Softened water can be used in a dishwasher – in fact, it’s good for your machine, your dishes and your wallet!
When you add salt to your dishwasher, the dishwasher uses it to create its own softened water supply. If you install a water softener, you won’t need to do this anymore because the water that comes into the machine is already softened.
Dishwasher detergent and tablets work more efficiently with softened water, so they can do a better job at cleaning your crockery. With a water softener, dishwasher limescale build-up is reduced or stopped, this keeps water flowing freely through the system, helps maintain your machine’s performance and makes it last longer.
If you’ve ever noticed that your glassware seems cloudy or gritty after being cleaned in the dishwasher, softened water could help – the deposits are usually caused by hard water. Switching to softened water can clear up the problem and your glasses!
You won’t need to use dishwasher salt with softened water and you could save on dishwasher detergent and rinse aid. Without limescale to block things up, you may well cut maintenance and repair costs too.
Setting up your dishwasher for softened water
After you’ve fitted your water softener, set the dishwasher water hardness to 0. You’ll find instructions for this in your dishwasher’s manual – search online if you don’t have it anymore. Once you’ve done this, you won’t need to add salt at all and you should see a reduction in the amount of rinse aid you use.
Our water softeners help you around the home in so many ways. Softened water can prevent limescale build-up in taps, pipes and appliances. Many people think it tastes better than hard water, and it’s much softer on skin.