Overwhelmed with dirty dishes? With many Americans now staying at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s likely that your kitchen has never been so busy – and your dirty dishes never so plentiful. For that reason, you might be using your dishwasher more often than ever. But, did you know that there is a right and wrong way to use your dishwasher? Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you load up your appliance.
Be sure to load the dishwasher correctly.
First things first – there is a correct and incorrect way to load your dishwasher. Instead of stacking your washer with as many dirty dishes as possible, keep in mind that the water must be able to reach every piece in order to clean effectively. A good rule of thumb is to always load your dishwasher so that there is space around every item, with nothing overlapping or otherwise blocking other pieces from getting clean. You should also remember to place the items dirty side down, where they are in more direct contact with the water and cleaning agent.
Don’t forget to periodically clean your dishwasher.
Sure, your dishwasher is great for helping you clean house – but did you know that it also requires a bit of cleaning, in order to remain in tip-top condition? Like any machine, dishwashers perform better when they are cleaned regularly. Keep an eye out for food bits at the bottom of the appliance or in the spray arm. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the filter, and for an all-over clean, consider purchasing dishwasher cleaning products, which are sold by popular brands like Cascade and Finish.
Wash using the correct setting.
Always hit the same button when doing your dishes? Rethink that if you want to get the most out of your machine. Dishwashers have multiple settings designed to do different jobs, and if you’re simply putting your machine on “normal wash” every time, you might be getting less out of your machine than you realize. If your machine has an “auto” or “sensor wash” cycle, use those for the best cleaning. If not, remember to use “pots and pans” or a similar setting for dishes with baked-on food or “high-temp wash” for anything that needs a bit of extra sanitizing.
At Avenue 80 Apartments in Overland Park, Kansas, nothing is more important to us than your health, happiness, and overall well-being. We offer these informative blogs as a way to enhance your lifestyle beyond the scope of the physical features and services that we provide in our beautiful and welcoming community.