Dishwasher Tips: Using the Right Detergent

Have you ever wondered if it's okay to use liquid dish soap in a dishwasher?  The answer is NO! Dishwasher detergents are designed specifically to break down grease and food oils...without producing many suds.

Even a very small amount of dish soap will create a large a very large amount of suds. If a dishwasher fills up with suds, it will not wash the dishes properly.  And, the suds are sometimes difficult to completely flush out of the dishwasher. It does not make any difference if the dishwasher is an older or newer model. The result is always the same: Lots of suds and no wash action!  As dishwasher repairmen say, "It's like using olive oil instead of motor oil in your car!"

So, use only powder, liquid, tablet, or pod (packet) detergent designed specifically for automatic dishwashers. Any other types of soap may cause excess suds inside the dishwasher, resulting in poor wash performance.  Even worse, you may end up flooding the kitchen floor with suds and water...or even damaging the dishwasher!

DO:

• Keep dishwasher detergent fresh and dry by storing it away from moisture.
• Do not put detergent in the cup until you are ready to run a cycle.
• If powder detergent gets old or lumpy, throw it out; it will not clean effectively. Liquid, tablet, and pod detergents do not age if kept in a dry location.