The purchase and first launch of the dishwasher are exciting events. Great expectations are placed on household appliances. It is she who must save the hostess from unpleasant everyday work. However, before proceeding with active operation, it is necessary to test the unit. Not sure how to do this?
We will help prepare the dishwasher for work. The article describes in detail the idle start-up process, outlines the rules for putting the unit into operation, and also gives tips on choosing the right washing program and maintaining the equipment.
Dishwasher Testing
When the long-awaited device appears in the house, the owner wants to turn it on immediately and check the operability.
Do not rush. To begin with, you should carefully read the instructions so that the standard actions of the equipment do not seem to be signs of damage.
The only difference between a test run of the machine and a worker is the absence of dishes in the basket. For the rest, you need to do the same: load detergents, salt, rinse aid. It is advisable to test the equipment on a cycle with the highest temperature
The operation of dishwashers from different manufacturers can vary significantly, so manufacturers of equipment draw up detailed instructions for the first launch. Do not ignore their recommendations, otherwise you may encounter unexpected problems during the operation of the device.
The purpose of checking the dishwasher
Before the first working inclusion, the dishwasher is tested without fail - they run one cycle without loading the dishes.
This check has several purposes:
- Cleaning. After manufacturing at the plant inside the parts of the new technology, traces of lubricants, small particles of garbage remain. While the car is in the store, they inspect it, touch it with their hands, which leads to the appearance of spots. A test run removes dirt and prepares the equipment for use.
- Functionality Check. During the first start-up, defects in the manufacture of the equipment appear. If it was damaged during transportation, this will also become apparent.
- Monitoring the correct installation and connection. In life there is always a place for annoying accidents. Installers could make a mistake when installing, connecting to a water supply or sewage system. Sometimes they just forget to remove the shipping items. The test will reveal flaws.
- User training. Even if you bought not the first dishwasher, you still have to adapt to the new technology. Machines of various manufacturers have their own characteristics, and you need to deal with them before the device is put into operation.
For a test run, you will need a starter kit - detergent, salt and rinse aid. They either buy it separately specifically for checking the machine, or use the one that is planned to be used for washing dishes in the future. This will help determine the amount of salt, type of detergent.
Already with a test run, you need to do everything the same way as when washing dishes: load household chemicals, select a mode. Thanks to this simple action, you can immediately understand the features of the machine
Sometimes users make a mistake: they run the first cycle without detergents, loading only salt. Thus, they are trying to save an extra pill or a dose of gel. Do not do this. Hot water will wash off the technical grease, but traces of oily composition may remain under the gums.
Idling Procedure
First of all, the dishwasher is carefully inspected. You need to make sure that it is not damaged, and that there are no foreign objects in the chamber. Foam sealing inserts, stickers, etc. are sometimes forgotten inside the device. If everything is in order, you can turn on the machine in the network, unscrew the valve that blocks the water.
Salt improves its water quality. It is important to correctly calculate the amount of softener, focusing on its rigidity. To do this, use test strips included in the operational set of the machine
Then they act according to this scheme:
- Check if the machine is level.
- All inlet and outlet hoses must be securely connected and the joints tight. Make sure of it.
- Open the camera door. Check whether the sprayer rotates freely. To do this, you need to crank it several times.
- The drain filter is twisted, washed thoroughly with running water and household chemicals, and then installed in place.
- When choosing detergents, you need to find those that will not damage the machine parts. The required amount of salt and rinse aid are calculated immediately to set the program for the future.
- When all the preparatory work is completed, the machine is set to the longest washing mode without loading the basket. It is important that the temperature is as high as possible.
- It remains only to close the door tightly, start the dishwasher and monitor its work. If everything goes well, you do not need to intervene and try to improve something.
So that the regenerating salt does not stick together while the machine is running, approximately a liter of clean water is poured into an empty compartment.
Only after this procedure can it be filled. The recommended amount of liquid is 300-500 g.
If the dishwasher is not disconnected from the mains, the set parameters (type of chemistry, amount of salt, rinse aid) will remain unchanged. But in the event of a power outage, you will have to enter this data again
If the dishwasher itself does not determine the chemistry, you need to manually enter the type of funds and the salt supply mode in the settings. Modern machines remember the entered parameters.
Aspects to Consider
While the dishwasher runs in test mode, you need to monitor the following functions:
- water supply - normally it acts without fail, the car does not stop;
- heat - you should make sure that the heater is in order; it cannot be checked in the store, so only a test run can detect problems;
- drain - water must flow out completely and without delay;
- drying - it is necessary to check whether moisture remains in the chamber after the end of the cycle.
