Never had a dishwasher before and just got one. Need advice!

[RealLifeClanger]

We have finally got a dishwasher after years of wanting one. It's a Beko. The only thing is, I'm paranoid I'm not using it properly or it's not cleaning stuff properly. There's a sort of odd smell when it's finished. It's not a bad smell as such but just slightly odd. Is that normal? How do I know the dirty water is draining away properly?

We've not bought rinse aid as we're in a soft water area. Do we still need to use it? We're just using the Ocean Saver brand of tablets. Is there a better brand? We've put about 1.5kg of salt in it but I've no idea when it would need topping up.

If anyone has any tips or advice on how to use a dishwasher properly and be sure it's working properly that would be amazing. We've only used it twice so far. Pots seem clean but I still don't trust it! 😂

There is normally a warning light when the salt or rinse aid run out. You'll soon get used to it.

I would use rinse aid. The Fairy ones are good. Use a dishwasher cleaner every few months.

There is a slightly odd smell when a dishwasher is opened. Are you scraping plates and cleaning the filter each week?

Are your dishwasher tablet lemon scented? I find they leave a bit if a funky smell so switched to unscented ones.
if things are coming out clean and there’s no water pooling in the bottom it’s doing its job.
stacking a dishwasher is a fine art, one that I do not have!

First, it will tell you when to top up salt. I'm surprised there isn't a light on for rinse aid and I'm not sure why you think you don't need it as I don't think it's relevant to hard or soft water?

My other tip is don't overload it and put "upside down" things (eg mugs etc) on the top shelf.

If things come up out looking clean, I'd say they are clean 😊

Rinse aid is about things looking shiny, not to do with hard and soft water, I think. I notice a difference if I do a load even though I forgot to refill it when the warning light comes on. It's cosmetic only but I prefer it.

I use the cheapest available tablets and they all seem to do a good job.

Salt, as others have said, you refill when the warning light comes on. As for how much to put in, I put it in through the funnel provided until water stops coming out. Seems to do the job!

I find fairy platignum the best tablets. I do a deep clean every few weeks by running the machine empty with a proprietary cleaner in.

I don’t use nearly that amount of salt! I top up when the light comes on but only a cupful in the dispenser.

Make sure the holes in the whirly things aren’t blocked, mine get clogged up sometimes and I need to get them out and clean them.

I’d second no lemon scented tabs, and regular filter cleaning. Don’t overfill. But yes an odd scent might be normal when it opens, I think I’m just used to it. I run a dishwasher cleaner through it every now and again. I’ve actually never used salt, or rinse aid!

Most dishwashers take 1kg-1.5kg salt. It'll last quite a while and a light will come on when it needs topping up.

Rinse aid isn't linked to water hardness so get some of that.

Scrape your plates off before putting them in, but don't rinse them. I think that's it basically! Now and then ours displays a symbol which means you need to run the "machine care" cycle - basically a hot wash to clean it out. Not sure if yours has that or not - if not, just run a hot cycle occasionally - once every month or two maybe.

The appliance will alert you to low salt and rinse aid, usually a warning light or maybe something on the display.

Rinse aid is nothing to do with hard water, it’s for helping to water run off more easily during rinse. Salt is for the hard water.

Make sure you clear the filter regularly and if you’ve not got water sat in the bottom and things are coming out clean then it’s working. Note that plastics do not dry properly so if you’re putting lunch boxes or anything on then they will come out wet. Don’t overload it and check if you need to open the door at the end of the cycle or not for the drying process.

Not trusting your dishwasher is quite odd They do a better job than washing by hand.

Don't use anything Fairy, they fucking stink. We normally use Aldi or Lidl all in one and they're fine, no residual smell. But decided to 'treat ourselves' to big brand tablets on offer from Costco and the smell left afterwards is horendous, really strong and chemically. And because it's Costco, we have 2 giant bags of the things that will last well into next year

You still need rinse aid but not salt. There is a smell from dishwashers. Also buy the wee bottle of cleaner. I put mine on a hot wash with one every month, you will know if it’s not draining as the bottom would be swimming and all sorts of beeping would be happening,

We have never used rinse aid or salt and we are in a hard water area. What I do though is run it once a week ( with things in it) with a cup full of white vineger. I get 2 5lts from Amazon for a tenner. They last for months.

the odd smell will be the drain smell.

I leave my dishwasher open for about an hour and then smell the contents. one thing off the top rack, one from the bottom, and some cutlery. if they smell right by then it’s fine. id they smell funny they go back in for a quick cycle. repeat smelling process after.

Do not make the mistake of putting fairy skip the soak randomly on multiple dishes in the hope it will help. I did that and flooded the kitchen floor. What a mess. Turns out that if Fairy doesnt have enough greasy foods to work on it fluffs up somethimg awful. So only use on one or two greasy dishes only, and i’d suggest handwashing any more than those (unless an impromptu wash if the floor isn’t an issue for you that day - i was horrified)!

i hate the smell of dishwasher glasses. in restaurants now i sniff them before drinking. it’s vile. and so common from overloaded machines.

ps i let my dishes air dry woth the door open overnight and dont need a dishcloth unless it’s cold and they dont dry, in which case i do use one.

I can't stand the lemon scented tablets. Don't put plastic or wood through the dishwasher, they get permeated with the dishwasher scent and then any food which is stored or stirred with them will taste of dishwasher tablet.
If you have silver/silver plated stuff, don't put it in the dishwasher. Don't put delicate glassware in the dishwasher - bog standard stuff is fine.
Use a cleaner regularly and don't forget to clean the filter.

inside the washer, at the bottom there’s usually a trap that you can take out, it collects all the bits left if not scraped properly … my kids stack and empty these days so it’s usually clear (DH can be a bit speedy and doesn’t scrape properly lol)

Use rinse aid, as it helps to dry plastic tubs etc.

I use an all in one tablet and don’t bother with rinse aid. I do clean it on a special cycle once a month.

I use finish tablets

I had no idea until recently that you’re not supposed to rinse plates. Now I just scrape them.

Yes you are supposed to rinse plates!

Watch a YouTube video on how to load it properly.. You learn something new every day 😆

No you aren't.

You don't actually need salt in a soft water area.

I’ve tried all the dishwasher tabs on the market. Supermarket own brands are just as good as top price brands. Don’t waste your money!