Increase your automatic dishwasher's life

[SHRED]

A home appliance repair guy passed this along and I have been doing it ever since.

He said way too much soap is used in automatic dishwashers.
This in turn causes premature corrosion of the washer. Instead of filling the trap-door area with soap he said to place about a small tablespoon size amount on the inside of the door. Close the door and start the wash.

This works and you lessen the corrosion big time


--

[niyad]

1. running the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar once a month or so also helps

this is INSTEAD of detergent

[TygrBright]

3. And if you live in a hard-water zone...

...(ours clinks as it comes out of the faucet and hits the stainless steel sink...) you can put your glassware and your teakettle and anything else that tends to get hard-water buildup in that load.

helpfully,
Bright

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. Same thing with washing machines

The amount of soap recommended by the soap manufacturers is always far too much. Use about 1/3 the recommended amount and your clothes will be just as clean.

[cutlassmama]

4. Only if you buy the good soap

The cheap stuff is watered down too much. If you buy the expensive (thick) stuff you only need 1/3.

[jeff47]

5. Another tip

Run your sink's hot water until it's hot. That way the water going into the dishwasher will also be hot, and far more effective.

[Kolesar]

6. Detergent is abrasive, so your advice sounds good

The salesman I bought a dishwasher from said "use half as much as the tray" fits, unless the house has hard water.

I am getting my first dishwasher in a decade next week.

[Robb]

7. I'd add that most dishwasher drain pumps will die

...long before corrosion sets in anywhere.

They are, fortunately, relatively inexpensive, and an easy thing to replace for even a day tinkerer.