Salt for dishwasher

Any household appliances, the work of which is connected to tap water, is constantly exposed to increased loads and wear. Because of the high content of magnesium and calcium ions, water becomes stiff, and this provokes the formation of unpleasant scale, which should be urgently disposed of. In general, all the means for the dishwasher are divided into cleansing and soothing. It is the second kind that helps to effectively fight with scum, and the category of such products includes special salt. In this article, we'll look at what salt is for a dishwasher, how to use it, and whether it is worth looking for a replacement.

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A bit about the descaling of

Tap water used in everyday life contains metal impurities, where the presence of magnesium and calcium ions determines the characteristic hardness of water. When the water is heated, the chemical reaction of the splitting of the compounds occurs and the precipitation of the insoluble hard sediment. Further heating procedure promotes the adherence of these particles on the surface of the heating elements, as a result - scale is formed.

Presence of scale significantly reduces the service life of heating devices, and causes:

• reduction of the thermal conductivity process;
• destruction of strength properties of materials;
• is a stagnant phenomenon of water.

The use of hard water in dishwashers and washing units leads to premature damage to expensive equipment.

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Ion exchange system in the dishwasher

To solve this problem, an ion exchange device is used in the dishwasher. It is a tank that is filled with a special resin with chlorine ions. When the tap water passes through such an ion exchanger, a chemical reaction occurs, which facilitates the interaction of the magnesium and calcium salts with the resin ions. As a result, there is a process of purifying water from hard salt-containing compounds and other harmful components.

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What does salt have to do with it?

When a salt for a dishwasher with the chemical formula NaCl is added to the ion exchange device, a chemical reaction occurs to replace the missing magnesium and calcium ions with sodium ions. This is how the cleaning system works and the water becomes soft.

Some models of dishwashing machines incorporate salt content sensors. The signaling sensor signals the immediate addition of the desired salt-containing substance.

Important! There are state-of-the-art dishwashers that allow you to record the rigidity parameters yourself.

Such data contribute to the functioning of the dishwasher, in which certain calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by ordinary sodium. As a result of this action, salt water is formed, which does not create any sediment and helps the efficient operation of this equipment.

Using a special salt for the dishwasher will help:

• prevent the formation of scale;
• to extend the operating life of the dishwasher;
• to reduce costs, because household appliances will not work "on wear" with increased power consumption and mechanical stress on the parts of the device.

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Why can not I use ordinary kitchen salt?

Ordinary rock salt is not suitable for use in dishwashing equipment, since this salt contains many different foreign components.

Important! If the metering device of the dishwasher is filled to the top with salt, the inability of the kitchen product to completely dissolve will serve to form a stagnant phenomenon.

Consider a distinctive feature of the use of ordinary rock salt:

• Food salt is made up of other ingredients.
• The rock salt contains even microscopic components in the form of sand. Such inclusions do not affect the cooking process, but play an important role in the water softening procedure, contributing to clogging of the filtering device.
• The presence of a large number of small pellets, which have a different size. During the dissolution procedure, sticking and clumping occurs, which, in turn, causes damage to the dishwasher.
• Low price factor.

Important! Many manufacturers in the instructions for use caution that the use of ordinary rock salt disables the ion exchange device.

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Where to buy salt for dishwasher?

In any department of the hypermarket for the sale of products for dishwashers, you can purchase a special salt-containing substance. How to recognize:

• Put such salt in carton packing boxes or other similar containers that resemble the packaging of a detergent powder.
• Traditionally, each package contains about a kilogram or about one and a half kilograms of salt-containing substance.

The effectiveness of the use of salt for dishwasher of any company depends on its quantitative composition, and on the packaging of each brand there is a mandatory list of constituent components.

Important! If the product is not a natural, expensive product, but an ordinary counterfeit, the composition of such a substance will resemble the composition of ordinary kitchen salt used in the household. The quality salt for the dishwasher must consist of:

• sodium compounds;
• potassium;
• various bleaching agents;
• softeners;
• aromatics.

In addition, the production salt consists of a mixture of salts that promote washing of the ion exchange device. The only advantageous difference between rock salt is the price factor.

Important! In the presence of branded and rather expensive dishwashers, the use of branded industrial salt is recommended.

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Standards

To determine how much salt you need to fall asleep in the dishwasher, you need to know the water hardness level.

The presence of a calcareous plaque on the faucets and other plumbing units in the bath, toilet and kitchen indicates hard water. In addition, there are other determining methods:

• Foaming of ordinary soap helps to know how hard water is. Thus, if the soap is soapy, the water is soft.
• The scientific method, which involves the use of a special-purpose device or test strips that are developed by foreign companies.
• Stiffness indicators have been developed for each terrain, so you can take advantage of these indications.