If there are no complaints about the functionality of the dishwasher, it can be put into full operation. Do not load the dishes as soon as the machine has finished the test cycle. It should cool, so it's best to wait a couple of hours.
Usually a new machine runs smoothly, no difficulties arise. If something is in doubt, it is better to once again look at the instructions
Sometimes a test run is trusted to the master, who installed and connected the dishwasher. This makes sense if such a technique has never been in the house or there is cause for alarm regarding a particular model. Most often, anxiety is unfounded.
Start of operation - first operation
This stage is only started after a test run of the PMM in idle mode. Otherwise, even if everything is in order with the equipment, traces of industrial grease may remain on clean dishes. These substances are potentially hazardous. It’s better not to save or risk your health.
Proper loading of dishes in the dishwasher basket is a whole art. Not everyone can quickly learn how to arrange cutlery so that the machine washed them clean
Before starting operation, you will have to spend a little time and deal with pressing issues. It is necessary to take care of the selection of detergents, preparations for preventive maintenance, learn how to load the basket correctly, find the optimal program for existing cutlery.
We offer step-by-step instructions for preparing for the first start-up of the dishwasher in operating mode.
Step 1: selection of household chemicals
In order for the dishes to be always clean, it is necessary to determine the best means for a particular model of machine.
You should focus on such criteria:
- Release form. There are powder, tablet, gel formulations. The quality of washing the dishes and the cost-effectiveness of the product depend on the choice.
- Composition. Combined chemicals may contain several active ingredients. Each performs its function and is best suited to tasks of a certain type. You should choose depending on the type of dishes.
- Safety. Aggressive chemicals can be unhealthy. It’s better not to use some brands if the house has children, old people, pregnant women, allergies, asthmatics.
- Price. A dishwasher saves time and energy of the hostess, but this does not mean that you should go broke. It is necessary to determine the budget, which will be allocated monthly for household chemicals, and select the compounds that are suitable for the price.
In addition to detergents, you will also need compositions for softening water, manual and automatic cleaning of the dishwasher, descaling from the walls of the chamber, heating elements and other parts of the machine.
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Bulk dishwashers are considered the most economical. They are convenient to dose. The price is affordable. Among the shortcomings, users indicate the ability to damage delicate surfaces. Another minus: volatile active substances enter the respiratory tract, which is unsafe
Gel-like detergents are the best choice for most dishwasher owners. They cope with persistent pollution. In this case, delicate coatings do not scratch, leave no residue. They cannot be accidentally inhaled when loading into a machine
Convenient multifunctional tablets would be ideal if it were not for problems with dissolution in water. For short cycles, you will have to use other forms of detergents or throw away the remnants of the tablets. This is a waste
The main task of the product is to prevent the formation of limescale on the internal parts of the machine. You will definitely have to buy it, i.e. many models do not start at all with an empty saline collector. In order to save, specialized salt is sometimes replaced with table salt.
After washing, water remains on the walls of the dishes. In order for the drops to drain and the surfaces to dry without stains and stains, special rinsing agents are used. The compounds remove the remnants of detergents, contribute to a better drainage of water, give the dishes a characteristic glow
The need for a freshener becomes apparent when a persistent stink appears in the dishwasher. Its reason is the growth of bacteria on the details of the chamber. The freshener disinfects the internal surfaces, eliminates the smell itself and its source - colonies of microorganisms
Any household appliances must be looked after in a timely manner, and the dishwasher is no exception. During operation, fatty, calcareous deposits appear on the elements of the machine. They must be cleaned manually and in automatic mode. For this, special formulations are used.
Salt is not a panacea for limescale. Sooner or later, he still appears. So that the scale does not affect the performance of the machine and does not cause increased energy consumption, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. You can use soda and vinegar or store compounds
Dishwashing Powder
Gel for automatic washing dishes
Tablets for washing dishes in the PMM
Regenerating salt for PMM
Rinse aid for dishes
Dishwasher cleaner
PMM descaler
Before buying detergents, you need to carefully read the composition on the package. Active substances are selected depending on the type of dishes available and the usual degree of contamination.
Aggressive products contain chlorine. They perfectly wash persistent pollution, remove stains from coffee, tea, herbal infusions. Another advantage is a pronounced whitening effect.
Chlorine-containing compounds are a good choice for dishes with durable coatings, but they are not suitable for delicate cutlery. They can not be used to wash silver, cupronickel, thin and fragile porcelain, crystal objects. If the dishes are hand-painted, it can be badly damaged in the car.
