Check Your Dishwasher For One Tiny Compartment That Makes A Big Difference

Have you tried all the tricks in the book, including changing detergents to make your plates come out clean from a dishwasher, but everything just seems to get worse? Don't start learning how to properly handwash dishes or dash for a new brand, thinking the one you have just sucks. Other than letting hot water run for some time before starting it, cleaning the filters, checking for any clogged sprayers, and placing your dishes correctly, there's one little trick that can make all the difference and finally hand you sparkling dishes. We're talking about your dishwasher's pre-wash section, a tiny compartment typically located right next to the main wash that many users ignore.

The pre-wash compartment is sometimes labeled as "pre-rinse." It's typically prescribed for heavily soiled dishes because it does an excellent job with grime and all the greasy stuff. But come to think of it, that's the main reason it can make a huge difference when cleaning dishes. The reason is we love to have our food fried. If anything, 9 in 10 Americans eat meat. Therefore, it's a no-brainer that a dishwasher compartment that makes grime removal a tad easier would be pivotal.

So you don't waste time (and water) rinsing your dishes before placing them in your dishwasher, your machine has a pre-wash section that does the job way more efficiently. The pre-wash is a cold rinse on some machines, meaning it runs on cold water. On others, it's a hot rinse. While a cold rinse will flush the dishes and prep them well for the main wash, a hot rinse is the best for removing oily stuff. Still, don't worry about a cold-rinse pre-wash since your dishwasher is probably connected to your hot water supply. But there's a way to do it: let your taps run for a while until the water starts becoming hot before running your pre-wash. The reason is that even with hot water systems, the water often doesn't immediately get hot.

There are other things to remember: If using a liquid dishwasher for the main wash, don't put it at the outset, especially when running a hot water-based pre-wash. Otherwise, the wax on the seal of the liquid detergent bottle will melt, and your detergent will start to be dispensed at the pre-wash stage instead of during the main wash. Similarly, pods start to dissolve at the pre-wash stage and, hence, will be too diminished to be fully effective at the end of the cycle. Also, while a tablet may be OK, chances are, it won't fit in the tiny compartment of your pre-wash. Finally, with many brands, including Whirlpool, the pre-wash takes about 6 to 8 minutes.