This is something that very few folks are interested in knowing about. Everyone likes to use the dishwasher but learning how a dishwasher works is something that very few people look forward to. When you learn how does a dishwasher work, there are many benefits. Starting from the knowledge that you gain and using the home appliance smartly.
The dishwasher is one of a kind. If you look at its history, it was invented in 1886. And from that, the dishwasher kept on evolving. There was a great transition phase ranging from mechanical automation to technological oriented. And this is what has given birth to several innovative features that made the consumer’s lives easier.
I will be discussing the working process of dishwashers in simple terms so that everyone can understand. And if you look at the overview functionality, it isn’t as complicated as you think. There are some major components that are involved in washing your utensils and that is what you will be learning in this blog. Let us now understand how does a dishwasher work.
How does a dishwasher work?
When we look at the working process of a dishwasher, it gets varied by one model over another. But when we look at the overall process, it is almost similar to every dishwasher that is available in the market.
1. Initiation of water supply towards the dishwasher
The first thing that you will be noticing when you turn on the dishwasher, there is an initiation of water supply towards the machine. This is accompanied by you inserting the utensils that need to be washed with the dishwasher-compatible detergent.
When the water gets filled within the dishwasher, the machine starts to heat it. The dishwasher ensures that the water is not overthrown from the machine and it automatically cuts off the water supply when it’s filled. The same case is also applied to the temperature of the water. When the water gets heated up according to the fixed temperature, the dishwasher automatically stops the heating process.
2. First phase of the washing cycle
When the water gets heated up, the next thing that the dishwasher will be working on is spraying the water on the dishes. This process involves the initial round of rinsing the dirty dishes from all angles. Because to get the dirt off from the utensils, the dishwasher needs to spray water all over the dishes.
With the help of the detergent that you have inserted within the dishwasher, it slowly removes all the dirt from the dishes. This process usually takes a few minutes until the main phase of dishwashing takes place.
3. Core wash
After the utensils are thoroughly rinsed with detergent, now the dishwasher will start its core wash. The core wash involves applying a force of water supply towards the utensils within the dishwasher. The speed at which the water is sprayed over the dishes, it manages to remove all the dirt from the vessels.
There is a powerful pump which is located within the dishwasher that helps to manage this process. It is connected with the external source of water supply in which the motor manages to control the pressure that is required for cleaning the dishes. The water is sprayed in cycles so that the dirt is completely cleared.
All the leftovers on the plates and other dishes are being filtered in a separate unit. The dishwasher ensures that the dirt is not getting accumulated and there is a smooth operation in washing the containers.
4. Rinse and dry
Rinsing and drying the utensils is the final phase of the dishwasher. The rinsing is the phase where you find the leftover dirt and the detergent that is used to clean dishes. It ensures that nothing is left and you get the vessels that are completely rinsed.
If you look closely at the process, the water supply starts to get turned off. And the usual time which is taken to reach for the rinsing and drying cycle would be around 30 minutes to 3 hours. It completely depends on the number of dishes that you have loaded for cleaning purposes.
Not many products will have a dedicated dry feature for dishwashers. In this process, the machine has been equipped with heating equipment so that it produces the warmth to dry out water from the dishes. This is also done with the help of steam that is produced within the home appliance which ensures you complete dryness of your utensils.
Why can’t the machine wash the dishes with cold water?
You can’t use the dishwasher with cold water to clean the dishes. The primary reason can be the lack of cleaning across the utensils. For effective elimination of the leftover detergents and the dirt particles over the food plate, the dishwasher needs to have hot water to clean it extensively.
Generally, the dishwasher will heat the water for around 60 degrees Celsius. This temperature is enough to clean out the oil and stains that are present over the dishes. This is almost similar to washing when compared with bare hands cleaning the utensils.
It also boosts the hygiene factor by removing all the harmful pathogens or other bacteria. The dishwasher will automatically calculate the temperature that is required to wash the dishes.
What is the main ingredient of dishwasher detergent?
The ingredient of the dishwasher detergent is important in multiple ways. To maintain the longevity and health of the machine and the hardness of water over the dishes.
The main ingredient of dishwasher detergent is made up of sodium silicate and sodium tripolyphosphate. This helps in softening the water and also prevents rust formation within the dishwasher.
There are other ingredients that help in improving the aroma of the dishes that were washed by the machine. The detergent is usually in the form of a liquid or solid base that depends on the brand of detergent you use.
Conclusion
With the type of model and features that you have opted for a dishwasher, some functionalities get varied. This can happen during the pre or final wash cycle of the dishwasher. But if we look at the overview of working functionality, this is how a dishwasher works.
I hope that you are now clear about how does a dishwasher work. There is no doubt that a dishwasher is one of the most important home appliances, understanding how it works is an ideal practice. It effortlessly helps in cleaning out the dirty dishes and helps you in saving tons of time.
Further, read:
How much water does a dishwasher use?
Why is my dishwasher not draining?