Increasingly, such a miracle of technology as a dishwasher appears in the kitchens of housewives. You can write a lot about all its advantages, but at the first stages of use, users often wonder where to put the tablet and how best to use the product to wash the most dirty dishes. In the article you will find information about where the tablet compartment is located in Hotpoint Ariston dishwashers and other models, as well as how to properly use this type of detergent.
Pros of dishwasher tablets
Tablets for PMM have a number of advantages when compared with other products. This includes the following points:
- Wide selection of funds. Thanks to this, it is possible to select a drug with the desired composition;
- Optimal consumption;
- You can find dishwasher detergent in almost any store;
- To add the product, there is no need to measure it using a measuring spoon;
- Most tablets have a permanent coating. There is no need to unpack them before use - they go straight into the dishwasher;
- Capsules are the easiest to store. Unlike gel, they cannot crumble or spill;
- During its action, the tablet product does not create a lot of foam, which has a positive effect on the operation of the dishwasher;
- The products in tablets have a safe composition, so they cannot cause an allergic reaction or harm human health;
- Despite their hard structure, the tablets do not leave scratches on dishes. In addition, they protect the dishwasher from plaque and corrosion;
- Additional substances contained in the tablets give the dishes a light and fresh aroma.
Types of tablets. Features of application
Products compressed into cubes are made from powder with certain additives. In stores today there is a huge selection of washing cartridges:
- three-component (3-in-1);
- multi-component (5-in-1, 6-in-1, 8-in-1 and so on);
- environmentally friendly (without chlorine and phosphates);
- with water-soluble packaging.
Expert opinion
Vyacheslav Budaev
Dishwasher expert, repairman
Each tablet is enclosed in a separate package, so it is very convenient to use them. If the manufacturer indicated on the packaging that the bag dissolves in water, then you can not tear it off, but immediately put it in the car. These are Finish Quantum, Sodasan, Amway.
If not, then remove the packaging and put the product in the compartment. These are Somat, Frosch, Econta, Ecover.
What's in it. If this is not an environmentally friendly product, then the content is not much different from powders or gels:
- chlorine;
- phosphates;
- surfactant;
- enzymes;
- bleach;
- fragrances:
- citrates;
- salt;
- silicates and so on.
How to insert and which side to put the pads on? Follow these simple operating rules:
- Clean your plates thoroughly to remove any leftover food.
- Place them in baskets.
- You can insert the tablet into the compartment from any direction, the main thing is that it closes tightly. Also add salt and rinse aid.
- Run a long wash cycle.
Expert opinion
Vyacheslav Budaev
Dishwasher expert, repairman
Important! Do not use cartridges for pre- or short program. They will not have time to dissolve, so the dishes will not be washed well, and a residue will remain at the bottom of the dishwasher.
For compact PMMs or “Half Load” cycles, half the product can be used. But this is not always convenient.
Should a tablet fall out, why does it fall out of the compartment?
The reasons lie in the principle of operation of the machine. When starting the main wash, the compartment ejects the pad. Under the influence of water it begins to dissolve little by little.
Expert opinion
Vyacheslav Budaev
Dishwasher expert, repairman
You cannot crush compressed cubes. Each layer is dissolved one by one. If you mix them, there will be no desired effect, since the rinse aid is used immediately.
First of all, the salt and detergent components dissolve, and finally the rinsing agents (red ball inside). It happens that the detergent does not fly out of the dispenser. The cause may be improperly positioned dishes that block the dispenser. It’s worth checking the lid itself, maybe it’s stuck.
What are their advantages?
Why the use of tablets for PMM is becoming popular:
- They do not crumble or spill, like powders and gels loaded through a funnel.
- They are created on an all-inclusive basis. Manufacturers offer capsules from “3 in 1” to “10 in 1” or “all in one”. The tablet contains all the components necessary for washing dishes and maintaining the dishwasher in good condition. Along with the detergent, the capsule contains rinse aid and salt.
Advantages of compressed products in individual packaging
- Convenient to use every day, no need to dose or get your hands dirty.
- They do not crumble, do not spill, and fit neatly into the compartment.
- Easy and long-term storage. Individual packaging allows you not to worry about moisture ingress.
- Efficiency, versatility.
Expert opinion
Vyacheslav Budaev
Dishwasher expert, repairman
Important! If the packaging is water-soluble, do not handle it with wet hands, otherwise the product will soften.
Now you know where to put the pills and what regimen to use. Follow the PMM instructions, then it will work without failures.
The dirtier the dishes, the more powerful the tablet
For lightly soiled dishes, it is enough to put a one-component or 3-in-1 tablet. But it will not cope with dried and burnt layers - for these purposes, use 7-in-1 products, etc.
Principle of operation
Due to the fact that tablets from different manufacturers differ in their composition, they can have different effects on dishes. Despite this, all drugs have a number of common functions. If we talk about the composition, then the combined tablets contain not only detergent, but also salt and rinse aid.
