Do
you find a film or cloudiness on your glasses after they have
been in the dishwasher? This usually happens after several
washings. Hard water filming is the white film that appears
on glasses and flatware. Etching is a permanent film that
occurs in unusual circumstances when the surface of the glass
is pitted or eroded. In the beginning stages, etching may
be identified by an iridescent look - shades of blue, purple,
brown or pink may be seen when the glass is held at an angle
in the light. In advanced stages, the surface of the glassware
appears frosted or cloudy.
Possible
causes of filming may be:
(1)
Hard water and not enough detergent. This combination
may leave hard water minerals that dry on the surface of the
glassware creating a film. Unremoved food soil may also cause
filming.
(2)
Low water temperature. The water temperature should
be 140 degrees F. as it enters the dishwasher. Check the water
temperature by placing a candy or meat thermometer in a glass
and letting it fill with water from the hot water faucet in
the kitchen sink. Let the water run until the temperature
stops rising. If it is not 140 degrees F., adjust the water
heater. If the dishwasher is not near the hot water heater,
let the water run before starting the dishwasher this clears
the line of cold water.
(3)
Not using a rinse additive. A rinse additive such as
JET-DRY improves the sheeting action of the water. Use liquid
rinse additive in the rinse dispenser. If the dishwasher is
not equipped with a dispenser, hang a basket of solid rinse
additive in a back corner of the lower rack.
To
remove filming, soak glasses approximately 15 minutes in undiluted
white vinegar. Rinse and dry. Or, wash the glasses in a basin
of water using a generous amount of dishwasher detergent (wear
rubber gloves to protect your hands from the strong detergent
solution).
Etching
may happen to certain types of glassware in any dishwasher
with the combination of soft water (especially mechanically
softened), an excessive amount of detergent, heat and prerinsing.
There is no way to remove the filmy appearance caused by etching
- the damage is permanent. Neither is there any way to predict
what glassware may be affected in this way as there is no
relationship to the cost or quality of the glass.
To
prevent etching:
1.
Adjust the amount of detergent according to water hardness.
See chart below.
2.
Lower the water temperature so it enters the dishwasher at
approximately 140 degrees F. Do not use a water heating option
such as Temp Boost, Power Boost or Power Scrub.
3.
Use the no heat Energy Saver dry cycle, if you have one.
4.
Do not manually prerinse dishes before loading in dishwasher.
Prerinsing prior to loading to remove all food soil increases
the alkaline concentration of the dishwasher detergent.
This
chart shows the amount of detergent to use for each wash according
to water hardness (measured in grains per gallon). Lincoln's
water is 11.1 grains per gallon. One tablespoon of detergent
per wash is the minimum amount recommended.
0-3
Grains Hardness |
1
Tablespoon (fill dispenser cup ¼ full) |
4-6
Grains Hardness |
2
Tablespoons (fill dispenser cup ½ full) |
7-9
Grains Hardness |
3
Tablespoons (fill dispenser cup ¾ full) |
10-12
Grains Hardness |
4
Tablespoons (fill dispenser cup completely full) |
When
water is over 12 grains hard, it will be necessary to use
the Low Energy wash cycle and fill both cups completely full
of detergent. If you have soft water, that is used in the
dishwasher, adjust detergent accordingly.
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