Description of how the dishwasher works: principle of operation, rules of operation and care
Most of the automatic dishwashers currently offered in stores are models built into the kitchen set with front-loading dishes.
This technique makes the life of a housewife as easy as possible.
I put dirty cutlery in the machine, pressed the button - and after a while the spoons, forks and plates are clean again.
In order for the dishwasher to work properly and wash the dishes thoroughly, the machine needs water, regenerating salt and detergents. In this case, the water jets must have a set temperature, the salt composition must meet the requirements for NaCl purity, and the liquids and washing tablets must be suitable for a particular model.
Each dishwasher unit is responsible for its part of the dishwashing process. If the heating element does not heat the water sufficiently, the pump does not completely pump it, and the ion exchanger or filters become clogged, the dishes will remain dirty.
Content
General principle of the dishwasher
The principle of its work is quite simple.
To begin with, the device draws water, then, using a heating element, heats it up to the required temperature. Heated water is mixed with detergent and the resulting solution is fed into the spray units located at the top and bottom of the machine chamber. Sprayers, rotating, spray jets of soapy solution in different directions and with different pressure.
This allows even treatment of all surfaces, which significantly reduces the likelihood of streaks. Next, the soapy water enters the drainage pipe, and through it the water is discharged to the outside, but without detergent residue.Thus, the machine cleans itself on its own without requiring human intervention.
Preparing dishes and loading
There are rules that clearly prescribe how to load dishes and cutlery in the dishwasher:
- Before loading the dishes into the machine, it is necessary to clean them from food residues:
- All items must be stable;
- More dirty kitchen utensils are placed in the bottom basket of the dishwasher;
- All containers are placed upside down so that water does not accumulate in them;
- Tall and narrow containers must not be installed in corners, in a too inclined position;
- You can load dishes into the machine only once;
- Loading should not exceed half the volume of the dishwasher;
- Do not load forks, spoons and knives into the machine;
- Do not put on the top plate of the machine: pots, frying pans without handles, cast iron pans;
- Close the car door tightly, so that there are no gaps.
If necessary, you can place more dishes in the machine, but do not forget that their weight should be uniform. Proper loading of the dishwasher ensures high-quality and long-lasting dishwashing.
It also saves time and detergents. On the other hand, if the dishes are loaded unevenly, they may not be washed well due to uneven friction. This is especially true for pans and other items that have a smooth surface.
If the dishwasher is loaded incorrectly, you can end up with dishes with dried dirt and food residues. If you have not properly prepared the dishes, they will quickly become clogged with dirt and will not be washed well.
Stages, wash cycles
Let's see what stages the dishes go through in the washing process.
In fact, there are few of them:
- Pre-soak. Jets of water knock down the remnants of food from the dishes, it is prepared for further processing;
- The washing up. The dishes are washed with jets of hot water with a special agent dissolved in it.
- Rinsing. Use hot water to remove detergent residue from dishes. Depending on the algorithm of the control program or the information received from the sensors, the water may change several times during rinsing.
- Drying. Moisture is removed from the surface of the dishes. The result is a completely washed and dried dish, which can only be put in its usual place.
Extra rinse mode
The rinse mode in the dishwasher is provided in each of the programs used. For some of them, the water is heated, others use cold water.
However, sometimes the standard rinse cycle is not enough. In wash cycles, this function is provided to rinse out the detergent and make the dishes shine. But if the containers have been heavily soiled, food particles may remain on them even after several rinses.
If you only wash your dishes once in the evening, they can sit in the dishwasher for hours. During this time, the remnants of food on plates, pans and pots will dry out. During washing, they will be very difficult to remove and dirt particles may remain on the dishes.
To avoid this, use the pre-rinse mode. It is recommended to turn it on before using the main cycle or even 2-3 times during the day so that food residues do not dry out on the dishes until you fully load the dishwasher. When you turn on the rinse cycle in the dishwasher, no detergent is used.
Drying class
Modern dishwashers, in addition to the "energy class" and "washing class", have such a parameter as the "drying class". It is determined by conducting test measurements. Depending on how much water is left on the dishes, the machine is assigned class A, B or C.
Drying class A or B is a perfectly acceptable option. Class A means that the manufacturer promises us perfectly dry dishes. Classes B and C allow some moisture (drops) on the dishes.
Modes and additional functions of the dishwasher
The operation of the dishwasher will not be difficult, the basic principles and rules of use, as well as the modes of the dishwasher, will facilitate the work of any housewife.
The dishwasher has two main modes of operation - these are:
- quick;
- intensive.
With the help of the fast mode, the most gentle washing of dishes is performed, which does not require additional rinsing or drying.
The intensive wash mode is designed for a more thorough, thorough washing of soiled dishes.
