4 ways to get more out of your Dishwasher
Whether you have a dishwasher or a dishdrawer. A freestanding dishwasher, a built in or an integrated dishwasher. Chances are you aren’t using its features to the full potential. Maybe you spent a long time googling “best dishwasher 2025” before your purchase. Or maybe you moved into a house with an existing unit. Either way Newtons Designer Appliances are here to make sure you get the best out of your dishwasher.
1. Clean your dishwasher
Why does my dishwasher smell? If you have ever thought to yourself that there’s a bit of an odour when you open the dishwasher door. Or noticed your dishwasher is not cleaning dishes properly anymore there’s a few simple things you can do.
Clean your filter
An often neglected task is pulling out and cleaning the filter in your dishwasher. Most dishwashers and dishwasher detergents these days recommend not rinsing your plate off before putting it in. This is because the detergent works best when it can bind to food particles. Also sensor cycles won’t truly pick up how soiled the load is. Which is great for convenience, not so great if you haven’t taken the filter out and given it a clean in a while.
Run a cleaning cycle
If the filter is cleaned regularly, (or you’ve just gone and done it now) the next step is to use a dishwasher cleaner. There are many options readily available at supermarkets, like Finish Dishwasher Cleaner used when your dishwasher is empty. Or other tablets that can be put in the bottom of a load with dirty dishes. Both options recommend running your dishwasher on the highest degree cycle setting.
Choose a good dishwasher detergent
With so many different types and brands of dishwasher detergents to choose from it can be difficult to decide. In terms of balancing cost with performance; Aldi’s Logix Dishwasher Tablets, along with Woolworths and Coles Dishwasher Powder, have high customer satisfaction ratings. If you prioritise buying eco-friendly cleaners for your home, Ecostore dishwasher tablets fragrance free are a good option to consider. Whilst Finish Powerball All in 1 is a higher price but high performance option.
2. Adjustable racks
A vast majority of dishwashers come with adjustable racks, but how often are you using them? Adjustments can vary from the ability to fold down some tines on the bottom rack to better accommodate pots. To the ability to raise the entire top rack to accommodate a larger plate on the bottom rack and lots more. This one from ASKO appliances even has an adjustable cutlery tray.
3. Time Delay
Time delay on dishwashers (and washing machines) is my secret weapon to avoid falling behind on these common household chores. Because I have a dishwasher without an auto-open door, unlike this affordable Westinghouse Dishwasher. I use time delay to finish the dishwasher cycle just as I come home from work. It's an easy way to ensure I can open the door and have clean, dry dishes for dinner. The other benefit of setting time delay in the morning is it doesn’t matter if I’m the last one out the door or not. At worst I come home to someone forgetting to put a bowl or cup in, instead of an entire dirty dishwasher.
4. Specialised wash cycles
How many different wash cycles or programs does your dishwasher have, and how many of them do you actually use? The hottest setting must be used occasionally at the very least to clean your dishwasher effectively, and can be labelled “heavy”, “pots” or similar. Other common cycles can specialise in glass cleaning, mildly soiled dishes, or high temperature/added UV hygiene washes.
Cleaning your dishwasher more regularly and thoroughly, along with making full use of the features your dishwasher already has should help take a load off. But if you think it’s time to upgrade or your dishwasher is limping along on its last legs come visit us.