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How to Prevent Water Spots on Dishes in the Dishwasher
Pentair Water Solutions
10/23/2024
Water spots on dishes can be frustrating. They make your dishes constantly look dirty — even after you’ve run them on a sanitizing cycle in the dishwasher. Yes, they’re clean enough, but looks matter! No one wants to eat off a plate that’s covered in scale.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to get rid of spots on dishes from the dishwasher. Learn more about how to prevent water spots on dishes in the dishwasher so you can enjoy sparkling clean plates, cups, and silverware for every meal.
Why Water Spots Happen
The main culprit behind water spots on dishes is usually minerals in your water, such as calcium and magnesium. When your water is too hard, these minerals are left behind on your dishes as the water dries, creating those pesky spots.
Other than hard water, there can be a few other causes of water spots, including:
- Overloading your dishwasher: If you cram too many dishes into your dishwasher, the water may not reach all of the surfaces.
- Incorrect detergent: Using the wrong detergent for your water type can lead to spot formation.
- Blocked spray arms: If the spray arms in your dishwasher are blocked, they won't distribute water evenly, leading to spots.
- Insufficient rinse cycle: A short or ineffective rinse cycle can leave mineral residue on dishes.
How to Prevent Water Spots
While there are a lot of causes of spots on dishes from the dishwasher, the good news? There are also a lot of solutions.
First and foremost, you’ll want to look into a water softener system. Water softeners help to reduce the level of minerals in hard water. With less calcium and magnesium in play, you’ll enjoy less residue on your clean dishes.
But that’s not all you can try. Here are a few other ways to prevent water spots on dishes:
- Choose the right detergent: Look for a detergent specifically designed for your water type (hard or soft).
- Load your dishwasher correctly: Avoid overloading, and ensure the dishes face the spray arms.
- Use a rinse aid: A rinse aid helps prevent water from pooling on dishes, which can reduce mineral buildup.
- Clean your dishwasher regularly: Regular cleaning gets rid of food particles and grime that may be causing an inefficient cleaning or rinse cycle.
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Extra Tips for Getting Rid of Water Spots on Dishes
Now that you know how to prevent water spots on dishes in the dishwasher, you should be enjoying fresh and clean dishes all the time. But if you’re still not happy with your results, we have a few additional tips.
- Let your dishes air dry: Taking your dishes out of the dishwasher and letting them dry in a rack can help water drip off and evaporate more cleanly.
- Check the dishwasher’s spray arms: Ensure the spray arms aren’t clogged or bent.
- Clean the filter: A clogged filter can restrict water flow and contribute to spots.
- Consider a whole house water filtration or softening system: Calcium and magnesium aren’t the only contaminants that may be in your water. Whole house filtration and softening from Pentair Water Solutions can get your water fresher than ever to give you sparkling dishes every time.
No matter which solution you choose, know that Pentair is here to help. Our goal? To provide you with fresher, cleaner water that’ll make your dishes sparkle and your taste buds cheer.
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