Please can you help a dishwasher virgin?

[MeganChips]

Because I’m feeling a bit dense right now!

I have never had a dishwasher before and I am now the proud owner of an integrated Zanussi dishwasher in my new kitchen.

I am trying to run the before first use instructions and I’m stuck already!

It is telling me to fill the salt container. I don’t have any salt, only the all in one tablets but it says not to add detergent. Later on in the instructions it is telling me to add 1 litre of water to the salt container!

Fill the rinse aid dispenser - as above. I don’t have any.

Open the water tap - I can’t find this anywhere. It’s not on any of the diagrams.

Is this actually as complicated as it feels? I’m guessing not 😳

You need to buy special dishwasher salt and rinse aid. The caps for these are usually in the bottom of the inside of the dishwasher.

The water tap will be on the pipe that the dishwasher was fitted too usually.

Good luck!

I use salt and rinse aid even though the tablets are all in one. Not sure if that’s the correct procedure or not!

Ah bugger. I can’t use it tonight then, I thought I just needed the all in one tablets.

I did find the water tap though!

I don't bother with rinse aid or salt. The one time I used salt, all my glasses got scratched up 🤔 just wing it I'd say and see what happens. The worst that can happen is your dishes won't be clean 🤷🏼‍♀️

You should be fine with an all in one tablet as long as you don’t have extremely hard water.

There should be a way to set water hardness - if so, set it to the minimum and it will hopefully stop the dishwasher telling you it needs salt / rinse aid.

I’ve never used salt or rinse aid.

I might give it a go then. I just didn’t want to break it!

I always use salt and rinse aid - my feeling is that if the magic machine wants them, the magic machine gets them.

It is my most favourite appliance in all the kitchen. Congratulations @MeganChips!

I just use the all in one tablets too. Just run it on empty first with a tablet and then do it again with your dishes in it. It will change your (kitchen) life!

You won’t break it. Rinse aid seems to help stuff dry better. So if it isn’t, you could add some.
I’m not sure about the salt.

Salt softens the water to give a better clean. I use own brand dishwasher salt/ rinse aid even with all in one tablets.

Salt isn't vital, rinse aid isn't vital - and in fact neither may be necessary at all, ever, if your water is sufficiently soft.

If you have to descale a kettle then definitely pick up dishwasher salt next time you're shopping. There's nothing particularly special about it, it's just bulk salt without necessarily having edible quality control or de-caking agents to make it super flowy in a salt cellar.

Excellent, thanks all! My excitement can resume. I will pick up some salt anyway but I’m sure it’ll be fine for tonight.

I've only ever used the all in one tablets! Pop it in the little compartment, press start, and your life will change forever

I add both salt and rinse aid to my machine. I can tell the difference on the dishes if either really run out. It's definitely down to the hardness of your water as to whether you need them.

The machine also benefits from the occasional hot wash with no dishes in, just to help keep the machine clean.

Enjoy! Having a dishwasher is such an asset.

I always use salt and rinse aid as I live in a hard water area and it definitely helps. I just buy it in Lidl though. Don't panic about buying Finish or Sun or any branded stuff. Lidl stuff does the job just fine.

I use all in one tablets and my dishwasher still takes salt and rinse aid. No scratching of glasses here (Whirlpool) but the Beko dishwasher absolutely ruined them (luckily only 50p each from Ikea).

You need dishwasher salt though (not table salt) and I find it helpful to either spoon it in slowly or use a little funnel.

I wouldn't be without my dishwasher, I love it.

Dishwashers are fantastic!
Don't pay top money for the branded tablets - Aldi ones are much cheaper and vey good. They also have rinse aid and dishwasher salt on specials so I stock up then

If you check the instruction manual there should be details of how to set the machine not to alert you for salt/rinse aid if you're using all in one tablets. I did that when I got mine and it's run for several years without ever seeing salt or rinse aid. Perfect results every time.

Are you a colleague that's been using it to store poly bags???

I've never used anything other than tablets in mine for the past 10 years. I do an occasional empty wash with half a bag of soda crystals to give it a good clean out.

All in one tabs all the way here........hard water area but never added salt etc

Yeah, if you have the all-in-one tabs you don't need separate rinse aid or salt. There might be a way to 'tell' the dishwasher you're using all-in-one.