In order for the dishwasher to 100% cope with the tasks assigned to it, you need to use special tools, including salt. If powders, gels and rinses are needed to wash away dirt, salt is used to soften water. When confronted with a new appliance for the first time, users are wondering how much salt to pour into a dishwasher. We will answer in detail this and other questions you are interested in.
Type of agent and dosage
Before deciding on the amount that you are going to fill in with PMM, it is worth choosing which salt you will use. There are 4 popular options:
- Special salt with regenerating properties. It is produced under such brands as Finish, Somat, Calgonit, etc.
- A tablet version (for example, Topperr).
- Household substitute of Extra grade (necessarily boiled). About what else you can replace the salt for the dishwasher, we wrote earlier.
- Tableted Extra.
On the packaging of the purchased product there is a usage instruction specifying the dosage. It also reports that salt spills into the bunker to the top. Since in different models of dishwashers, capacities differ in volume, granules may need less or more. The vast majority of models fit 2/3 packs weighing 1.5 kg.
Speaking of the usual food analogue, a standard pack of 1 kg is enough for you. Salt in tablets is also poured into the dishwasher to the top.
Where to pour salt
Understanding where to add it, you are unlikely to make a mistake: in almost every model, the PMM compartment is located inside the bunker under the lower container. To lay granules without losing a part of them, manufacturers recommend using a funnel.
Important! When you first load the substance into the dishwasher, pour a little water into the compartment. When the granules fall asleep, the excess water will merge, and you will calculate the exact dosage.
How is salt consumption related to water hardness?
To reduce water hardness, manufacturers have provided an ion exchanger in the PMM design. Inside it there is a resin that neutralizes all harmful impurities - they can form a coating on the heating element and other parts when the water is heated. The simplest chemical reactions involving ions take place inside the ion exchanger - this does not have to be thoroughly understood, it’s enough not to ignore the manufacturer’s instructions.
If, passing through an ion exchanger, water loses its hardness, why are additional means used? That's why salt is called “regenerating” - in its power to restore the balance of substances in the resin.
Methods for determining the degree of hardness of water
Several methods are known for determining stiffness:
- To the naked eye. Take a laundry soap and lather them a cloth flap (cloth). If the fabric is poorly soaped and difficult to rinse, the water is very hard.
- Observation. Watch how quickly plaque forms on faucets, plumbing and other places in contact with tap water. With increased stiffness, plaque quickly “sticks” to surfaces.
- Using a test strip. Accurate and quick option.
Attention! Stiffness is a seasonal phenomenon. To get accurate results and calculate salt consumption, check every 3-4 months.
- According to the regional stiffness table. These tables are compiled by specialists who classify water as soft, medium, hard and very hard.
Read more about determining stiffness in a separate article.
Is it easy to determine how often salt is added to the PMM? First, read the instructions for the technique - it describes the process in detail and step by step. So, for example, in Bosch machines (Bosch) there are up to 7 degrees of rigidity for fine-tuning the equipment. When salt is depleted, the control panel will turn on a red indicator. When using capsules, the bulb is easy to turn off - so that it does not bother, select the “0” mark from the suggested hardness levels.
Even in Bosch machines (as well as Siemens or Electrolux (Electrolux)), setting the stiffness to “0” does not always help to draw water bypassing the ion exchanger. If you ignore the manufacturer's recommendations, do not buy salt, but use only tablets, the ion exchanger can become clogged with impurities coming from the water. This could result in serious equipment damage.
Using salt, you will not only get perfectly washed dishes and soften the water, but also protect the components of the machines from premature wear.
For owners of dishwashers Bosch
Here are examples from the instructions for PMM brand Bosch, from which it is clear that the use of salt is necessary.
Stiffness reducer
In order for the washing to take place at the proper level, purified water must be supplied to the machine, without calcium salts. Otherwise, scale will appear on the walls, dishes and machine parts. Water with high calcium hardness must undergo a purification procedure before it reaches the important parts of the device. To soften the water, a device is used that is built into the machine body - salt is poured into it.
Customization
It depends solely on the hardness of the water and not on any other indicators. To set up the ion exchanger, proceed as follows:
- Find out the degree of hardness of the water in the water supply.
- Use the stiffness table below to calculate the installation value.
- Turn the switch to the 2.5 mark.
In some models, this is done as in the photo.
Salt use
When washing, the substance is automatically taken from the tank and transferred to the tank, in which the softening process takes place. And the solution, which contains calcium salts, is drained into the sewer. Upon completion of the cleaning cycle, the system is again ready for further work. Regeneration starts only when the salt is 100% dissolved.
Before starting PMM, pour about 1 liter of water into the container along the length of the salt granules. To do this, use the funnel that comes with the device. Load the amount of granules that will raise the water level to the edge of the container (not more than 1.5 kg of the substance). Since when the substance is loaded, water will be poured over the edge, salt needs to be loaded only just before the device is turned on, otherwise such operation threatens with quick corrosion of surfaces.
If during loading you sprinkle the product a little, remove the spilled grains and close the container with a lid, making sure that there is no skew.
Turning the regulator of the ion exchanger to the “0” mark, you can not fill the salt, as water will bypass this device. With values ranging from "1" to "4", salt should be poured.
Important! Do not pour powder into a special hopper or pour gel or rinse aid - this will damage the device.
User Tips
The opinion of experienced users and their practical experience will help you choose the exact dosage of the product.
Lena1985
Dishwasher of the Ariston brand. I buy a pack every 1-1.5 months. I fall asleep at once the entire volume of packaging. I use the machine every day, and on weekends and a couple of times a day.
MarinaX74
I bought a Bosch typewriter, rummaged through all the forums, deciding how much I would need this salt. First I fell asleep a pound, and now 50 g for 3-4 cycles - until the light comes on. It’s more convenient than immediately pouring out the whole pack and not know how much more is enough.
Svetik777
Is it profitable to use when everything is separate? This is a buy conditioner, and buy salt, and powder - at first I did it too, I threw so much money. Now only pills - they have everything at once. The quality of washing is 100% satisfied.
Olga-Olga
I will pour salt through the funnel until the water reaches the edge of the hole. With this expense, I buy a package once every 1.5-2 months,.
To summarize, the amount of salt used for PMM is not so important, more important is its constant presence in a special compartment. How often you will have to pour in the substance and how much it will be enough depends on the water and the proper setting of the technique itself.