We will tell you where to put salt in the dishwasher. After all, in order for the dishwasher to wash cutlery with high quality, one washing agent is not enough. During operation, a white coating forms on the walls and heater of the dishwasher – scale; due to the high content of impurities in the water, it becomes hard. So the details of the equipment will quickly fail, so be sure to use special salt to soften the water.
What is dishwasher salt for?
All dishwashing machines (Hansa, Siemens, Bosch and others) are equipped with an ion exchanger. This is the box that is located under the pallet of the machine. Inside the box are sodium ions that neutralize the harmful effects of potassium and magnesium ions. Before entering the PMM compartment through the sprayer, water passes through an ion exchanger. Harmful impurities are attracted by ions, so that the dishes are washed with soft water.
Why pour salt and how does it enter the water? Over time, the ionizer is depleted, the ions are washed out. Therefore, periodically you should put salt tablets in the compartment. They replenish the amount of ions for the normal operation of the dishwasher.
Benefits of using salt for PMM:
- lack of scale;
- lack of streaks and stains on the surface of the dishes.
How and what tool to use
Before pouring, you need to decide what dishwasher salt to choose (more details in a separate article):
- regenerating, such as “Calgonite”, “Finish”, “Somat”;
- in tablets, such as Topperr;
- substitute “Extra” regular or in tablets.
Let’s make a reservation that for Bosch, Electrolux, Ariston, Siemens, Hans and other brands it is better to use specialized salt, the degree of purification of which is 99,98%. While the usual cleans only 99%. The difference is small, but the table salt is too fine. It will clog the container so that the water cannot wash it off. The special one consists of large crystals.
The product packaging indicates the quantity for single use. You should be guided by the hardness of the water and the impurities that are characteristic of your region. See table.
| Russia (mg-eq/l) | Content of calcium and magnesium |
| 0–1,6 1,6–2,4 2,4–3,0 3,0–3,6 3,6–4,0 | Upholstered |
| 4,0-6,0 6,0-8,0 | Medium hard |
| — | Quite tough |
| 8,0-9,0 9,0-12,0 | Hard |
| more 12,0 | Very tough |
The ratio of impurities may change, it depends on the season. For detailed instructions on how to determine the hardness of water, see a separate article. The main way is to use a TDS meter to measure. If this is not available, use more affordable methods. Wet and lather the rag. Does it wash badly? This means increased rigidity. Does limescale build up on dishwasher parts very quickly? It also indicates the presence of calcium and magnesium.
When should tablets be added? Open the instruction manual and read the instructions. For example, manufacturers of Bosch PMM have provided 7 levels for water hardness. As soon as the product runs out, an indicator or a special icon lights up on the display.
Where to put salt in the dishwasher
Each brand of equipment comes with instructions that indicate which compartment is intended for what. So, the compartment for replenishing the ion exchanger can be located below or on the side of the door. In some models, the container is located under the pallet. Then use a special funnel to load the salt.
It may be a container next to the drain filter. How to add crystals there? Unscrew the lid and fill the container. In some dishwashers, the tablet compartment is located on the inside of the door.
When you first start, pour water into the tank, and then put a tablet there. This will help the crystals dissolve faster and not stick to the walls.
When operating the dishwasher, monitor the amount of funds in the compartments, as well as the readings of the sensors. Now you know how and where to add salt. Do not forget to look at the instructions, because each PMM model has its own differences.
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