by Diane Sagers

CORRESPONDENT

Washing dishes is an everyday chore that only gets worse if it is left undone. I do believe that dishes left in a sink begin to have babies, because if you set a couple of cups and plates in it the sink is soon full and they spread all over the counter. Even if there is a dishwashing machine -- as opposed to a human dishwasher -- you will find putting the dishes in the sink on the way to the dishwasher carries the same result. Dishes placed in a sink soon get out of control. Cleaning them is simply a job that has to be done after every meal or at least daily, depending on the number of people helping dirty them.

Since dishes are always with us and since they must be washed after use, many people consider a dishwasher as a necessary labor-saving device, just like a washing machine. It is nice to clear away the dishes after dinner into the machine and close the door. The mess is hidden away and the counters are still available for food preparation later.

Getting the most out of this appliance assures cleaner dishes and a longer life expectancy for the machine.

To get maximum dishwasher efficiency, use good detergent. Shake the box and listen for the granules rattling inside. Lumpy detergent will not dissolve well enough to do its job. In very hard water, liquid detergent may be a better option.

Store detergent in a dry place. The cupboard under the kitchen sink is often moist and warm and may cause the detergent to get lumpy. If you have a hard time using a large box of detergent before it reaches this condition, try purchasing smaller boxes.

Experiment with small sizes of various brands of detergents until you find those that clean best for you. What works well in one home, may not work as well in another because of the difference in water hardness. If you have a water softener, you may find that the brand you choose is incidental. Thick, liquid dishwasher detergents may work better for some people with very hard water than the powders. The dissolvable packets that contain divided sections of dish powder and liquid cleaner have proven very effective for some difficult situations, although this is a more expensive form of dishwasher detergent. If you opt for these, close the zip-lock seal each time you use it. Do not rely on our dry atmosphere to keep the packets dry and to keep them from sticking together.

Hot water is essential for good cleaning. According to dishwasher manufacturers, if you follow your dishwasher instructions and still get spotty dishes, it is generally a symptom of underheated water. Some dishwashers have built in heat boosters that increase the water temperature in the machine when it is not hot enough. If your dishwasher doesn't have this feature, you need to increase the temperature at your water heater.

Test whether your water is hot enough by running it until it's as hot as it will get from the tap. Fill a tall glass and put a teaspoon of dish detergent in the glass. If the water is hot enough, the detergent will dissolve before it hits the bottom.

Let the water run from the faucet until it is hot before turning on the dishwasher. That will ensure hot water right from the beginning of the cycle.

Keep the water heater temperatures at about 120 degrees F. Although very hot water -- 140 to 160 degrees -- cleans and sanitizes dishes and clothes better, it also carries the danger of scalding children or adults.

Don't run the dishwasher while doing laundry, bathing or showering. Hot water heaters can't keep up with the demand, and water temperatures will drop. Also, if shower temperatures are set while the dishwasher is filling, the shower water may suddenly turn hot when the cycle on the dishwasher changes from fill to agitate.

If you have soft water, use less detergent. Excess detergent can etch glassware causing it to look dirty and nothing can remove the etching. Anything that prevents water from circulating properly -- improper loading of glassware, a spray arm that doesn't move, blocked filters -- may also cause etching. Detergent accumulates on the glassware and does not rinse off completely.

Fine crystal and silver may be best washed by hand for safety sake. Silver should never be wished in the same container as stainless steel.

If glasses are cloudy because of hard water deposits, soak them in warm vinegar and try to wash off the cloudy part using a dishrag.

Rinse dishes before loading if they are not coming clean enough during the wash cycle. Dishes that sit until food dries on them are particularly prone to not wash clean. Meats and starchy foods, such as potatoes, particularly stick to dish surfaces if they are not rinsed first.

Clean filters regularly if your dishwasher has a removable one, and wipe around the edge of the door. Pay special attention to cleaning gaskets and the bottom of the door on front-loading models. The grease and other gunk that accumulate here can damage gaskets and ruin the seal.

Save energy by letting dishes air dry. Some dishwashers have an energy-saving feature that blows air over the dishes to dry them, but does not heat the air. Otherwise, prop the door open or pull out the racks of dishes immediately after the rinse cycle. The hot water will evaporate quickly from the dishes.

Occasionally, a dishwasher needs inside cleaning beyond what it gets while washing dishes. Putting a cup or so of vinegar into the wash cycle occasionally may help reduce lime buildup on dishes and in the dishwasher interior. Added to the rinse cycle it is also effective to help keep glasses from spotting.

Some manufacturers recommend periodically using a calcium removing product such as Lime Away to remove calcium buildups. Use any acid cleaning product according to label instructions to help keep the inside of the dishwasher and the working parts free of lime deposits.