how to use dishwasher tablets

Whether you usually use gel, powder, or dishwasher pods or simply have lost the manual for your machine, we’re here to fill you in on how to use dishwasher tablets.

Tablets offer a pre-measured dose of dishwasher detergent and, as we will see, can be used to help with a wide range of cleaning tasks around the house.

How Do Dishwasher Tablets Work?

Each dishwasher tablet contains everything needed to clean food debris from your cutlery and dishes.

Surfactants remove general food dirt. There are also enzymes that will break up hard to remove protein-based foods and starchy foods, and bleach-based ingredients to tackle stubborn stains.

Where Do Dishwasher Tablets Go?

detergent pods

You need to know where to put dishwasher tablets. But before that, remember that you should always handle your tablets with dry hands. This stops them from irritating your skin.

Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if you should remove the outer plastic protective packaging or leave it in place. Reseal the storage box, so the rest of the tablets stay in a dry environment.

Locate the detergent dispensing compartment. Put the tablet inside and close it. Only use one tablet at a time. Using more can cause your dishwasher to flood.

Finally, close the dishwasher door and set it to run cleaning dishes while you relax or move on to your next chore.

Can You Just Put a Dishwasher Tablet at the Bottom of the Dishwasher?

No, the tablet should always go in the dishwasher detergent compartment.

Your washing machine runs through different operations to clean your dishes effectively. The first stage is a prewash designed to rinse off easy-to-remove food on most machines.

If you put the tablet at the bottom of the machine, it will dissolve too early. Hence, the dishwasher detergent is wasted and isn’t available at the warm water main wash cycle when needed.

By using the main dishwasher detergent dispenser compartment, your machine will clean your dishes properly rather than leaving you with disappointingly dirty plates.

Do Dishwasher Tablets Go Out of Date?

You don’t need to worry about your dishwashing detergent going out of date as they usually have a standard shelf life of about two years. If you exceed this, they might not clean quite as well as usual. It isn’t recommended to store large amounts as it can be challenging to keep them dry if the packaging deteriorates.

Should You Take the Plastic Wrap Off Your Dishwasher Tablets?

This depends on the type of detergent tablets you have. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if the plastic should come off or stay in place.

Are There Any Other Uses for Dishwasher Tablets?

We’ve looked at how to use dishwasher tablets for cleaning dishes. Now, we can consider some helpful tips for dishwasher tablets around your home. Wear waterproof gloves to protect your hands before handling unwrapped tablets or solutions.

1. Removing Tough Stains From White Clothes

You can use the safe bleaches in dishwasher cleaning products to remove stains from white clothes. Put one tablet into your washing machine and load it up with white garments.

2. Erasing Kids Crayon From Walls

Mix one tablet in a litre of hot water, and use a clean cloth or sponge to gently scrub your children’s drawings away.

3. As an Oven Cleaner

Soak the oven floor with warm water and rub a tablet around the surface like a scrubber. The food should come off pretty quickly. Clean with a cloth and warm water.

You can dissolve two tablets in a litre of hot water and use the solution as an effective replacement for your regular oven cleaner. Leave to soak for an hour to remove stubborn stains.

4. Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

Dissolve one tablet in water and use it to remove dirt from your outdoor furniture. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub before washing with fresh water.

5. Polishing Metal

Clean your kitchen sink by filling it with hot water, throwing in a tablet and leaving it overnight. The next day, all you’ll need to do is empty, wipe and rinse.

6. Cleaning Your Washing Machine

Set your machine to a hot water cycle and run it with two tablets inside. This will remove germs and limescale.

7. Removing Coffee and Tea Rings From Mugs

Fill your heavily stained mugs with hot water and drop a tablet in. Leave for an hour before rinsing out.

8. Removing Stains From the Toilet Bowl

Drop an unwrapped tablet into your toilet bowl and leave it for an hour to dissolve. This solution will then make scrubbing a much simpler task.

9. Cleaning Baked on Dirt From Dishes

Put your messy casserole dish into a sink filled with water and toss in a tablet to dissolve. If you leave this overnight, you should find the dish easy to clean the next day.

10. Cleaning Your Rubbish Bin

Fill your bin with water to cover the dirt, and add a tablet or two, depending on how large it is. Leave to stand for an hour, and you’ll find that the dirt comes off with the minimum of scrubbing. 

The Wonders of Dishwasher Tablet

As we’ve looked at how to use dishwasher tablets, we’ve seen that they should always go in the detergent dispenser compartment in your machine.

We’ve also discovered that you can use these powerful cleaning chemicals for various household cleaning tasks, so dishwashing tablets are always helpful to have around.

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