An alternative to chlorine is enzymes. These are slightly alkaline substances that gently wash all types of contaminants. They do not damage delicate surfaces; they work even in cold water. The downside is the lack of a whitening effect.
Environmentally friendly products are available in the form of powders, tablets, gels. As active substances, they use soda or oils of antiseptic plants
Families with young children, allergy sufferers, and asthmatics are better off buying detergents labeled “eco.” They do not contain aggressive chemicals, dyes and other hazardous substances.
Due to the natural composition, eco-friendly products do not cause allergic reactions or asthmatic attacks. The disadvantages include the dubious quality of washing dishes and traces of fat on the inside of the dishwasher. It will have to be cleaned more often from plaque.
Step 2: loading the basket correctly
The dishes are placed in the machine so that it does not interfere with the rotation of the sprinklers. Plates and pans should be completely washed with water. It is necessary that the liquid flows freely, otherwise subsequent drying will be difficult, and drops or stains will remain on the surfaces.
A separate tray is provided for spoons, forks and knives, but do not place sharp objects in it. It is better to wash them by hand. It is also undesirable to wash chopping boards in the machine. They may warp.
You should follow a few simple rules for loading the dishwasher:
- The basket is loaded from the lower compartment. The largest and heaviest items are placed here.
- The upper tray is designed for light dishes. Together with spoons, forks and knives, you can put lids on cans, bottles.
- If you need to wash a large pot for which there is not enough space, you can remove the upper tray.
- Between plates, bowls, pans, there must be space so that water freely flows into each recess. To improve the quality of washing, you can tilt the dishes a little forward.
- If you want to wash a plastic salad bowl or container, it is placed in the upper tray. At the bottom of the machine is a heating element that can partially melt the material.
Before loading the dishes, you need to remove the remnants of food from it. In some cases, it makes sense to manually rinse heavily contaminated objects under running water. This is to prevent premature clogging of the filters.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of what is allowed to wash in a dishwasher and what is prohibited. A complete list of such items is presented in this article.
Visual aid for loading the dishwasher will help to carry out this part of the work competently:
Step 3: find the right program
In order for the dishes to be completely cleaned, you need to correctly set the program that determines the parameters of the washing cycle. All models have approximately the same options, but they are called differently. This can make it difficult to find the right regimen.
Each mode has its own graphic designation. In order not to get confused, it is better to study images in advance that indicate the necessary options (+)
It’s worth looking into the standard features:
- Soak. The program is designed for two types of dishwashing - preliminary and main. It is worth choosing if the remnants of food have dried up on the plates and pans. Also, the mode is suitable for washing large amounts of fat, dough.
- High intensity washing. Heavily soiled dishes without burnt or dried food can be washed without soaking. In this case, the quality of cleaning is ensured by the high temperature of the water. The program is not suitable for delicate dishes with a delicate coating, plastic items.
- Standard mode. It allows you to get a good result with optimal energy consumption. The program is designed for utensils of moderate pollution.
- Economy mode. If cutlery is free of grease or dried food, it can be cleaned with a minimum of electricity and water.
- Delicate wash. Thin and delicate dishes need gentle care. The delicate mode is set for fragile services, porcelain, crystal.
- Quick wash. This is just rinsing the dishes with household chemicals, and then clean water. The program does not provide for thorough cleaning of surfaces or drying.
For an idle test run, it is better to choose a high-intensity mode, and for the subsequent inclusion to find the optimal program.
In embedded machines, the control panel is most often located at the top of the door. In stand-alone models, indicators and buttons are on the outside
It should be checked how the machine washed the first batch of dishes. If traces of dirt remain, you will have to adjust the mode or add detergent.
In the presence of stains on plates increase the amount of rinse aid.
New household appliances seem difficult to use, but this is just the beginning. As soon as you understand how it works, there will be no problems. To facilitate the first steps in the operation of the dishwasher, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several thematic videos.
Testing and first launch of PMM:
The dishwasher will save the housewife from the need to soak, boil the dishes, scrape off the burnt food debris. You just need to make sure that the equipment is working, decide on the necessary functions and buy the right household chemicals.
Test the new appliance, adjust the settings and enjoy the rest, and entrust the unpleasant duties in the kitchen with a dishwasher.
Have experience connecting and starting up a dishwasher yourself? Or want to ask questions on the topic? Please comment on the publication and participate in the discussions. The feedback block is located below.