At Perth Dishwashers, we recommend descaling at least once every 6 months to keep your dishwasher fresh, clean and performing at its best.
Although regular descaling of your dishwasher isn’t entirely essential, it can go a long way in improving the performance, smell and aesthetics of your dishwasher. The accumulation of limescale, calcium, grease, and residue inside a dishwasher can leave deposits on various components including heating elements, temperature thermostats, auto sensors. This buildup is generally unavoidable and can lead to poor wash result by your once perfect performing dishwasher.
Before you start a descale we recommend following the procedure :
Perth Dishwasher’s – Tips for Keeping your Dishwasher Clean.
Once completing these steps, you are ready for a dishwasher descale.
Before starting the descaling process, “if you are choosing a commercial grade descaler”, ensure you have suitable protective gear as some stronger commercial grade descaling products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
With the world of dishwasher descalers growing, there are various solutions to combat this buildup. Let’s have a look at some of the options:
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Off the shelf Dishwasher Descalers
Off the shelf dishwashers descalers are generally a safe and easy option that offer great results for their price. They are simple to use and will contain instructions to be included with instructions and be designed to take out all the guessing work on how and when to add the product.
Be sure to choose a suitable cycle – preferably, the longest and hottest cycles are recommended. These off the shelf descalers are designed to be released into the dishwasher at the optimum cleaning phase of the cycle.
Some of these products are in powder form, and we recommend handling with care. The powder is placed into the dispenser, where you normally out the detergent/tablet, so that they are released at the optimum cleaning phase.
Other products come in a liquid form and are kept in a container with a wax lid.
If using this type of descaler be sure to remove the sticker protecting the wax lid and place it in upside down. Once the unit begins to heat and go into the optimum cleaning stage, the lid will melt and release the contents into the tub of the dishwasher and begin its cleaning. Not all off the shelf products are as good as what they make out, so be sure to do some homework and check which works best for the consumers. -
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking Soda is a safe and mild alkali chemical that can go a long way in cleaning the inside and descaling your dishwasher. Vinegar contains acetic acid that can be used as a household descaler for dishwashers, as it has properties that assist in cleaning out those hard to get to places in your dishwasher.
After 30 years of experience, Perth Dishwashers unveils the correct method to add these items for the best results. Most are led to believe by sprinkling them inside the dishwasher or adding a cup into a tray will give them the results they desire.
It’s not that simple! These products work best in the longest hottest cycles. Generally speaking the longest and hottest cycles have prewashes which means you are simply rinsing the inside of your unit with cold water, and then it all gets drained away – wasting any opportunity to get the real results.How is it done?
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- Have your product ready, whether you are using baking soda or vinegar.
- Close the dispenser with nothing in it.
- Start the longest and hottest cycle.
- Then wait and listen – what you want to hear is the dispenser opening!
- Once you hear the clunk, pause your dishwasher and add the products directly into the water at the base of your dishwasher.
- Close the door and let it run through its cycle.
- When it’s finished, run the cycle again to rinse out any residue.
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The dispenser opening is the key to the timing! Dishwashers are programmed to release the washing detergent as they go into the longest and hottest part of the wash cycle. So listen carefully for the clunk. If you don’t hear it, pause and open the door every 5 minutes until you see the dispenser door ahs opened.
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Commercial Descalers
When choosing a commercial grade descaler”, ensure you have suitable protective gear as some stronger commercial grade descaling products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
- Strong commercial descalers can come in a powder form.
- Be sure to read the instructions to see if it can just be added to the dispenser.
- If you are unable to add directly to the detergent dispenser you may be required to follow the process and similar to the vinegar/baking soda method you must wait for the dispenser to open indicating the unit is going into its optimum cleaning stage before it can be manually added. Be sure to read the instructions, add the correct amount, and it may require you to leave it sit for a time period before resuming the cycle.
- Other commercial descalers that come in liquid form can be hazardous – please be careful.
- Again, you will likely be required to follow the process and similar to the vinegar/baking soda method. Wait for the dispenser to open indicating the unit is going into its optimum cleaning stage and manually add the product. Be sure to read the instructions, add the correct amount, and it may require you to leave it sit for a time period before resuming the cycle.
- Whenever using a commercial grade descaler we recommend running the dishwasher through the longest cycle to wash out any residue.
- Strong commercial descalers can come in a powder form.
Whichever is best for you, please use caution and if not sure feel free to contact us at Perth Dishwashers 0894562166 or email us on info@perthdishwashers.com.au
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