How Your Dishwasher Works

3 Ways Dishwashers Get Your Dishes Clean

There are three processes that contribute to your dishwasher getting your dishes clean. They are: Mechanical, Thermal, and Chemical actions. These processes work together to assure you the best possible cleaning results that will make your dishes shine.

Mechanical

The motor and pump of the dishwasher force water through the holes in the spinning spray arms, creating powerful streams of water that peel stuck on food particles from your bowls, dishes, glasses, pots, pans, and silverware. Dishwasher insulation, and quiet, smooth-running motors and pumps enable your dishwasher to powerfully scrub your dishes with a minimum of noise.

Thermal

Depending on the cycle selected, water is heated to 120-140 degrees (even more for a sani-cycle). Hot water not only breaks down the detergent (see below), it also helps loosen and remove food particles from the dishes, and carries the debris through a filter and down the drain. During the rinse cycle, fresh, clean water leaves your dishes sparkling. If selected, an NSF sanitizing cycle adds more heat; 155-160 degrees for a prescribed time. A drying cycle, usually heat assisted, finishes the job.

Chemical

Detergent, and rinse agent are released into the dishwasher at the proper times in the wash or rinse cycles to mix with the hot water. The hot water and detergent mix together enabling the water to “scrub” stuck on food particles from the dishes, glasses, and silverware. In addition, the detergent helps suspend the dirt in the water so that it does not redeposit on the dishes, but goes down and out the drain with the water. Some dishwashers also have built-in water softeners that assist in the process and prevent the build-up of scale in the dishwasher cavity, wash arms, pump, etc.

The mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes of your dishwasher are the reasons why a good automatic dishwasher will do a better job of getting dishes clean and sanitized than hand washing.

For help in selecting the best dishwasher for your particular needs and budget, contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today.