One of the most cherished pieces of equipment in kitchens everywhere is the
dishwasher
. It makes clean up a breeze, and frees you up to handle any other kitchen cleaning tasks while it runs in the background. But have you really studied your dishwasher? Have you read the manual? And do you feel confident that you know what each dishwasher compartment is for? If you don’t know how to operate it, you won’t get dishes that are quite as clean as you’d like.
Your dishwasher door should have a hatch on it with several compartments. This hatch is the detergent dispenser. Here’s a rundown of what each compartment is for.
Dishwasher Main Compartment
The compartment within the detergent dispenser that you’re probably most familiar with is the main compartment. This is the largest compartment, where you can load your pods or liquid detergent before running the cleaning cycle.
Each time you operate a cycle, you need to refill this compartment. If you opt for dishwasher pods, the detergent quantity is already measured out for you. Should you favor liquid detergent instead, make sure to verify the dosage recommended for your machine.
dishwasher manual
And check the directions on your preferred detergent to ensure you’re using the right quantity for every load.
Pre-Rinse Compartment
The pre-rinse compartment is the narrow compartment next to the main compartment. It’s designed to hold extra detergent if you feel that you’re running a particularly heavy load and want to ensure your dishes come out sparkling. This detergent gets dispensed in the beginning of the cycle, before the main compartment detergent is dispensed to prep your dishes.
Just like the main compartment, you need to fill this every time you run a load of dishes. It’s generally only wide enough for liquid detergent, not pods. So if you are a dedicated pod user but don’t want to run a load twice when it’s extra dirty, consider keeping a small bottle of liquid detergent on hand for those rare but heavy loads.
Rinse Aid Compartment
In conclusion, your detergent dispenser includes a separate rinse aid compartment. Although they sound similar, the functions of the pre-rinse and rinse aid compartments differ significantly. The rinse aid compartment doesn’t store detergent like the pre-rinse one; instead, it contains rinse aid. This substance aids in drying the dishes more quickly and reduces water spotting considerably.
Similarly, unlike the preceding two sections, you do not have to refill the rinse aid compartment after every cycle. Just add some rinse aid to this compartment initially, and it will gradually release small amounts with each wash. Monitor its level and replenish as needed.
