Why is salt needed for dishwashers?

For a specialized dishwasher, in addition to the detergent, the indispensable factor is the specialized salt. Why does a dishwasher need to use salt is a question of many people.

Why does a dishwasher need to use salt?

Many people often wash dishes with a dishwasher without using salt and other detergents because they believe that the dishes are still clean thanks to hot water. In the long run, the durability of the machine will decrease significantly due to “lack of salt”. Moreover, this also makes the dishes unable to be completely clean after the washing process.

If you only use hot water to clean the dishes, after a long period of use, the machine will have calcium deposits with clinging patches similar to lime that cause the water pipe and internal parts to deteriorate quickly. In this case, the use of specialized salt for dishwashers is necessary, helping to extend the lifespan of the dishwasher.

Dishwasher salt is a special compound that softens water, prevents clogging of drainage and water spray components. Dishwasher salt also helps to remove many impurities in water such as magnesium, calcium lime scale, preventing buildup and adhesion on pipes, causing drain and spray nozzles to clog.

Why does a dishwasher need to use salt? Specialized dishwasher salt helps remove lime scale and minerals to increase the lifespan of the machine. (Photo: Express)

Specialized dishwasher salt, combined with the resin beads in the basket, softens the water of the machine, creating soft water that enhances the performance of the dishwasher detergent, making dish and glass cleaning easier. Softened water by dishwasher salt also helps prevent the formation of stains on kitchen utensils, especially glassware, keeping them shiny and longer-lasting.

Can table salt be used instead of dishwasher salt?

Dishwasher salt is specialized salt, different from table salt. Therefore, you cannot use regular table salt as a substitute for dishwasher salt.

Dishwasher salt has a different degree of purity compared to regular salt. It contains fewer impurities and no iodine, while regular table salt may contain impurities and usually contains iodine.

Using table salt for the dishwasher can cause clogs and damage to the machine. Moreover, using table salt instead of dishwasher salt also does not guarantee optimal cleaning performance.

Therefore, to ensure the dishwasher works well and lasts, you should use salt specifically for dishwashers.

Using dishwasher salt correctly

Using dishwasher salt is quite simple. First, you need to determine the position to pour salt into the machine. Usually, the dedicated salt compartment is located at the bottom, near the main spray arm position. The compartment has a protective lid.

After determining the position, you pour salt along with water into the compartment.

Different dishwashers come with different-sized compartments, so there is no exact dosage to follow. You just need to fill the compartment with salt. You can pour a moderate amount of salt (about 1.2 kg depending on the size of the machine) into the salt container and add 300ml of water.

Then, you tightly close the lid of the salt container and turn the knob to start the machine is finished.

Note: One time of adding dishwasher salt can be used for several weeks or months, depending on usage frequency. When the salt runs out, the machine will notify you to refill it. When the loading indicator light or the salt icon on the dishwasher control panel lights up, you need to add more salt.

If you find that the salt refill indicator light does not work after more than a month, it may be malfunctioning.

According to VTC news