What's lurking in your dishwasher? This disgusting discovery could change how you use detergent tablets forever
- Replies 3
Everyone loves a clean kitchen, and one of our favourite appliances to help achieve that is the humble dishwasher. However, even the most convenient appliances need a thorough cleaning every now and then.
One professional cleaner's recent revelation is not only a reminder to clean our dishwasher filters frequently but could also change the way we use dishwasher detergent tablets.
Even though most of us are familiar with the importance of cleaning the parts of a dishwasher that are visible, some often skip cleaning the dishwasher filter, which is crucial as well.
To show everyone why cleaning the filter is important, Kacie Stephens, cleaning expert and the owner of The Big Clean Co, took to Instagram to show how filthy this part can get and showed one of the dangers of using dishwasher tablets..
In the clip she posted, you’ll see the parts of the filter being taken out of the dishwasher – revealing thick white gunk trapped inside.
‘POV (point of view): You're told the plastic on the dishwasher tablet dissolves in water, but your dishwasher filter looks like this,’ the caption on the footage read.
To clean it, Kacie first scraped off the grime and washed it using her own brand of detergent, For All.
As for what the substance is, the cleaning expert thinks it has something to do with the type of detergent used by the owners.
‘That is a manky dishwasher filter,’ Kacie wrote in her post.
If the substance is an undissolved dishwasher tablet wrapper, then there is a possible solution to the problem.
According to CHOICE’s dishwasher expert Ashley Iredale, dishwasher tablets should be placed in the bottom of the dishwasher rather than the compartment.
‘We've just found that by putting the table in the bottom of the tub rather than in the dispenser, it gives the tablet the best possible chance of dissolving and having the detergent actually available,’ he told reporters.
He added: ‘It wasn't a formal testing process. It was something we've learnt from 60 years of testing dishwashers in the laboratory. What we found was that using the dispenser, sometimes you would find the tablet wouldn't dissolve fully by the end of a cycle, or if it was a tablet with a dissolvable wrapper, sometimes the wrapper wouldn't dissolve at all either.’
Thanks to CHOICE’s testing process, they also found that dishwasher tablets themselves take a long time to dissolve, so exposing them to the rinse cycle won’t wash them away. However, the opposite is true for detergent powder.
Hence, choosing the powder variety instead of tablets is a fool-proof way to avoid problems with the wrapper breaking down.
It is important to note, however, that tablets often do better when tested for performance.
Mr Iredale shared: ‘We consistently find that tablets outperform powders, so that, in my opinion, is the way to go. You do pay a premium for the tablets, but they do a better job.’
Additionally, dishwasher filters must be cleaned at least once a month or more often if you regularly use the dishwasher to clean dirty dishes. One way (and the easiest way) to do this is to scrub the filter with a dish brush under hot running water. Alternatively, you can also clean them in hot soapy water in the sink.
And while it’s true that big brands of dishwashing tablets at leading supermarkets can cost as high as $72, there are affordable alternatives that can still deliver amazing results. What’s even better is that average shoppers themselves have recommended these products and can attest to their effectiveness and cleaning capabilities. You can read more about the top alternatives rated by customers in this article.
When was the last time you cleaned your dishwasher filter? Did you see any white gunk? If so, how did you clean it? Feel free to share your top cleaning tips with us in the comments as well!
One professional cleaner's recent revelation is not only a reminder to clean our dishwasher filters frequently but could also change the way we use dishwasher detergent tablets.
Even though most of us are familiar with the importance of cleaning the parts of a dishwasher that are visible, some often skip cleaning the dishwasher filter, which is crucial as well.
To show everyone why cleaning the filter is important, Kacie Stephens, cleaning expert and the owner of The Big Clean Co, took to Instagram to show how filthy this part can get and showed one of the dangers of using dishwasher tablets..
In the clip she posted, you’ll see the parts of the filter being taken out of the dishwasher – revealing thick white gunk trapped inside.
‘POV (point of view): You're told the plastic on the dishwasher tablet dissolves in water, but your dishwasher filter looks like this,’ the caption on the footage read.
How often do you clean your dishwasher filter? Credit: Алексей Вечерин/Pexels
To clean it, Kacie first scraped off the grime and washed it using her own brand of detergent, For All.
As for what the substance is, the cleaning expert thinks it has something to do with the type of detergent used by the owners.
‘That is a manky dishwasher filter,’ Kacie wrote in her post.
If the substance is an undissolved dishwasher tablet wrapper, then there is a possible solution to the problem.
According to CHOICE’s dishwasher expert Ashley Iredale, dishwasher tablets should be placed in the bottom of the dishwasher rather than the compartment.
‘We've just found that by putting the table in the bottom of the tub rather than in the dispenser, it gives the tablet the best possible chance of dissolving and having the detergent actually available,’ he told reporters.
He added: ‘It wasn't a formal testing process. It was something we've learnt from 60 years of testing dishwashers in the laboratory. What we found was that using the dispenser, sometimes you would find the tablet wouldn't dissolve fully by the end of a cycle, or if it was a tablet with a dissolvable wrapper, sometimes the wrapper wouldn't dissolve at all either.’
The white gunk could be undissolved dishwasher tablet wrappers. Credit: thebigcleanco/Instagram
Thanks to CHOICE’s testing process, they also found that dishwasher tablets themselves take a long time to dissolve, so exposing them to the rinse cycle won’t wash them away. However, the opposite is true for detergent powder.
Hence, choosing the powder variety instead of tablets is a fool-proof way to avoid problems with the wrapper breaking down.
It is important to note, however, that tablets often do better when tested for performance.
Mr Iredale shared: ‘We consistently find that tablets outperform powders, so that, in my opinion, is the way to go. You do pay a premium for the tablets, but they do a better job.’
Additionally, dishwasher filters must be cleaned at least once a month or more often if you regularly use the dishwasher to clean dirty dishes. One way (and the easiest way) to do this is to scrub the filter with a dish brush under hot running water. Alternatively, you can also clean them in hot soapy water in the sink.
And while it’s true that big brands of dishwashing tablets at leading supermarkets can cost as high as $72, there are affordable alternatives that can still deliver amazing results. What’s even better is that average shoppers themselves have recommended these products and can attest to their effectiveness and cleaning capabilities. You can read more about the top alternatives rated by customers in this article.
.png){kind=icon}
