A lot of us now buy dishwasher tablets instead of powder detergent, however, most of us probably don’t know why they are a better option for Australian households.

The benefits of these compressed detergent tablets stems from the strict water restrictions enforced across Australia. Manufacturers have considered these water restrictions as a key factor and designed their dishwashers produced for Australian market accordingly.

Dishwashers sold in Australia typically use less water per cycle than a similar model sold in another country. This means there is less water for the detergent to dissolve in and this is where the benefit of detergent tablets kicks in. Tablets effectively ensure that a consistently correct dosage of detergent is used every wash, something that is nearly impossible using powdered detergent. Detergent tablets also create the optimal level of foam in your dishwasher during a wash compared to the powdered products which often create too much. Too much foam can cause problems with the water level sensors and heat sensors and ultimately decrease the life of your machine.

Problems with dishwashers relating to detergents tend to hit your pocket a lot harder as well. A service call will often be required and these cost around $100. By using tablets and eliminating the problems caused by incorrect detergent levels one can potentially fix their dishwasher with a simple reset which takes only 5 minutes when problems arise.

When considering which brand of tablet detergent to buy, most manufactures recommend Finish or Morning Fresh. There are a lot of cheaper options on the market, however, these tend to have a high detergent level in each tablet thus creating the same problems that powdered detergent provides.

The Finish and Morning Fresh brands make tablets with optimal detergent ratios designed to reduce foam build up and prevent issues caused by ‘detergent over dosing’.

Use a quality brand dishwasher detergent tablet for each cycle and avoid potentially expensive call out fees!

Last night the team from Appliances Online visited the Asko NSW head office. We were taken through their range of wonderful appliances and showed many of the new features that an Asko appliance have.

We were told that all ASKO laundry products are made in Sweden and are built to a very high standard. One main feature of ASKO front loaders which is not advertised enough is their unique quattro system which will stop those unwanted vibrations coming from the machine. No longer will you hear the shake, rattle and roll that comes with a wash cycle. The Quattro is completely seperate from the body of the machine and all the vibrations are re-direct to the base rather than the machine, thus giving a quieter cycle.

A main feature of their dishwasher range is the 8STEEL. Asko dishwasher use more steel and less plastic. Most items that come in contact with water are 18/10 grade stainless steel just like your sink. They have developed a system where the 8 most important parts of the dishwasher are either made of stainless steel or galvanized steel. This will lengthen not only the lifespan but keep the dishwasher performing and looking good for years.

Written by Andrew (Support team member at Appliances Online)

LG has relaesed a new dishwasher the LD1420TI which is unique as it has a direct drive motor which is fitted vertically rather than horizontally. The new dishwasher gives more room for larger plates, crockery and serving dishes. Like other dishwashers it has a flexible basket system with adjustable racks for even more height. LG believe the direct drive motor used to be more reliable as it uses less moving parts reducing wear and tear. Yet another feature is the UV lamp which comes on during the wash and drying cycle to reduce bacteria. The LD1420TI has 14 place settings Vario wash system, Hybrid drying system, half load option is 4 star water rated using 13.9 litres. Recommended retail is $1449

The days of dishwashers being water guzzlers are coming to an end, water efficient dishwashers are on the rise. You not only get a better wash from using a new water efficient dishwasher you usually save more water than washing in the sink.

More and more people these days are just as concerned with water efficiency in a new dishwasher as they are any other aspect. If you are looking to save water when buying a new dishwasher and would like to help our environment purchasing a water efficient dishwasher is the way to do it. Asko, Miele and Bosch are leading the market in water efficient dishwashers. There are many other brands who are also very conscious of the demand for water efficienct dishwashers and are also adding more water efficient dishwashers to their range and in many cases on their way to removing any non water efficient dishwashers from their product offerings.

When looking to renew or replace your dishwasher make sure you buy a Water efficient dishwasher. A 4 star water rating is a good benchmark of a water efficient dishwasher. At Appliances Online we believe that consumers are the ones who set the trends and standards, by purchasing water efficient dishwashers you are sending a message to manufacturers that these are the products people are looking to purchase.

Save water and save money off your water bill by buying a water efficient dishwasher.

Some facts from the Australian Government

-Water efficient dishwashers use half the water of less water efficient dishwasher models.

-By 2016 WELS rated water efficient dishwashers will hopefully save around 1,200 megalitres a year in national dishwasher water usage, this is enough water to fill 600 Olympic swimming pools every year.

