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Salts for Dishwashers

dishwasher saltHaving bought a dishwasher, it is important not only to understand how it turns on, but also what detergents can be used for it. There are a lot of household chemicals on store shelves, and advertising from TV screens makes you buy expensive goods. But before making such a purchase, it is better to figure out which salt for the dishwasher is needed, which of the salts offered on the market is affordable, and is it possible to replace the salt with something?

Is salt really needed?

Everyone knows that tap water is hard and must be filtered before use in food. But not everyone will install a water filter for a washing machine and dishwasher. In the best case, people use special water softeners suitable for household appliances. These include dishwasher salt, why salt?

Let us try to explain the effect of salt and its effectiveness in combating water hardness in an accessible and concise manner. Water hardness is due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions in it, which, when heated, precipitate in the form of limescale. If there is a large amount of iron ions in the water, then this coating very quickly stones, covering the heating element of the machine. Therefore, a special ion exchanger is built into them, which fights the hardness of water.

Inside the ion exchanger there is a resin containing sodium ions. This resin draws magnesium and calcium ions from the water, making it soft. However, over time, sodium ions are washed away, and the ability to attract ions is lost, therefore, salt is needed, due to which sodium is replaced in the ion exchanger. That's why the salt for the dishwasher is called regenerative, which means regenerative.

This should be not just the salt that we add to food, but a special salt that has been processed. Its composition is more complex than that of edible salt.

Water hardness is determined by a special sensor inside the dishwasher, or manually driven into the program. Depending on the stiffness indicator, the machine will expend a certain amount of salt. And most importantly, salt not only softens the water, but also extends the life of the dishwasher.

Types of Dishwasher Salt

There are a lot of varieties of salt for dishwashers, or rather manufacturers. Let's look at a few examples of the advantages of different salts and whether they can be replaced with something.

  • Ecodoo - regenerating salt for dishwashers. This salt does not contain dyes and is suitable for various dishwashers, in addition, it does not contain flavorings, phosphates and chlorine. It copes with lime deposits perfectly, softening water. For a pack of such salt 2.5 kg you need to pay about 400 rubles.
    ecodu dishwasher salt
  • SODASAN is a phosphate and dye-free dishwasher salt. This salt has passed a high degree of purification, therefore, does not contain impurities. She copes with limescale and does not leave stains on the dishes. The price for 2kg is about 400 rubles.
    Sodasan Dishwasher Salt
  • Finish is a special salt of domestic production. Protects the heating element from scale and prevents the formation of limescale. Contains no impurities. The price for a pack of 1.5 kg is about 200 rubles.
    Finish Dishwasher Salt
  • Topperr - tableted salt for dishwashers. It softens water well, thereby improving the quality of washing dishes. The price for 1.5 kg is about 400 rubles.
    topperr dishwasher salt

List companies, salt producers can be very long. The main conclusion that can be made is as follows: for the price, the salt for the dishwasher is not significantly different. For a year, about 2-3 packs of salt are needed, which is about 1000 rubles. Therefore, some are wondering whether it is possible to replace such salt with a regular table salt, for example, Extra, which costs about 30 rubles, thereby reducing costs.dishwasher salt

If you decide to buy a dishwasher assistant, you should know that you need to look after her and buy the necessary detergents. It is like a pet, for example, a cat that can be fed with Whiskas or milk and bread. Of course, it's up to you to pour special salt or food salt into the machine, but be aware that grains of sand and other impurities may come into food salt, which will adversely affect the operation of the machine itself. In addition, table salt is too small and not uniform, its crystals can stick together.

Note! Specialists in the repair of household appliances do not recommend replacing special salt for dishwashers with anything else, the main thing is to be careful when choosing not to buy table salt under the guise of special.

As for the packing of salt, which is better in the form of tablets or granular, it is impossible to say unequivocally. The advantage of tableted salt is that its dosage is already determined by the manufacturer and lasts longer, since it dissolves more slowly, so decide for yourself what you can spend money on. But it’s impossible to operate the machine completely without special salt. And do not confuse the detergent in tablets three in one with salt in the form of tablets, these are different means and put them in different compartments of the dishwasher.

How much and where to pour?

How much salt you need to put in a dishwasher depends on the hardness of the water. The higher the stiffness indicator, the greater the salt consumption. Besides, water hardness can vary according to the seasons of the year, so it is best to purchase a dishwasher with a sensor, which determines the hardness of the water, and depending on this consumes the right amount of salt.dishwasher salt

In dishwashers in which you need to manually set the stiffness indicator, you will have to focus on the average indicator. How to set the stiffness value correctly is described in the instructions for the machine. The amount of salt to be filled may be indicated on the package, so read all instructions carefully. It is best to pour salt before the wash cycle and slightly moisten it at the same time so that it dissolves better. In some machines, a single dose of salt is enough for several washing cycles, but it is necessary to check whether the salt has run out in the compartment, otherwise the machine will work with hard water.

The salt compartment is located at the very bottom of the dishwasher, at the bottom. Doubt, see the device in the instructions.

Thus, dishwasher salt is a necessary tool for its normal operation and smooth operation. When buying a car, be prepared to buy all consumables for it, otherwise, you will have to repair or change the equipment very quickly.

   

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