How to replace dishwasher salt - available options for acceptable analogues

The advent of the dishwasher has significantly simplified the lives of modern housewives, but at the same time it has brought many questions. How to use detergents correctly, how to choose the right product, how to replace an overly expensive product? The opinion of some consumers that specialized capsules, tablets, gels, salts and powders are simply invented to extract money from users is fundamentally wrong.

It is thanks to these compositions that it is possible to maintain the functionality of the device at a high level, protect it from breakdowns and the appearance of scale on working elements. It is recommended to pay special attention to the selection of suitable salt. Today they are increasingly trying to replace it with cheaper analogues.

Purpose of salt for dishwashers, composition of the product and rules for its use

Tap water, which contains a significant amount of impurities, is characterized by increased hardness. Under the influence of hot water, chemical compounds based on magnesium and calcium begin to disintegrate, settling in the form of scale on the walls of the dishwasher elements.

After some time, this begins to affect the functionality of the device and even leads to its damage. It is salt that can prevent these negative consequences due to its physical and chemical properties:

1. Large granules, dissolving, affect the softness of the liquid, changing its structure at the molecular level. This allows you to protect all elements of the dishwasher that come into contact with tap water. The same effect can only be achieved if softened or filtered water is initially poured into the unit, but in the case of salt everything happens much faster and does not require additional hassle.
2. Modern devices have built-in ion exchangers that are capable of converting calcium and magnesium ions into harmless sodium. All this is possible only by thoroughly rinsing the sector with very salty water at the end of the working cycle.
3. The mechanical effect of salt granules should not be underestimated. They easily pass through the working channels without getting stuck in small crevices.

Tip: Don’t count on special tablets or rinses to replace salt. Their composition does not meet the requirements stated for the product. Such manipulations will not have a positive effect on the condition of the car; they will only lead to negative consequences that require additional costs.

Working with salt is carried out strictly according to the instructions included with the product. Most often, the product is simply poured into a special tray, after which you can forget about this stage of unit maintenance for several months. You just have to regularly check the presence of the mixture, preventing the dishwasher parts from being exposed to hard water.

Comparative characteristics of specialized and regular table salt

Increasingly, housewives are trying to replace the profile components with regular table salt.Before embarking on such experiments, you should familiarize yourself with the comparative characteristics of the drugs and their effect on the condition of the dishwasher.

• Even an “Extra” class food product contains impurities of various substances that can cause a negative reaction from the elements of the device. Specialized mixtures undergo several stages of purification, which eliminates the possibility of unwanted surprises.
• Table salt may even contain microscopic particles of sand. Paradoxically, this feature does not have a negative effect on the process of cooking or digesting food, but has a detrimental effect on the softness of the water.
• The food product consists of small granules of approximately the same size. Small particles, dissolving, contribute to the gluing of larger formations, which leads to the formation of lumps. This is another factor that contributes to damage to dishwasher components. Massive granules of the same size, which are part of the profile product, dissolve evenly, interact tightly, and do not create dangerous situations.
• Specialized products contain a whole range of chemical elements necessary for washing and restoring the ion exchanger. Table salt is not capable of this.

It turns out that there is no substitute for special salt. For the normal functioning of the machine, it is necessary to provide it with this particular product.

Points to consider when using table salt in the dishwasher

Some housewives still manage to replace a specific product with a food analogue. In this case, you can minimize possible risks and negative consequences as follows:

1. During the warranty period of the device, it is better not to take risks and use the right product. Any specialist will be able to give the dishwasher an appropriate “diagnosis”, which will give the manufacturer the right not to carry out repairs free of charge.
2. If you use table salt, then only use the “Extra” category. Ordinary stone is unacceptable here.
3. While the profile product needs to be poured into the tray quite rarely, the device will have to be filled with table salt every time it is turned on.
4. After pouring the composition into the tray of the machine, you need to dilute it a little with water and mix lightly. This will prevent the formation of a sticky lump.

Under certain conditions, it is still possible to replace a special product with a cheap improvised product. But in this case, the unit is not immune from breakdowns or reduced functionality. In some cases, attempts to save money on the maintenance of household appliances can cause damage to the device to the point where its restoration is impossible. At the same time, the benefit of replacing a high-quality composition with a cheap analogue is very debatable, given the expense of the product.