Dishwasher salts

Having 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 on TV screens forces you to buy expensive goods. But before making such a purchase, it is better to understand what kind of dishwasher salt 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 necessary?

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

Let’s try to clearly and briefly explain the effect of salt and its effectiveness in combating water hardness. The hardness of water 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 plaque very quickly turns to stone, covering the heating element of the machine. Therefore, a special ion exchanger is built into them, which combats water hardness.

Inside the ion exchanger there is a resin containing sodium ions. This resin attracts magnesium and calcium ions from the water, causing it to become soft. However, over time, sodium ions are washed out and the ability to attract ions is lost, so salt is needed to replenish the sodium in the ion exchanger. That's why Dishwasher salt is called regenerating salt, which means restorative.

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

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

Types of dishwasher salt

There are a lot of varieties of dishwasher salt, 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 dishwasher salt. This salt does not contain dyes and is suitable for various dishwashers; in addition, it is free of fragrances, phosphates and chlorine. It copes well with lime deposits, softening the water. For a 2.5 kg pack of such salt you need to pay about $4.
SODASAN is a dishwasher salt that does not contain phosphates or dyes. This salt has been highly purified and therefore contains no impurities. It copes well with limescale deposits and does not leave streaks on the dishes. Price for 2 kg is about 4 $.
Finish is a special domestically produced salt. Protects the heating element from scale and prevents the formation of limescale. Contains no impurities. The price for a 1.5 kg pack is about $2.
Topperr – tableted salt for the dishwasher. Softens water well, thereby improving the quality of dishwashing. Price for 1.5 kg is about 4 $.

The list of companies and salt manufacturers could take a very long time. The main conclusion that can be drawn is this: in terms of price, dishwasher salt does not differ significantly. For a year you need about 2-3 packs of salt, which is about $10. Therefore, some are wondering whether it is possible to replace such salt with regular table salt, for example, “Extra”, which costs about $0.3, thereby reducing costs.

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

For your information! Household appliance repair specialists do not recommend replacing special salt for dishwashers with anything else; the main thing is to be careful when choosing so as not to buy table salt under the guise of special salt.

As for the packaging of salt, which is better in the form of tablets or granules, it is impossible to say for sure. The advantage of tableted salt is that its dosage is already determined by the manufacturer and it lasts longer, since it dissolves more slowly, so decide for yourself what you can spend the money on. But You cannot operate the machine without special salt at all.. And do not confuse three-in-one detergent tablets with salt tablets, these are different products and are placed in different compartments of the dishwasher.

How much and where should I pour it?

How much salt you need to put in the dishwasher depends on the hardness of the water.The higher the hardness index, the greater the salt consumption. Besides, Water hardness may change with the seasons, 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 hardness indicator, you will have to rely on the average indicator. How to set the hardness value correctly is described in the instructions for the machine. The amount of salt that needs to be added may be indicated on the package, so read all instructions carefully. It is best to add salt before the washing cycle and wet it a little so that it dissolves better. In some machines, one dose of salt is enough for several washing cycles, but you must check that the salt compartment has not run out, otherwise the machine will work with hard water.

The salt compartment is located at the very bottom of the dishwasher, at the bottom. If in doubt, look at the equipment in the instructions.

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