We see a lot of broken dishwashers, some beyond economical repair, because of people using dishwasher tablets. It's a problem related to living in East Lancashire where the water is extrememly soft. So if you live in a soft water area... listen up! Why are dishwasher tablets so evil?
1. They are too big
2. They are too soapy
3. They contain salt
Too Big
There are way too big for soft water areas. Unless you have a full load of stuff caked in grease there is just too much detergent there. And if you have a slimline dishwasher!!!
The problem with tablets for your dishwasher, when you live in the Burnley/Pendle area, is that they are too big! Especially if you have a slimline dishwasher.
3 They contain salt.
Dishwasher salt is a vital when you live in a hard water area. It does an important job of softening the water so the dishwasher can wash probably. When you live in a soft water area, you need to adjust the dishwasher so it doesn't use as much (if any) salt. Most dishwashers will be set at around level four by the manufactuer when the appliance is new. In soft water areas like East Lancashire, you need to adjust this down to zero! Personally... I would never use salt at all! And these is why dishwasher tablets are evil. They contain salt! 3in1, 4in1, built-in salt-action? Well, that's all great, except if you don't want any salt, tought! It's a built in action.
The solution?
Do you wash wise? Sensibly? Economically? Safely?
We have been repairing and selling appliances for over 35 years. Every day we are in customer's houses (about 8 a day) having to educate people about how to use their appliances wisely. Why not use our wisdom? It's not gospel. If you do have any contradictory arguments, we'd love to hear them. Please use the comments button beneath any post.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Smelly washing machines
Probably the question I hear most often...
"Why does my washer smell?"
There's probably a million things that can make your washing machine smell bad. But most 'bad smell' problems in washing machines are causes by one (or usually a combination) of three things.
Low temperature washes
Low temperature washes might be good for the environment, but they are bad for your local environment once you get a smelly washer. It's not just the smell. The smell comes from bacteria, and bacteria will get on your clothes, your bedding, your baby stuff!!! Whatever you wash really.
Bacteria is introduced to the machine via dirt from your washing. Any wash under sixty degrees is just a breeding ground for germs. But germs are killed when you wash on a sixty degree (or higher) wash. Of course, most materials can't be washed at sixty degrees, but if you want to prevent your washing machine from smelling, you need to find something you can wash weekly on a sixty degree wash. Or just do a maintenance wash without a load.
There are other ways to kill bacteria, which brings me to point number two...
Detergent
10/20 years ago people didn't get smelly washing machines. Why not? Because all the detergents contained bleach, and bleach kills bacteria. But nowadays detergent manufactures want to protect the colours in your washing, so they use enzime to clean your materials rather than bleach. Great for protecting colours. Bad for smelly washers! It doesn't help in our area (East Lancashire) that we have very soft water too.
"Why does my washer smell?"
There's probably a million things that can make your washing machine smell bad. But most 'bad smell' problems in washing machines are causes by one (or usually a combination) of three things.
- Too many low temperature washes
- Misusing (over using) detergent
- Leaving the door closed between washes
Low temperature washes
Low temperature washes might be good for the environment, but they are bad for your local environment once you get a smelly washer. It's not just the smell. The smell comes from bacteria, and bacteria will get on your clothes, your bedding, your baby stuff!!! Whatever you wash really.
Bacteria is introduced to the machine via dirt from your washing. Any wash under sixty degrees is just a breeding ground for germs. But germs are killed when you wash on a sixty degree (or higher) wash. Of course, most materials can't be washed at sixty degrees, but if you want to prevent your washing machine from smelling, you need to find something you can wash weekly on a sixty degree wash. Or just do a maintenance wash without a load.
There are other ways to kill bacteria, which brings me to point number two...
Detergent
10/20 years ago people didn't get smelly washing machines. Why not? Because all the detergents contained bleach, and bleach kills bacteria. But nowadays detergent manufactures want to protect the colours in your washing, so they use enzime to clean your materials rather than bleach. Great for protecting colours. Bad for smelly washers! It doesn't help in our area (East Lancashire) that we have very soft water too.
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