dishwasher tips and tricks

[FallingApartAtTheSeamsAgain]

I'll be getting a dishwasher installed this week and I'm super excited!

Is there any wisdom you can share?

Do I really need to rinse every plate and spoon before putting it in?! ( This is what the plumber has said!)

What else can i wash in there apart from dishes of course!

Which tablets are good/ value for money?

How often do I need to clean it out?

I can't wait to start using it!

Anyone who says dishwashers are a waste of money have clearly never had one!

You're going to love it.

I do a very quick rinse of any plates that have obvious chunks of food stuck to them but it's barely anything really. You certainly don't have to rinse everything.

MrsM I always thought that was an urban myth but always point sharp things downwards just in case anyway. How awful!

The dishwasher is the appliance most likely to kill you!

Sharp knives point down or flat on the top shelf in this s house

Crickey, why would you leave the door open and a carving knife sticking up? I always close the door as I like my ankles as they are! I lay my bread knife etc on the top deck flat, I soak my porridge, wheatabix and mash plates and bowls until the last minute. Never put tall glasses next to the plate rack, I have chipped a few plates when the glasses have fallen over during a turbulent wash!

Def not an urban myth.

All forks and knives point down in this family and big knives on top rack. Also only leave it open when emptying/loading.

I agree Cock only open it when loading or unloading. Not sure why you would leave it open as it looks unsightly to do so. I find some plastic pots like takeaway pots go misshapen and make sure your salt lid is on properly otherwise some metal stuff will go funny. I hope you enjoy it OP, I'm moving soon and don't think I'll get another. I'll miss it but I won't miss loading and unloading it, as much as it's a joy you still have to put things back in the cupboards after and you do still need to dry certain things too. Child's plastic plates for example.

If you shop in Waitrose , their packs of 45 essential tablets are on the 20% off picks, or I get Fairy tablets from Poundland. Both are good.

Our builder said the same thing to me, " I'm telling you now love, we've got a dishwasher and we only ever use it on christmas day! it's a complete waste of money, but dont let me stop you i just think its a waste of money...etc" My mil also loved to join in this one, " Oh i could never ever have a dishwasher, i prefer to do everything by hand - this is why you need to go through a few cups at her house to find a clean one!

Ignored them both and its the been the best investment on our house!

I get the tablets from home and bargain - watched a programme where they compared a few of each and its the same ingredients in all of them so home and bargains 99p for 30 were just as good as fairy - you're just paying for the name. I also do a deep clean once a month and clean the filter when i remember to tell dp

I bet your builder didn't do the washing up at home Buddha!

I have had once since 2000, I would give up my washing machine first.

The only thing I don't wash is scrambled egg pans or microwave bowls as the egg bakes on rock hard. These I do my hand as soon as I have used them.

Can't believe people talk about never using them? What? I use mine every single day. Love it and would never be without one.

Ours broke a couple of years ago and we've only just gotten a new one this past month and it's amazing the difference it's made. Kitchen is a lot tidier and stuff comes out squeaky clean and sparkling. I put everything in although some of our expensive saucepans lost the coating on the outside and if I was buying the same pans again I'd wash by hand or get ones that are suitable for dishwashers.

I got a 3 months supply of finish powerball dishwasher tablets included but actually the Aldi ones are just as good to me. I also use a rinse aid to help them dry. We live in a soft water area so no need for salt going by the manufacturers instructions. They supplied a ph strip so you could test it properly.

I'm away to put ours in now, forgot to do it last night. Will no doubt need to nag DD to put them away when finished. It's her chore to pay her mobile phone.

Ulysses what a good idea getting you daughter to put the stuff away after for her mobile phone. I do hate putting the stuff away, I know it takes literally 5 mins if that but for some reason it's really annoying.

I've washed baseball caps

I am that some people think they are a waste of time or money!

My tip is NOT to do a maintenance wash by squirting a load of bleach in and running it on a really hot wash. Ibiza foam party anyone?

if you wash baby bottles or pale plastic, don't wash anything tomato-ey at the same time as the plastic will stain.

Everything goes in mine except the best sharp knife, fancy wooden handled cheese knives and cake servers, and vintage china.

Someone will come along in a minute and rave about making flavoured vodka in the dishwasher

Everything apart from the huge JL wine glasses go in ours.

I bought a silicone spatula in the pound shop to scrape things with because it's quieter than using cutlery.

Aldi for tablets & rinseaid salt etc.

Dw are fab, if your on a water meter the bill will go down, you won't need to have the water heating on for as long.

You never get anyone hand washing all the laundry do you? But for some reason getting a machine to do dishes is extravagant.

I'm getting a robot Hoover after Christmas, I'm expecting comments on that too. Unless there going to come round and Hoover twice a day they can fuck right off though.

The first time I used mine I put the small teaspoons in handles down. They went through the basket and stopped the arm going round. It took me a while to realise this! So spoon end down.
My kitchen knives aren't expensive so they go in too - blade down.
I also overloaded the machine to begin with, trying to save electricity. Don't - it might prevent everything getting clean and it's a pain to unload.

Enjoy your lovely tidy kitchen!

Ours is vital to the household.

When our last one broke irretrievably, we had a new one sorted within 45minutes. That's how important they are. :)

I do the washing machine drawer in ours. And all the crockery obviously. I think The wooden butcher block is the only thing that doesn't get chucked in.

we had that with the spoons as well. the solution was a better basket with smaller holes in the bottom.
but as you have a drawer op that will not be the case for you.

Oooh, the washing machine drawer??? What a great idea!

low comes up beautifully!

I do it on a hot cycle but top rack.

Powder not tablets.
Pointy knives down.

Don't wash:
wooden chopping boards
good cutting knives

Scrape off every rice grain as they get caught in the water spinny things and are hell to remove.
Soak anything mashed potato-related as it gets everywhere.

Omg! The washing machine drawer! I hate cleaning those and mine always seem to get black bits on the awkward bits . What a fab idea!

Also, I was thinking of putting in the dish drainer. Mine is a plastic one and always ends up with a film of pink gunk on. Its a pain to clean but I really love it as it's huge and holds the tonne of washing up I do in one go.

Do aldi do rinse aid. I didn't see any when I went in yesterday.

I live in a soft water area. Do I need salt?

Sorry only skimmed the thread - has anyone mentioned using vinegar instead of rinse aid?

We do this, just buy white distilled vinegar. Works great, doesn't leave things stinking of it either.