FAQ
CHEMICALS
No! Not only would this mean soapy suds all over your floor . . . but there’s also a technical reason why this doesn’t work. The suds created by a hand dishwashing detergent interfere with the mechanical action of the dishwasher – they “smother” the water action that’s necessary for effective cleaning. So leave hand dishwashing liquid at sink-side!
Check the directions on the label of the detergent can for the recommended amount. You can also refer to the dishwasher’s User Manual.
The recommended dosage of Washmate Plus detergent is 3 ml per 1 litre of wash tank water.
Here’s an additional tip: If you have hard water, you may need to use a little more detergent to get the best “clean” . . . and if your water is soft, do the opposite and try using a little less detergent.
A rinse agent is an additive that makes water “wetter” – meaning that the water sheets off dishes more readily and rinses away residue. That translates into fewer water spots – making a rinse agent especially helpful if you have mineral-rich hard water. And as an added bonus, rinse agents also help dishes dry more quickly.
Normally, you simply scrape food particles from dishes and pre-rinse before loading them in the dishwasher, making presoaking unnecessary. But if you’re dealing with dried-on, baked-on food or grease, try pre-soaking in a hand dishwashing detergent and water solution. Check the label on your automatic dishwasher detergent. Some of them are appropriate for pre-soaking too.
Simply put: no. While some household cleaning products are multi-purpose, automatic dishwasher detergent is formulated specifically for use in a dishwasher. In fact, it could damage other surfaces – so use it only as intended!
Yes, automatic dishwasher detergent is safe when used and stored according to the directions on the label. But because accidents can happen, it’s important to keep all cleaning products out of the reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion.
No. Automatic dishwasher detergent is formulated to go down the drain with the wash water . . . and from there, it’s safely treated in both municipal sewage treatment facilities and home septic systems.
You should use low foaming type detergent meant for commercial dishwasher application.
Automatic Dishwasher Detergents provide the chemical energy to help remove food soil from all types of cooking and serving items. Unlike hand dishwashing products, these must be of non foaming type. Suds (foam) cushion the mechanical cleaning action of the water and result in suds overflow from the machine.
In addition, automatic dishwasher detergents should inhibit foam that certain protein-containing foods, such as egg and milk, create. They must also soften water to prevent insoluble deposits, loosen and hold soil in suspension, leave items clean and grease-free so they rinse and dry without spots, and be safe for a wide variety of dishes, glassware, utensils, etc.
Surfactants or surface active agents loosen soil and emulsify fats, help hold them in suspension, and leave surfaces clean and free from spots and film. Specially developed surfactants having the lowest foaming characteristic are used.
Phosphates tie up water hardness minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium); so the minerals do not interfere with cleaning or deposit on surfaces. Phosphates also help keep food soil particles in suspension after removal from the soiled surfaces and prevent their re-deposition.
Chlorine or Oxygen Bleaches are added to help prevent spots by leaving a cleaner surface than would be obtained with either surfactants or phosphates alone. The very small amount of bleach helps break own protein soils and aids in removing stains such as coffee or tea.
Corrosion Inhibitors, such as sodium silicate, help provide protection for the dishwasher and the wide variety of materials that are washed. Some materials still should not be washed in the automatic dishwasher (see Washmatic Know more). The corrosion inhibitors also act as soil suspending agents and as an important source of alkalinity.
Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that help break down food and soil residue into small particles. The small particles are then washed away.
Special Additives, such as sodium aluminate, boric oxide or aluminium phosphate may be used to inhibit the removal of over glaze and pattern from fine china. Sometimes antifoams are added to reduce foaming.
Additional Alkalis, such as sodium carbonate, hydroxide or trisodium phosphate, may be used to aid in handling greasy food soils. Polymers help prevent film build-up from hard water.
Colorants are added to lend individuality and an appealing appearance to the product.
Processing Aids, generally inert materials, allow the active ingredients to be combined into a usable form.
Fragrance covers the chemical odour of the base product and stale food odours that might come from the dishwasher.