-The above points represent a reduction of around 6.5% in water consumption of the dishwashers sold 2003 to 2016.

dishwasher.jpg” alt=”" hspace=”10″ vspace=”10″ align=”left” /> Dishwasher interiors are usually of two types, plastic or stainless steel and contrary to popular belief it does not require expensive solvents or cleaners to clean a dishwasher. Before you start cleaning the dishwasher you will need either bleach, vinegar, baking soda or Orange Tang drink mix.

Before you begin cleaning the dishwasher read the operating manual to find the temperature preset. Dishwashers usually require water at 60-75 degrees or higher for optimum cleaning. If you are a perfectionist, use a thermometer to measure the water temperature before the wash cycle begins.

To clean any built up mould in the dishwasher add 1 tablespoon of bleach into the dishwasher interior, bleach should get rid of mould and leave the dishwasher sparkling clean.

The citric acid present in Orange Tang will take care of any discoloration and scale. Tang orange can also help remove any hard water deposits that might have built up over a period of time.

Another easy way to clean your dishwasher is to place a coffee cup filled with vinegar in the dishwashing rack and run a full cycle of dishwashing. You can also use baking soda instead of vinegar to give your dishwasher a complete wash.

Fisher and Paykel have recently released a new series of the extremely popular dishdrawer

Key differences between 603 (previous series) & 605 (new series) Dishdrawers:

* Reduced energy consumption
* Reduced water consumption
* Quieter than previous models
* Better drying performance
* New cutlery basket. Reduces nesting of cutlery and delivers improved wash performance
* New designer handle on the flat panel drawers

Ever wondered how you might go about installing your own dishwasher? Well here it is, the Appliances Online guide to installing your very own dishwasher. Here are ten easy steps that will have you installing your dishwasher in no time at all.

1. Lay a dropsheet or coversheet in kitchen area where proposed working area will be.

2. Turn off the water to the dishwasher, then disconnect the old dishwasher in cupboard. Undo cold water hose, electrical lead and unscrew clamp form waste pipe.

3. Sweep and clean proposed area for new dishwasher.

4. Remove new dishwasher from packaging and check that there are no scratches or marks and that there is an owners manual and warranty in the front of the dishwasher.

5. Position the dishwasher close and begin to slide all three components through the cupboard – water, waste and electrical. As you slide the appliance back pull the components through the cupboards allowing plenty of slack so they do not kink behind the cupboards.

6. Connect the cold water hose into the isolation valve where you removed the old one, tightening clockwise – hand tighten only.

7. Plug in the elctrical lead and turn water and power back on.

8. Insert waste hose into the nip of the sink trap(outlet) making sure that the hose has been looped up in a upside down U shape and fastened as high aspossible (this is to avoide syphonage) and clamp tightly with clamp provided.

9. Turn on dishwasher to full cycle and watch for any leaks – this will wash out any debris in the system.

10. Read operating manual for any tipis on preserving your new investment.

There you have it. If you are still in the process of choosing your new dishwasher, view our range of dishwashers available for sale.

Article written by Ed Wharton at Aquila Plumbing (Sydney plumbing Specialist) – Phone 0404 625 413

I know what you’re thinking, are we serious? Well ok, stay with me; anyone can stack a dishwasher however there might be more to it than you think. There are a few tips in this article that I think anyone using a dishwasher should know, they should save you time, and give you better results out of the wash.

When stacking a dishwasher it is important to maximise the wash result and to prevent damage of your crockery.

Every dishwasher has a rinse cycle/pre wash before the first wash cycle. Therefore it is unnecessary to rinse excessively before placing crockery and cutlery in the machine. To conserve water it is suggested that scraping is all that is needed.

Stacking is an important part of dishwasher use. To get the best wash result from your dishwasher it is important to stack plates correctly. The water will be flushed or passed over the surface of the plates and other items in the dishwasher to remove food particles.

Many dishwashers have stainless steel spray arms to prevent damage to your plates it is a good idea to check that the spray arm moves freely without hitting any tall plates.

It is suggested that glass items be stacked in the top basket rack where the water movement is gentler. Glasses should not be located over the basket tines as this may cause scratching to the glassware due to the wash action.

Where a dishwasher has an exposed heating element on the floor inside the cavity of the machine, plastic items should not be placed in the bottom basket as the heat from the element may cause them to melt.

For further information on stacking a dishwasher or if there is any confusion in any of the information above you should always consult the manual of your own dishwasher. The most efficient methods of stacking can vary between models due to different internal racking layouts and wash programs.

I hope the tips from this article save you time as well as bring you greater results from your dishwasher.

To view our range of Dishwashers please have a look here, or email us at
info@appliancesonline.com.au