GE Spacemaker Use And Care Manual page 7

How to Choose and Use the Right Detergent
only powder or liquid detergent specifically
Use
made for use in dishwashers. Other types will cause
much detergent should you use?
How
Is your water "hard" or "soft"? With hard water, you
need extra detergent to get dishes clean. With soft water,
you need less detergent.
Your water department can tell you how hard your
water is. So can your county extension agent or your
area's water softener company. Just call and ask them
how many "grains" of hardness there are in your water.
Too much detergent with soft water not only wastes
money, it can be harmful. It can cause a permanent
Detergent Dispensers
You'll find two detergent dispensers on the inside
Detergent Usage Guide
I
Main Cup
CYCLES
POTSCRUBBER
NORMAL WASH
Half Full
SHORT WASH
I
RINSE & HOLD
*12 grains and up is extremely hard water. A water softener is recommended. Without it, lime
can build up in the water valve. The water valve may stick while open and cause flooding.
How to Prepare the Dishes for Washing
If this is your first dishwasher, or if you're
replacing a much older model, you may wonder
how much preparation your dishes need. Actually
very little. Scrape off bones, seeds, skins, toothpicks
and other hard solids. Remove excessive quantities
of oil or grease.
That depends.
(powder or liquid)
MEDIUM WATER
I
Open Cup
None
I
Use no detergent
cloudiness of glassware, called "etching." An outside
layer of glass is etched away! Of course, this takes some
time. But why take a chance when it's easy to find out the
hardness of your water.
Keep your detergent fresh and dry. Under the sink
isn't a good place to store detergent because there is too
much moisture. Don't put powder detergent into the
dispenser until you're ready to wash dishes, either. (It
won't be fresh OR dry.)
If your powder detergent gets old or lumpy, throw it
away. Old detergent often won't dissolve. If you use a
liquid dishwasher detergent, these precautions are not
necessary because liquid detergents don't "lump" as
they age or come in contact with moisture.
Close the main
.
CUP
NOTE: To open detergent cup after it has been
closed, unlatch the door and rotate the Cycle ~-
Indicator Dial afill turn to the OFF position.
When the closed cup contains soap it is
best that the door be in a partially open
position before rotating the Cycle
Indicator Dial. This will help reduce the amount of
detergent and rinse aid agent spillage into the tub.
(3-7 grains)
Main Cup Open Cup
Completely
Full
None
Half Full
Use no detergent
NOTE: You may also want to consider removing
foods such as mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon
juice and other foods that can cause discoloration of
stainless steel if allowed to remain on dishes for a
long period of time.
The POTSCRUBBER cycle can wash heavily soiled
dishes and remove dried-on and baked-on soils from
pots, pans and casseroles. Items with burned-on
soils need extra preparation.
Grasp handle,
rotate and
close tightly
HARD WATER (7-12 grains*)
Main Cup~ Open Cup$
Full Full
Completely None
Full
I
Use no detergent
Open Cup holds 2 tablespoons.
Filled
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