Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Adding salt to the dishwasher
• Method 2 of 2: Do I need to add salt
• Tips
• Warnings

Dishwasher salt is a special substance designed to soften water. Hard water may make the dishes look dirty, streaked or covered with plastic. In areas where the water is particularly hard (Great Britain and most of Europe), most dishwashers have a built-in water softener that needs to be refilled periodically. Dishwasher salt is easy to use and keeps your dishes clean and shiny!

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Adding salt to the dishwasher

1. 1 Remove the lower basket to access the salt tank. Pull the lower basket completely out of the dishwasher and place it on the counter or counter. Raise it slightly to remove it from the rollers. The tank should be at the bottom of the dishwasher, closer to one of its walls. If nothing is there, your dishwasher may not have a built-in water softener.
2. 2 Unscrew the cap and check for water. The water softener is closed with a lid, which must be screwed tight each time. Unscrew this cover and set it aside. If this is your first time using your dishwasher, you will have to pour water into the softener all the way to the top.
   • After the first use, there will always be some water in the water softener, so you don't have to top up.
3. 3 Only add dishwasher salt to the softener. You can buy this salt at grocery stores, hardware stores, or order it online. The brand of salt doesn't matter, but never use table, sea, or kosher salt instead. These types of salts contain additives that can increase the hardness of the water. Moreover, such salt may be too fine and clog the device.
4. 4 Pour the salt through the funnel until the tank is full. The volume of the water softener in each dishwasher is different and it can hold a different amount of salt. Continue adding salt until the tank is full. Since there is also water in the tank, the resulting brine will renew the chemical processes in the built-in softener.
   • The funnel will help keep the salt from spilling out when you empty it into the tank. Do not put the funnel into the tank, but hold it over it. If the funnel gets wet, the salt will not pass through it well.
5. 5 Remove excess salt with a damp cloth. If you have spilled salt in the dishwasher, clean it up with a damp cloth. The salt you pour into the water softener will never in fact touch the cookware and will remain in the tub. But if you leave salt on the bottom of the dishwasher, it will mix with the water during the wash cycle. This will not harm the dishes, but after one wash cycle the dishes will become slightly dirty (or salty).
   • To remove spilled salt, run the rinse cycle without dishes.
6. 6 Screw the cover back on tightly. Replace the cover and tighten it tightly. If the lid is unscrewed during washing and detergent gets into the water softener, it may break. You don't want to pay for a new dishwasher just because you screwed on the lid badly, do you?
7. 7 Put the lower basket back in place and turn on the dishwasher. When making sure the lid is screwed on tightly, return the lower basket back to the dishwasher. Place the dishes in the dishwasher and start the wash cycle. Once the salt has been added, there is no need to run a wash cycle or a rinse cycle without dishes.

Method 2 of 2: Do I need to add salt

1. 1 Use salt only in dishwashers with built-in water softeners. If you are unsure if your dishwasher has this device, contact the dishwasher manufacturer. If you can't find it at the bottom of the dishwasher, it may not be there at all. Do not put salt in other containers for common detergents or dishwasher cleaners. This can easily lead to damage to the machine.
   • Most dishwashers in Russia are equipped with built-in water softeners, which must be filled with salt. This device is available in several dishwasher models.
2. 2 Check the salt indicator. Dishwashers themselves notify that more salt needs to be added to them. Many dishwashers have a warning light on the top panel and / or on the machine itself. If it is green, then everything is fine. If it turns red (or becomes transparent on the device itself), it means that you need to add more salt.
3. 3 Refill the tank at least once a month. If the dishwasher does not have a warning light, then you will have to decide for yourself when to add salt. For dishwashers with a built-in water softener, we recommend adding salt once a month. Even if you have a light indicator, but it's been more than a month, you should fill the tank with salt.
   • If you notice that the indicator takes more than a month to alert you to replenish with salt, it may be broken. Check the salt level and call the manufacturer if you have any difficulty.
4. 4 Fill the tank up to the top if the dishes are heavily stained. Keep your dishes clean to check the softness of the water. When the water gets hard, streaks will start to appear on the dishes.This will be especially noticeable on transparent glasses. Fill the tank up to the top with salt to restore your glasses to their former shine!

Tips

• If your dishwasher has a built-in water softener, using salt at least once a month can reduce your water and electricity costs. The salt will help loosen mineral build-ups and calcium particles in the water, so your dishwasher doesn't have to work too hard to remove limescale and other deposits.

Warnings

• Do not pour common detergent into the salt tank. This could damage the dishwasher.