GE PDWT580VSS Use and Care Manual - Page 11

Safety Instructions Operating Instructions GEAppliances.com Detergent Dispenser The detergent dispenser is on the upper left hand side of the dishwasher door. It has two compartments. Use the main wash compartment for all loads. Use the pre-wash compartment only when your water is extremely hard or when you have a heavy soiled load. Manual Detergent Dispenser You may use tablet, powder, liquid or gel automatic dishwasher detergent. Make sure you use only detergents specifically labeled for use in automatic dishwashers. Never use liquid hand dish detergent in an automatic dishwasher. Sudsing and poor wash performance will result with the use of improper detergents. Detergents should be stored in a dry location and in their original container to prevent loss of effectiveness. Place detergent in the cup just prior to starting the dishwasher and then close and latch the cover. The cover will open during the wash cycle. Filling the Detergent Dispenser GE recommends using detergent in tablet or packet form. Independent testing has shown this form of detergent is very effective in the dishwasher. Cascade® Complete Action Packs are an example of this type of detergent. Simply put a tablet or packet into the main wash compartment and then close and latch the detergent cup cover. Please notice that the tablet or packet must be placed in the main wash compartment of the detergent cup. If the tablet or packet is tossed in the bottom of the dishwasher, the detergent will be flushed down the drain in a very short period of time and will thus be wasted. Wash performance will be very poor as a result. If you choose to use detergent in powder, liquid or gel form, the amount of detergent you use will be determined by the hardness of your water, the temperature of your water, and the food soil load inside the dishwasher. Contact your water company to get information about the hardness of the water in your area. Alternatively, you may purchase a hard water test strip from GE. Call 1-800-626-2002 and ask for part number WD01X10295. Number of Grains Detergent Cups to Fill Less than 4 Fill cup to soft line (1/3 full) 4 to 8 Fill cup to medium soft line (2/3 full) 8 to 12 Fill cup to medium hard line (completely full) Greater than 12 Fill both main wash cup and pre wash cup Using too much detergent with very soft and/or very hot water may cause a condition called etching on your glassware. Etching is a permanent cloudiness in your glassware. This condition is irreversible. However, using too little detergent will cause poor wash performance. Use the table as a starting point and then adjust the amount of detergent you use. Use just enough to get good wash performance. Using just the right amount of detergent will provide great wash performance without wasting detergent or etching of glassware. DO NOT USE HAND DISH DETERGENT NOTE: Using a detergent that is not specifically designed for dishwashers will cause the dishwasher to fill with suds. During operation, these suds will spill out of the dishwasher vents, covering the kitchen floor and making the floor wet. Because so many detergent containers look alike, store the dishwasher detergent in a separate space from all other cleaners. Show anyone who may use the dishwasher the correct detergent and where it is stored. While there will be no lasting damage to the dishwasher, your dishes will not get clean using a dishwashing detergent that is not formulated to work with automatic dishwashers. Troubleshooting Tips Consumer Support 11