Aaargh - have used soda crystals instead of dishwasher salt

[Nosleeptillgodknowswhen]

What do i do now? I've bailed out as much as I can but can still feel crystals at the bottom of the reservoir. Am now running dishwasher on rinse. What else should I do? Will it still be ok to use for dishes?

I would put it through on an empty hot wash, then use as normal. Hot as it goes.

Ok sounds like a plan....

take the lid off the salt vessel and pour warm water inside to dissolve the crystals and wash it out. Let it overflow into the floor of the machine and bale out the overflow.

I've done the bailing thing as much as i can. Do you think they will have ruined the water softener? And how do i tell?

You will be able to tell because if it no longer works, you will get limescale on the shiny internal surfaces, especially on the heating element if it is visible, and your stuff will be increasingly less clean.

I don't know if the softener will be damaged. Some chemists might know. The resin works on ion exchange of sodium and calcium. Washing soda is IIRC sodium carbonate.

The makers of dishwashers say they are damaged when people put detergent in the salt vessel, which is more common.

Ok thanks. Am going to cross fingers and hope all is ok!