In models that have a delay start timer, after setting it, you can set the dishwasher to run for a certain time so that it will wash the dishes at the right time.
There are also additional features such as: self-cleaning and leakage protection.
Self-cleaning is an optional feature that will save you water and energy, as well as significantly reduce salt consumption. This function is very convenient if you use the dishwasher at home and do not want to change the salt frequently.
The Leak Protection feature is also an optional feature. When it is turned on, water in the event of a leak will not flow to your appliances. This will prevent serious damage in case of flooding.
PMM wash completion time
When the dishwasher finishes the wash cycle, the machine beeps and shuts down.
On the control panel there are convenient indicators for the end of the program, using the settings you can change the volume of the sound signal or turn off the notification of the end of work.
This is especially true when loading dishes at night.
After the machine has come to a complete stop, press the on/off button of the machine.
Beam on the floor
Most commercially available dishwashers are built-in. They are installed in the kitchen set, and the front panel of the device is closed with a furniture facade.
The controls are located on the top edge of the door, so they are not visible unless you open it. Manufacturers try to make the equipment work as quietly as possible, so it is far from always possible to immediately determine whether the washing cycle has ended or not.
So that users do not have to listen or open the door, some models of dishwashers are equipped with a beam on the floor function.
The "beam on the floor" in the dishwasher is a light projection that helps to monitor the progress of the machine. It can work in several ways.
Sometimes the light point near the dishwasher door appears only at the end of the program. In other models, on the contrary, it goes out after the device completes its work. There is another option - changing the color of the beam from red to green. And the most difficult one is projecting onto the floor not just a point of light, but the time remaining until the end of the program.
The "Beam on the floor" function eliminates the need for an audible signal when the dishwasher is finished. This option will be appreciated by families with small children, as well as those who usually turn on the device at night.
Prevention and cleaning of PMM
In order to avoid questions about how to clean the dishwasher, it is necessary, as far as possible, to “clean” the inside of the appliance after each use.
Simple Tips:
- If you use the appliance every day, and not on holidays, you can avoid the drying of grease and food residues.
- Before washing the dishes in the dishwasher, they must be rinsed with hot running water to wash away food residues and some of the fat.
- Be sure to wipe the door and gaskets with a damp cloth and detergent after each use. If dirt gets into them, an unpleasant smell of rot can develop over time.
- Periodically clean the appliance with vinegar. To do this, pour two glasses of liquid into the bottom of the dishwasher and turn on a quick wash without dishes.
- To combat the smell, you can fill the bottom of the appliance with a glass of baking soda and use the machine as usual.
- After each use, leave the machine door open to dry inside.
PMM maintenance
First of all, the surfaces of the washing chamber require care. They are made of stainless steel, which imposes certain restrictions on the cleaning agents used.
Do not use products containing chlorine and abrasives. They can ruin the surface, leave indelible stains and deep scratches.
As a rule, the surfaces are wiped with a soft cloth lightly dampened with a detergent solution. In most cases, manual cleaning of the wash chamber is absolutely unnecessary. It's all about the dishwashing detergents you use. If quality products are used, and the regenerating salt and rinse aid dispensers are set correctly, the interior surfaces will be cleaned along with the dishes.
The instruction manual describes how to properly adjust the amount of salt and rinse aid. It is important to understand here that the hardness of tap water and other parameters vary depending on the region, so dosing is often selected experimentally: after the completion of the washing cycle, the condition of the internal surfaces is assessed, and, if necessary, the level of salt and rinse aid consumption is adjusted.
In especially "neglected" cases, the walls of the chamber are wiped with a soft cloth dipped in table vinegar. Or, a container (100-150 ml) with vinegar is placed in one of the baskets of an empty dishwasher and a washing cycle is started, after which the walls of the chamber are washed with dishwashing detergent.
Special attention should be paid to the sealing gum of the car door. Limescale accumulates on them, interfering with a normal fit.
Such contaminants are removed with a sponge or cloth dipped in table vinegar.
To prevent corrosion on the baskets for dishes made of enameled metal rods and other elements of the dishwasher, it is recommended to wipe them dry after each use.
To prevent condensation inside the chamber, leave the door open until the dishwasher has completely cooled down.
In the case of using a non-embedded (freestanding, desktop) dishwasher model, its external surfaces will also require the user's attention. They are cleaned with a slightly damp sponge or cloth soaked in a cleaning solution.
Like any other appliance, a dishwasher needs proper and regular maintenance. The maintenance and care procedures are simple and do not take much time, but if you ignore them, the dishwasher will turn into a piece of furniture and will no longer be able to perform its direct functions.
Useful video
The video shows how the dishwasher works from the inside and what processes take place in it while washing dishes:
