A Hotpoint dishwasher is not something everyone is familiar with, but with its increasing popularity, we all want to know about its functioning and maintenance!
This dishwasher from General Electric is an affordable choice of dishwasher which makes it accessible to everybody and ensures that dishwashing is not a troublesome task anymore.
But as with most new or uncommon devices, a lot of people are not fully updated on how to use Hotpoint dishwasher.
While this dishwasher is anything but new, it is uncommon, so we shall break down the steps to use this, as well as answer all the lingering questions people have. You will also find tips and tricks on using this, so do check out the entire piece!
Using A Hotpoint Dishwasher
There are many steps to learning how you can use a Hotpoint dishwasher. This involves knowing about the steps of starting, cleaning, running different cycles and when to do so, and much more. Catch full details below for a step-by-step guide.
A. Loading A Hotpoint Dishwasher
When loading the dishwasher with your soiled pots and pans, you don’t always have to pre-rinse it. But in case the pots and pans have food leftover or excess amounts of grease which might not go away through the dishwasher, pre-rinse it first. But we’re sure you already know this, as this goes for all dishwashers out there.
While putting the dishes in, the larger and heavier ones go on the bottom rack, while the smaller stuff such as glasses, utensils, saucers, dishwasher safe plastics, and other items of similar sizes go on the top rack.
On the top rack, make sure to place everything facing down, and things you place on the sides should face inwards towards the center. Smaller items and silverware should go into separate baskets entirely.
Do make sure that you are not overstuffing the dishwasher, because if you do, the machine will not be able to do its job properly, and you will end up with half-washed dishes. Instead, take turns, so that everything you put in comes out nice and clean that won’t need a second rinse.
B. Putting Detergent In A Hotpoint Dishwasher
To put in detergent in the dishwasher, first, turn the dishwasher off. Next, put the dishwasher in the dishwasher cup, and put in rinse agent in the rinse agent dispenser, and close the door.
The dishwasher you use should be one that has been manufactured for dishwashers. As for the amount to be used, it will be stated on the detergent’s label. For hard water, you will need more dishwasher detergent comparatively than for soft water, so improvise according to the kind of water supply you get.
C. Wash Cycles In A Hotpoint Dishwasher
The Hotpoint dishwasher has various models, and not every model carries every function, while some will be common in all of them.
The wash cycle you choose depends on your needs at the time and can be chosen simply by clicking the button or turning the knob that refers to the particular cycle. The common cycles which you will find on most models are:
1. Normal
As the name says, this is the one people use normally on an everyday basis. Plates, cutlery, dishes, anything you use every day, you should wash using this cycle. It does not use a lot of power, and hence does not use a lot of energy either, and conserves water in the process.
2. Pots and Pans
This should be used when you want to wash your pots and pans specifically, as they are usually the most soiled ones.
Pots and pans also often contain lots of dried food residue, which require a heavy wash, and that is what this cycle is for. If you feel like you’ve got plates that are soiled equally badly, then you may put them in as well.
3. Short Wash
Short wash refers to washing dishes that are moderately soiled. So it would refer to something between Normal and Pots and Pans. This cycle is also suitable for when you have loads of glasses to clean.
4. Light Wash
Sometimes also termed as the Water Saver, this one is used for dishes that are very lightly soiled. So something that would not require a lot of power, or does not contain a lot of greases is what this refers to.
5. Rinse Only
Rinse only refers to rinsing only. Now, if you are confused as to why this is a cycle, that is because sometimes you have got loads and loads of dishes piled which need to be rinsed, and then washed.
Normally, the rinsing is done manually in a sink, and then the dishes are placed inside the dishwasher.
But in the case when these rinse-requiring dishes are many in number, you can put them in for a rinse first, followed by another wash cycle as per their requirement.
6. Drying
Also called the Plate Warmer, this warms the plates before you can use them to serve food. You may want to use this for special occasions or special dishes, where the plate needs to be warm along with the food for a better experience.
7. Hot Prewash
If you have a lot of grease on your plates, it is better to wash them with hot water for a faster cleaning process. This cycle preheats the water at a set temperature, which can afterward be used to run another wash cycle that is required.
8. Crystal
When washing delicate dinnerware such as crystal plates or china, you need a delicate wash cycle as well, and that is what you get with this Crystal wash cycle.
D. Starting A Hotpoint Dishwasher
Once you have placed everything inside your dishwasher, have put in the dishwasher detergent, and chosen your cycle, it is time to start the dishwasher.
If you want to know how to start Hotpoint dishwasher, start by carefully closing the dishwasher door and locking it. Then turn it on using the knob or button which is present in your model.
If you get confused over which it is or where it is located, please refer back to the instruction manual which came with the dishwasher for the exact location and the exact button or knob used to start the dishwasher.
Once the dishwasher has started, there will be a gap of about a minute before the wash cycle starts. In this time the dishwasher will fill itself up with water.
Once the dishwashing is done, the dishwasher will make a click-off sound to indicate that the wash cycle is over. You will also see a light on the front panel, which will remain illuminated as long as the dishwasher door is closed. Once you open the dishwasher and unload it, the light will turn off again.
Maintaining A Hotpoint Dishwasher
After you learn how to use Hotpoint Aquarius dishwasher or other model, you also have to pay close attention to maintaining it.
A. Filling The Salt Reservoir In A Hotpoint Dishwasher
You must always keep the salt reservoir filled in the dishwasher so that it does not accumulate limescale on the dishes, or inside the dishwasher walls. You will know when the salt reservoir needs refilling through an indicator on the control panel.
When it does need refilling, start by removing the lower rack of the dishwasher, remove the reservoir cap, fill it with water if this is the first time doing it, place a funnel and fill the reservoir up. Close it back up tightly so nothing can enter it later on.
Without loading the dishwasher, run a cycle now to ensure the entire dishwasher is now cleaned. Not refilling the salt reservoir can lead to a lot of damages to the heating element and the water softener
B. Maintaining Hygiene
The dishwasher is where you put in all your dirty dishes, pots, and pans. So, there is no doubt that this becomes a breeding ground for bacteria if not cleaned properly.
To maintain the hygiene of this space you need to clean it regularly. You might wonder, why you need to do that, given it washes itself as it cleans the dishes, but that can leave back bad odor and sediment, which requires separate cleaning.
To get rid of this odor and sediment, use one teaspoon of detergent to clean it, and do so without putting in any dishes at all. Also, run high-temperature cycles to disinfect the dishwasher.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When Do You Adjust The Dosage Of Rinse Aid In Hotpoint Dishwasher?
If you have run out of rinse aid, the light indicator for rinse aid will be turned off. You can adjust the rinse aid according to what you need. The lowest number is 1, where no rinse aid is supplied. The highest number is 5. The factory setting inside your dishwasher is set at 4.
If you see that the dishes coming out of the dishwasher have limescale, then you need more rinse aid, and you should adjust it to 4 or 5. On the other hand, if the dishes coming out have blue streaks on them, adjust the rinse aid to 2 to 3.
2. Can You Change A Program On A Hotpoint Dishwasher While It Is Running?
In the case that you have selected the wrong program and started the cycle, you can change it if the program has just begun, and too much time has not passed.
In this case, you can open the door, while being careful of hot steam which will come your way. Once that is done, press the on or off button, and the cycle will stop. And then press the on or off button again to turn it on.
Once it is on again, pick the correct cycle this time carefully, so as to not make the same mistake again, and then press start.
3. Can You Add Extra Dishes After A Cycle Has Started?
Yes, you can add extra dishes, but the whole process has to be very fast. Very quickly open the dishwasher door while it is running the cycle, and place the extra dishes in and close it back up. Try to close the door within 4 seconds.
Then press the start button again. This way the cycle will start again from the point it stopped. But do stay careful of the hot steam which will hit you when you open the door mid-cycle.
4. What To Do In Case Of Accidental Stops In The Hotpoint Dishwasher?
There might be cases where you lose power, or mistakenly open the dishwasher before the cycle finishes, and the cycle gets interrupted midway. It is very simple, if this happens, simply restart the cycle after power is back, or after you have closed it. Press start again and the cycle will start over.
What Not To Do When Using Hotpoint Dishwasher
While you learn how to use a Hotpoint dishwasher, you need to know about all the things you need to do, as well as all the things you cannot and should not do.
- Do not put in dishes that are not dishwasher safe. This includes things such as dishes and cutlery made from wood, tin, copper, antiques, decorated ones, handicrafts, and anything else that does not have the dishwasher safe label.
- Do not put in dishes or other materials which have synthetic parts. This is because these may not be resistant to the temperatures inside the dishwasher.
- Using a detergent that is not made for dishwashers. This can wreak havoc on your dishes if you are not being careful.
Conclusion
As with all new devices, the starting journey is a bit bumpy. But with time and usage, you begin to understand the machine as if it was your second nature. So even if you are just starting to use this dishwasher, it won’t be long before you get a hang of it.
So read up on your instructions on how to use Hotpoint dishwasher, practice well, and you will get used to it in absolutely no time!
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