DISASTER! - Dishwasher salt filler is full of water? Why? How do I empty it?

[Pavlovthecat]

My lovely new Bosch (about 6months old) has not asked for a salt refill or a rinse aid refill for a long long time, and it has not been cleaning well for a couple days so I thought I would fill up salt and rinse aid even though not asking for it.

Only to find my salt section overflowing with water!!! It started spilling out!

Help! What have I done wrong?

[LuckySalem]

My dishwasher is full of water in the salt thingie but as you put salt in it pushes the water out, i've never had any problems and just assumed that's what it's meant to do.

[keepcalmandcarryon]

this is normal - don't worry! If you pour salt in it will displace the water.

[CarGirl]

We have a bosch that is normal IME, just pour the salt granuals in and the water flows out. Check that non of the little holes in the arms have food bits stuck in them.

[giraffeski]

Message withdrawn

[Pavlovthecat]

Oh Phew

Ok, well thanks for that! I thought I or DH had done something wrong!

As you can tell, this is my first dishwasher. And, even after such a short time I would be devastated without it!

Any ideas why it has not been asking for refills of everything? How often does this need doing with the dishwasher being used daily on normal cycle?

[Pavlovthecat]

Yes I do have a funnel. I should use it really shouldn't I?!

[vbacqueen1]

do you not use 3 in one dishwasher tablets? If so, you don't need to put salt in. I haven't used it once since I had my last machine and usually if things aren't looking 100% clean I find it's beacuse the filter needs a thorough clean (one of my least favourite jobs in the world!)

[giraffeski]

Message withdrawn

[Pavlovthecat]

I guess it must have big reservoirs as I dont think it has actually ever asked for a refill.

Yes we do use 3-in tablets. Oh so I dont need refills of either rinse aid or salt then? How green am I?!!!

I have been good and cleaned the filter already, and it was surprisingly not too mucky. Not as much as I expected thats for sure.

[Furball]

according to dishwasher manufacturers it is a myth that the 3 or 5 in one tables can mean the machine don't need salt. Even if the tablet says salt the machine still needs dishwasher salt If the machine breaks and you haven't been using salt, you wil invalidate your warrentee

[Pavlovthecat]

However, if my machine has not been asking for salt, and thus I dont put any in, warranty is still valid if it breaks?

When we first got it, it asked for rince aid every couple of weeks, and has not asked for about 2 months. And I am not sure I have ever been asked for salt, maybe once when we first got it. is that normal? Even if I am using the 3/5-in tablets, the machine should ask for salt when it runs out right?

[IdrisTheDragon]

It depends what your water is like - my mum and dad are in a soft water area and didn't need to put any salt in for ages and ages (whereas us in a hard water area need lots of it).

[vbacqueen1]

I had a problem with mine last week and the charming young dishwasher repair man came out and fixed it under the warranty and I've never once put salt in this machine. He didn't even ask.
I use those Fairy Liquitabs :O

[Pavlovthecat]

Idris - I called the local water people when we first got it, to check the 'Clarke' as per the manufacturer guidelines and did not need to change the setting it was already on.

I use Ecover tablets for daily not to soaking with grime washes, and Fairy Tablets for the roast dinner washes/pots and pans

[CarGirl]

have you checked the holes on the arms like I said, if the water isn't spurting out of them properly then they don't clean very well (took me weeks to discover that remmoving a piece of rogue sweetcorn would make such a huge difference!)

[VanillaPumpkin]

I use the 5in1 or 3in1 tabs and no salt or rinse aid. Everything comes out perfectly. It is a Bosch dishwasher and 5 years old (though only used for about 3 as it was in storage for a bit.....
And when we first got it and did add salt there was loads of water in there too.

[CarGirl]

if you live in a hard water area you really do need salt but I have it turned down to medium water IYSWIM

[Pavlovthecat]

Cargirl - yes, just checked the arms and they are clean . Its funny the things you have to check without realising.
Riven - salt is to soften the water so that it does not scratch/damage glass/china etc - think thats right anyway

[CarGirl]

no salt is to make the water softer so the detergent washes better, however over time the salt causes glasses etc to go cloudy.

[Kristabal]

Just got a new dishwasher, the manual said never use it without salt in the reservoir. Never had that with any of my previous dishwashers, so I filled it with salt. Then, as I read on, in the manual it said don't use cooking salt which is exactly what I have done. It is cooking sea salt. The instructions weren't clear, however, I feel stupid. How can I get the salt out so I can fill it with the conditioning salt recommended? Has anyone else had this happen?

[Kieransinteriors]

Not true. Salt required (moreso in hard water areas like London). Better to get basic tablets (Aldi’s are great) and use rinse aid and salt rather than pay for fancy tablets and ruin your dishwasher. It’ll also be much cheaper