When buying a dishwasher, you need to think about what means to take so that it works properly. In this article we will tell you why salt is needed for the dishwasher. We suggest deciding on your own whether to use it or not, and if applicable, how and in what quantities.
Salt composition for PMM
To understand why and how salt is used in the dishwasher, it is worthwhile to find out the features of its composition. Consider what this tool consists of.
Looking at a pack of a well-known brand - Finish or Somat, we will see sodium chloride, NaCl, sodium salt of hydrochloric acid among the components. The "popular" name is cookery, this substance is included in the composition of the product in the amount of 98%. Despite the fact that it consists of ordinary edible salt, it is impossible to replace it with special equipment. The substance processed by special technology is larger in structure and more homogeneous.
Operating principle
Why is it worth adding NaCl-treated NaCl to PMM? This is due to a factor such as water hardness. Not the softest and most optimal water flows from water pipes - you can verify this by looking at the scale layer in an ordinary kettle. Calcium and magnesium are converted to scale when water is heated. And if this does not harm the teapot (and it is easy to clean it), then such deposits are undesirable for expensive equipment: the heater will fail prematurely. To soften the water in the design of the machine there is a container filled with ionized resin.
How does she work? Passing through the resin, the water softens due to the action of negatively charged sodium ions - they neutralize the negative effect of positively charged magnesium and calcium ions. After passing through the ion exchanger, water enters the tank with other hardness indicators.
In the process of using the dishwasher, the resin exhausts the useful life. To restore the functionality of this unit of the dishwasher, sodium ions are added to the resin - these particles are in the preparation discussed here. If you ignore the recommendation and refuse to buy salt, the ion exchanger will exhaust the resource, and the water will be hard. And this means: "Farewell, TEN!".
Conclusion - why add salt:
- to soften water;
- to prevent the formation of limescale (scale) on the heating element and tank;
- for best results when washing dishes - some active components of detergents work only in soft water.
Users often ask:
- Do I need salt?
- Can PMM be used without it?
- Will the dishwasher work without salt, and for how long?
There is only one answer to these and other questions: yes, salt is necessary. No need to spend half the salary on expensive funds - you can vary the amount and type of drug based on the situation. If the water is relatively soft (you can check with special test strips - they are distributed free of charge by manufacturers such as Calgon), then salt may be included in small amounts in the detergent. If the water is too hard, the salt should be used separately.
Detailed instructions: how to find out if your water is hard or not.
Important! If at high water hardness you don’t fill the product directly into the capacity of the ion exchanger, it will clog over time, which will cause serious damage.
The design of individual dishwashers has a function that allows you to redirect water to bypass the ion exchanger when using washing capsules with salt content. This method of water supply will not affect the health of the unit.
How to find out it's time to add a remedy? In modern models, when a drug is depleted, a special light comes on. The amount of salt is determined based on the degree of hardness of the water: the harder it is, the more you need to fill the granules. When using tablets or capsules, do not worry about the amount of salt required - each tablet already has enough NaCl for one wash cycle.
What salt to use: food or special
An even more urgent question of users is whether it is possible to buy ordinary table salt and not splurge on an expensive imported counterpart. Despite the fact that the composition coincides almost completely, there is a difference:
- Granules differ in appearance and size.
- Table salt is less cleaned than special salt. In household salt there may be grains of sand and components that settle on parts and surfaces, which will affect the functionality and health of the device not from the best side.
- Normal dissolves at a slower rate, unlike a special one.
If you decide to replace the purchased product with a regular analog, give preference to the Extra brand - it is processed more carefully. When backfilling, make sure that there are no excess impurities, lumps and pebbles.
Attention! Pouring ordinary salt into the machine, make sure that its level does not reach the top - there is a risk that the dissolution will be difficult and the substance will stick to a lump.
Find out what else you can replace the salt.
What is the salt for dishwashers
In the departments of household chemicals, a large number of different salts are sold from low, medium and high price categories. How do they differ and which one to choose? We offer a brief overview of leading brands.
Finish
Owners of a washing machine or dishwasher are familiar with this manufacturer firsthand. The brand produces various rinses, powders and tablets of the 3 in 1 type. Its advantage in excellent performance at an affordable price. A pack of 1.5 kg costs 200-300 rubles - this will be enough for long-term use (up to 3 months). Basic properties:
- makes water softer, prevents scale formation on the heater;
- improves the quality of washing;
- prevents the appearance of unpresentable smudges.
Judging by customer reviews, Finish is one of the most effective tools on the market. Read a detailed review of the Finish salts.
Magic power
Medium from a low price category with excellent performance indicators. For 1.5 kg you will give about 150 rubles. Due to the large size of the crystals, the consumption of the drug is economical.
Please note: how much this volume is enough depends on the degree of water hardness - the higher it is, the stronger the flow rate.
The substance softens the water, improves the quality of the washing process, and prevents the heating element from fouling on the fly. This brand also produces washing tablets that are used for the same purpose. The main thing is that your PMM model should have the possibility of using “3 in 1” tools.
Sodasan
Regenerating substance with purified and evaporated table salt in the composition, without unnecessary components. This environmental friendliness can result in a deterioration in the quality of the wash. Packing in packs weighing 2 kg, costing about 500 rubles. Economical consumption allows you to use this pack for a year, given the level of water hardness in your water supply.
Important! Often, products labeled “ECO” and “BIO” are too overrated, because in terms of composition it is still normal NaCl.
Yplon
A rare but worthwhile brand. Economical packs of 4 kg cost no more than 500 rubles. The composition allows the tool to reliably deal with the water of the water and prevents leakage.
How much to pour
New users are wondering - how much salt to pour in the dishwasher? Everything is simple: NaCl is needed exactly as much as it fits in the container allocated for it. The exact weight and volume are not indicated, because in each particular model the volume and capacity of the tank are different.
PMM picks up as many pellets as it needs for each cycle. This volume is calculated by an automatic program for determining water hardness (or according to user-specified values).
Important! Do not mix granules with detergent.
Read more about how to calculate volume in a separate article.
Where to pour salt
Did not find a special container? This is nothing complicated: the compartment is usually located on the bottom of the PMM. Open the hatch, take out the cupboards for dishes, look for the tank and pour salt powder into it using a funnel (so as not to spill). To find out if the substance is dissolved or not, after several washing cycles, look in the container and check if the level has decreased.
If you want to read the detailed instructions, take a look at the article, which explains where and how to fill the salt.
Now you know everything about salt - operate your machine at full capacity. The main thing is to follow the rules of operation, listen to our tips and follow the manufacturer's instructions.