Are you unknowingly destroying your dishwasher with this drying method? Heed this expert's warning!
- Replies 4
If your dishes aren't drying as quickly as you'd like after running the dishwasher, you may have been tempted to try a popular piece of advice—placing a tea towel over the dishwasher door once the cycle is complete.
This trick has gained traction on social media, with people claiming it helps absorb moisture and speeds up drying time. But an appliance expert is sounding the alarm on this dishwasher 'hack' that could actually ruin your appliance.
In a video reacting to the tea towel trick, Corey McMullan expressed frustration that people still try it years after it emerged online.
'If you're putting a towel on your dishwasher door to dry your dishes faster, that's ridiculous, and the towel isn't doing anything,' he said.
'As a matter of fact, you're risking damaging the door latch, the door or the hinges on your dishwasher.'
So why do people think this trick works? The towel creates the illusion of speedier drying by allowing a small amount of steam to escape.
But newer dishwashers are designed to vent steam automatically after the wash cycle completes. The towel itself also does not significantly absorb moisture or hasten the process.
According to experts, this strain can lead to warping, rusting, or even the breakdown of crucial dishwasher parts. A damaged seal around the door also allows moisture to leak out, promoting mould growth inside the dishwasher.
To make matters worse, replacing these components can be quite expensive, with parts and labour costs averaging $300.
Instead of resorting to dubious tricks, there are more effective ways to accelerate the drying process for your dishes without harming your appliance. Using a rinse aid helps water sheet off plates and glasses, leaving them spot-free.
Allowing time for the steam to dissipate completely before opening the door also prevents moisture from condensing back onto your dishes.
Ashley Iredale, an appliance expert with CHOICE, suggests leaving the dishwasher door slightly ajar when it's not in use.
'Like your washing machine, your dishwasher is a wet environment, and its rubber door seals are a little delicate,' he explained.
'Leaving your unit open helps them retain their shape.'
For faster drying when unloading clean dishes, remove items from the bottom rack first so any dripping water doesn't splash down onto dry items below.
Members, have you tried the tea towel trick? Did it work for you? If not, do you have better ideas for caring for your dishwasher? Share your advice in the comments below!
This trick has gained traction on social media, with people claiming it helps absorb moisture and speeds up drying time. But an appliance expert is sounding the alarm on this dishwasher 'hack' that could actually ruin your appliance.
In a video reacting to the tea towel trick, Corey McMullan expressed frustration that people still try it years after it emerged online.
'If you're putting a towel on your dishwasher door to dry your dishes faster, that's ridiculous, and the towel isn't doing anything,' he said.
'As a matter of fact, you're risking damaging the door latch, the door or the hinges on your dishwasher.'
The trick of putting a tea towel over your dishwasher door after it's finished to dry dishes faster is less helpful than you might think. Credit: Instagram/theorganisedhousewife.
So why do people think this trick works? The towel creates the illusion of speedier drying by allowing a small amount of steam to escape.
But newer dishwashers are designed to vent steam automatically after the wash cycle completes. The towel itself also does not significantly absorb moisture or hasten the process.
According to experts, this strain can lead to warping, rusting, or even the breakdown of crucial dishwasher parts. A damaged seal around the door also allows moisture to leak out, promoting mould growth inside the dishwasher.
To make matters worse, replacing these components can be quite expensive, with parts and labour costs averaging $300.
Instead of resorting to dubious tricks, there are more effective ways to accelerate the drying process for your dishes without harming your appliance. Using a rinse aid helps water sheet off plates and glasses, leaving them spot-free.
Allowing time for the steam to dissipate completely before opening the door also prevents moisture from condensing back onto your dishes.
Ashley Iredale, an appliance expert with CHOICE, suggests leaving the dishwasher door slightly ajar when it's not in use.
'Like your washing machine, your dishwasher is a wet environment, and its rubber door seals are a little delicate,' he explained.
'Leaving your unit open helps them retain their shape.'
For faster drying when unloading clean dishes, remove items from the bottom rack first so any dripping water doesn't splash down onto dry items below.
Members, have you tried the tea towel trick? Did it work for you? If not, do you have better ideas for caring for your dishwasher? Share your advice in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