In addition, the composition may include such components as:
- Substances for protecting metal parts of the dishwasher from rust;
- Substances for protecting silverware from tarnishing;
- Antibacterial components;
- Bleaching agents;
- Flavorings, etc.
After the washing program is started, a capsule will fall out of the compartment and begin to slowly disintegrate. First, the layer containing the detergent and salt dissolves. At the very end, another, final layer dissolves (in Finish brand capsules it is a red ball).
Sometimes it happens that the tablet may fall out of the compartment only at the end of the wash. Most often this happens because the dishes were placed incorrectly.
Location of the tablet compartment
In order to put the capsules where they should be, you first need to take the time to read the instructions for using your dishwasher. If the instructions do not say anything about this, then you need to carefully inspect the device. Typically, the detergent compartment is located on the inside of the dishwasher door.
Pill and powder compartment: on the left in the image
Some dishwashers are equipped with several compartments for detergents. There is almost always a round compartment, closed with a lid with a flower - rinse aid is poured into it. To the left of it there is usually a rectangular compartment - powder or tablets are immersed in it.
Some dishwashers do not use combination tablets at all. However, you can put regular tablets in them; there is a special compartment next to the basket for this purpose. It is worth noting that if regular tablets are used, then there must also be salt in the dishwasher.
Do I need to open the package?
Before using this product, you should carefully read the instructions on the packaging of the product. There is a wide variety of tablets, and each drug has its own characteristics. In addition, tablets come in soluble and insoluble packaging. In the second case, before throwing the product into the dishwasher, you will need to rid it of insoluble packaging.
It is worth noting that completely soluble capsules are usually packaged in thin material, the surface of which does not have stripes for opening. If the tablet is in foil or polyethylene, then it must be opened before use.
How to place the tablet correctly?
Some users place the tablet in any place they think is most suitable, without reading the instructions. Others, on the contrary, are interested in where to put the tablet in the dishwasher so that the washing is effective.
The answer is simple - you can put it on either side in a special compartment, this will in no way affect the action of the product and the process of its dissolution.
However, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- leftover food should be removed from plates;
- The lid of the container in which the product is loaded must be tightly closed.
Where to put the tablet in the dishwasher to ensure high-quality dishwashing? Cleanliness depends more on the washing mode than on the placement of the product. It is necessary to select a continuous mode at maximum load. Without having time to dissolve in a short wash, the product will settle at the bottom, and the dishes will not be washed well.
Nuances
The use of dishwasher capsules, like the use of other detergents, has its own nuances. First of all, all people who have never used tablets before are interested in the question: “how much product is needed for one wash?” Experienced users said that one tablet is enough for one wash with a full load. If the dishwasher is only half full of dishes, then half a tablet is enough. Also, half of it is enough for one wash in a small dishwasher (with a full load).
It is also important to choose the right washing mode. Typically, the instructions for modern dishwashers indicate the mode that is most suitable for washing using tablets. Such modes differ in their duration and can last more than an hour. It is worth noting that tablets cannot be used when rinsing or soaking dishes.
It is important to store the detergent correctly. For storage you need to find a dry place out of reach of children. If the tablets have a soluble shell, then it is important that they are not exposed to moisture, as this will lead to the drug sticking together.
Tips for use
There are features in the use of any detergent that are learned during long-term use of the dishwasher. To achieve a clean surface on plates and cups, it is important to follow the recommendations of the manufacturers of equipment and cleaning briquettes. Do not neglect the advice of housewives:
- Dosage of tablets. One piece is enough to fully load the machine: 10–15 sets. The compact PMM holds half the amount of dishes - for washing it is enough to break the briquette in two. Thrifty housewives divide the tablet into 4 parts for washing cutlery in small quantities.
- Washing mode when using pressed powder. When soaking and rinsing dishes, do not use PP. The program should last at least an hour for the effect of the pill to be maximum. A short wash will lead to incomplete dissolution and the formation of sediment at the bottom of the working chamber.
- Placement of pressed powder into the dispenser. Be sure to make sure that the container lid is closed tightly and without distortion. Violation of this rule will affect the quality of the wash: the tablet will not dissolve completely.
- Storing tablet soap. The place for storing briquettes should be inaccessible to children and dry.
What to do if the tablet falls out?
The answer to this question is as simple as possible - nothing. As the dishwasher operates, the tablet should fall out of the detergent compartment on its own and begin to dissolve slowly, layer by layer.
Some housewives, wanting to speed up the process of washing dishes, grind the tablets to a powder state. In the case of “3 in 1” tablets, this is strictly forbidden, since the product must come into play at the end of the washing process. If the product is crushed, then everything will be the opposite.
At the right moment, the product falls from the compartment and begins to gradually dissolve. It is important that the capsule leaves at the right time.
If this does not happen, then you need to look for the reason in the following:
- Incorrectly placed dishes, due to which the compartment lid cannot open normally;
- The dispenser is working properly.
