The Engineering Inside Your Dishwasher
To get the best results from your machine, you need to understand the three "support systems" that work alongside the detergent.
1. Why Do You Need Dishwasher Salt?
Indian water is often "hard," containing high levels of Calcium and Magnesium.
- The Softener: Every dishwasher has a built-in water softener resin. The Dishwasher Salt is used to "regenerate" this resin.
- Prevention: Without salt, hard water leaves white scales on your steel vessels and can block the tiny jet holes in the spray arms.
- Note: Use only specialized Dishwasher Salt; regular table salt contains iodine and anti-caking agents that will ruin the machine.
2. What is Rinse Aid?
Rinse Aid is a surfactant. It reduces the surface tension of water.
- The Action: Instead of forming round drops that leave "spots" when they dry, Rinse Aid makes the water sheet off the dishes flatly.
- The Shine: It is slightly acidic (often containing citric acid), which prevents glassware from looking cloudy.
3. Condensation Drying: The Efficient Way
Most high-quality Indian dishwashers use Condensation Drying instead of a heating element that can melt plastic.
- How it Works: The final rinse uses very hot water, heating up the ceramic and steel dishes.
- The Physics: The inner walls of the dishwasher are stainless steel, which cools down faster than the dishes. The moisture evaporates from the hot plates and condenses on the cold metal walls, eventually trickling down to the drain.
👨🔧 Maintenance Tip: The "Quick Rinse" Hack
If you load breakfast dishes in the morning but don't plan to run a full wash until night, use the Quick Rinse cycle (usually 15 mins). It uses no detergent and very little cold water, but it prevents gravy from caking onto the plates and stops stale smells from developing.
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