Important! In the presence of hard water, a much more salt-containing substance is required than with soft water. If you use an insufficient amount of salt for the dishwasher, then after washing on the dishes, white stains appear.

We select the constant dosage

The first working dishwasher activation is adjusted to such water hardness, which was determined by one of the methods. At the bottom of the dishwasher there is a hole in which the salt-containing substance is buried, and the use of the funnel helps to accurately perform this procedure.

Volume of a single dose:

• If there is a high level of rigidity, pour a kilogram of reagent into the dispenser.
• If water is medium and low, then a half kilogram of salt is used.

Typically, this amount of salt allows the dishwasher to function for several months. The frequency of using the dishwasher and the water hardness index also affect the quantitative composition of the reagent.

Important! When using a salt-containing substance, always pay attention to the characteristic composition. Modern means for washing in its composition already have proper softening components. Usually it is a tablet reagent, consisting of three components: detergent, water softener and rinse.

First use of

During the first refilling of the dishwasher with salt, it is necessary to add some water to the salt compartment, as this stimulates the formation of a colloid. As a result of this process, water can pour over the edge of the brine, but this will not affect the performance of the unit in any way. The main thing is to carry out these operations just before washing dishes to prevent corrosion at the bottom of the working compartment.

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What kind of salt for the dishwasher to choose?

The use of a production salt-containing substance in dishwashers is justified by the following characteristics:

• dishwasher salt went through several cleaning stages;
• after passing through all technological processes this substance has no foreign inclusions;
• , the presence of large granules promotes uniform dissolution at the same rate, which guarantees a more intimate interaction.

Important! It is the presence of large purified pellets of the production salt-containing substance that can protect the equipment from scale.

From the variations of the replacement of the price factor, we can recommend the use of rinse aid and tablets:

• In the price version, the use of tablets is more expensive, their consumption is much greater than the salt. In addition, the tablet substance is not enough for three months.
• The use of a rinse aid can not be considered a complete substitute, since it is an additional component necessary for the effective use of the dishwasher.

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Chemical bases for the use of salt in dishwashers

Divalent magnesium and calcium ions determine the hardness of water, which is of two kinds:

• , the first type of water is characterized by magnesium stiffness;
• the second type of water is called calcium hardness.

Important! The principle of the dishwasher's ion-exchanger operation is the addition of negative salt ions to the polymer base, while for positive ions the dissociation process between the doser with salt and water is characteristic, until the sensor device operates.

The chemical composition of the salt for the dishwasher includes:

• sodium citrate is a preservative that destroys microbes;
• sodium carbonate is a soda that serves to soften and loosen;
• sodium percarbonate is a powder component;
• sodium bicarbonate is a substance that is used for softening;
• sodium disilicate - refers to an amorphous compound that is capable of retaining ions, and is also a softener;
• sodium polyasparginate - a thickening agent, a base for ion retention, a softener;
• sodium gluconate is a detergent.

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Types of salt for the dishwasher

Today, in the modern market, many manufacturers of salt for the dishwasher are represented. Each trade mark tries to come up with its own composition, so that it not only effectively softens hard water, but also eliminates other salts that are formed as a result of chemical reactions.

Here are the most common versions of salt for household appliances:

• Finish - the salt of the domestic manufacturer, its active components protect the heating element from scale, and also prevents the formation of an unpleasant calcareous deposit. The salt contains no additional impurities.
• SODASAN is a kind of salt for a dishwasher, which is based on the usual food, but has passed a high degree of purification and does not contain additional impurities. Also among the components of this substance there are no dyes and phosphates. Salt SODASAN effectively fights with lime scale and after the washing process does not leave white stains on the dishes.
• Magic Power - this salt has a large-crystalline structure, so it is very convenient in the dosage process and contributes to accurate flow. The Magic Power salt effectively softens hard water, improves the washing quality of contaminated dishes and prevents the formation of limescale on the elements of the dishwasher.
• Ecodoo is a regenerating salt for the dishwasher, which effectively prevents the formation of calcareous deposits and softens hard water. The composition of this product does not include dyes, phosphates, chlorine and a variety of flavors, so it is great for any type of dishwasher.
• Topperr - this product is made in the form of tablets, well softens hard water and improves the quality of washing contaminated dishes.
• Yplon - this tool is very difficult to find in stores, but it has a very low price and significantly saves the family budget. Salt for the dishwasher of this brand is good at softening hard water, and also prevents the formation of stains on contaminated dishes.

In addition to these manufacturers, there are many more. They are all in about the same price category, so you need to choose, based on recommendations for the dishwasher and personal preferences. The main thing is to remember that the use of salt for dishwashers is very important, and in the year on average only 2-3 packs are needed. This is not such a high price for extending the operational life of home appliances, because buying several times a year is much cheaper than buying a new dishwasher.