In this section of Hometips for home improvement, we will learn about dishwasher and how dishwashers work.

A dishwasher is a mechanical device for cleaning dishes and eating utensils and a must-have home and kitchen appliance. Modern kitchens just cannot do without a good dishwasher.

Did you know that more than half of the American households own dishwashers?

Using a dishwasher is has several advantages over hand-washing your dishes and utensils. Dishwashers saves your valuable time in cleaning dishes, they minimizes kitchen clutter, and also use less water. All this is not possible with hand-washing.

With advancement of technology, there has been significant development in designing of dishwashers. Modern-day dishwashers are more efficient and quite and use much less energy and water. New features are being added which makes the jobs of dish washing even easier.

A dishwasher is one home or kitchen appliance that has to be used almost everyday and hence it need proper handling and care while operating.

Let us now understand how dishwashers work.

A dishwasher is an automated way of washing and cleaning dishes and utensils. Here is how a dishwasher works:

1. You fill up cold water into the dishwasher from any normal water supply.

2. The dishwasher has a heating element (most of the dishwashers have ceramic heating elements) located at the bottom of the machine. This electrically operated heating element of the machine warms the water upto a temperature of 30-60°C (86-140°F). Warm water does cleaning much better than cold water.

3. An electric pump at the bottom of the machine pumps the water up through the side walls.

4. The water squirts up through holes at the bottom, metal paddle, making it spin around.

5. Slightly cooler water squirts up through holes in the upper, plastic paddle, making it spin around too.

6. After the water has bounced off your plates and utensils, it falls back to the bottom of the machine, where it is heated and pumped around the circuit again. Now your dishes and utensils are washed and are clean to be used again.

>>> Dishwasher Buying Guide

>>> Dishwasher Repair and Care