Dishwasher/washing Habits

[TastyReuben]

He also said to clean your lint filter every time you run your dryer and if you use dryer sheets to scrub it every so often because a film will build up and clog the mesh holes.

I clean my lint trap every load, always have, and I can't imagine not doing that, because it's pretty full after just one load.

For easy cleaning, I either soak it in hot water or just toss it in the dishwasher. It makes a big difference in the ability of the dryer to get clothes dry.

 

[caseydog]

I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer when we are in bed or not home. I learned the hard way when the plumbing clogged up and the clothes washer overflowed and ruined the floors in the house. My hairdresser's grandfather nearly died in a house fire caused by his dryer that he turned on before he went to bed. It may sound over cautious, I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer during sleep hours or when we are not home.

I hear you. I started my last clothes washer, and too my dog for a walk. The washer filled up -- and kept filling. It flooded my kitchen, and got a little of the living room carpet wet before I got home and stopped the machine. No damage to the house, just an hour or so of moping and shop-vaccing.

CD

 

[caseydog]

No plugs left in here, wife thinks being plugged in still uses power, without it switched on !!
Shes a nazi about plugs.

Russ

Some things do, but most things don't. It is called "vampire draw." It applies to things that have a "standby mode" instead of an "off" selection. Modern TVs are a good example. Things like lamps/light fixtures are not a problem. When they are off, they are OFF.

CD

 

[rascal]

Some things do, but most things don't. It is called "vampire draw." It applies to things that have a "standby mode" instead of an "off" selection. Modern TVs are a good example. Things like lamps/light fixtures are not a problem. When they are off, they are OFF.

CD

You need to tell my wife!!

Russ

 

[JAS_OH1]

I run my dishwasher on a 7-hour cycle, so at first it's just doing a prewash for 4 hours (intermittently rinsing/soaking) and the actual wash cycle starts shortly before I get up. Plus I'm a light sleeper and we both get up for water or to visit the loo pretty regularly during the night, so I'm not worried. I wouldn't bother running the clothes washer or dryer at night because I wouldn't be awake to fold and hang up the clothes when it was done. I'm not one for leaving my laundry incomplete once I start it.

I keep my furnace on in the winter and it heats up, oops!

 

[rascal]

I run my dishwasher on a 7-hour cycle, so at first it's just doing a prewash for 4 hours (intermittently rinsing/soaking) and the actual wash cycle starts shortly before I get up. Plus I'm a light sleeper and we both get up for water or to visit the loo pretty regularly during the night, so I'm not worried. I wouldn't bother running the clothes washer or dryer at night because I wouldn't be awake to fold and hang up the clothes when it was done. I'm not one for leaving my laundry incomplete once I start it.

I keep my furnace on in the winter and it heats up, oops!

Our dishwasher has a long cycle but I set it at factory 120 mins, but the kommandant found a way to bypass that to 61 mins. The power nazi.

Russ

 

[JAS_OH1]

So who uses rinsing agents in their dishwashers? I do sometimes. What about ways to clean and deodorize the dishwasher? Every once in awhile i will run white vinegar through a cycle.

 

[LissaC]

I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer when we are in bed or not home. I learned the hard way when the plumbing clogged up and the clothes washer overflowed and ruined the floors in the house. My hairdresser's grandfather nearly died in a house fire caused by his dryer that he turned on before he went to bed. It may sound over cautious, I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer during sleep hours or when we are not home.

I always run mine at night because I have an electricity plan where the electricity is cheaper at night, during a couple hours on Saturdays and Sundays all day. But I know I'm running a risk. I know one person who had a nasty house fire because the washer malfunctioned when she was not at home.

 

[Mountain Cat]

I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer when we are in bed or not home. I learned the hard way when the plumbing clogged up and the clothes washer overflowed and ruined the floors in the house. My hairdresser's grandfather nearly died in a house fire caused by his dryer that he turned on before he went to bed. It may sound over cautious, I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer during sleep hours or when we are not home.

The dishwasher will run when I go to sleep. This is why I RINSE my dishes! Not going to plug up with oorts or such.

Yes, never run the laundry dryer when gone or asleep!

 

[LissaC]

Detergents are made to bind to fat and grease, so rinsing dishes, etc before putting them in the dishwasher actually makes the soap less effective. A good dishwasher running at the right setting should clean its contents well enough that they don't need rinsing.

 

[Mountain Cat]

I run my dishwasher on a 7-hour cycle, so at first it's just doing a prewash for 4 hours (intermittently rinsing/soaking) and the actual wash cycle starts shortly before I get up. Plus I'm a light sleeper and we both get up for water or to visit the loo pretty regularly during the night, so I'm not worried. I wouldn't bother running the clothes washer or dryer at night because I wouldn't be awake to fold and hang up the clothes when it was done. I'm not one for leaving my laundry incomplete once I start it.

A 7 hour cycle for the DW????

I agree with you about the laundry - I hang immediately after it is done, so I don't have to IRON the things. I don't buy anything that requires ironing if one can deal with the clothing immediately.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer when we are in bed or not home. I learned the hard way when the plumbing clogged up and the clothes washer overflowed and ruined the floors in the house. My hairdresser's grandfather nearly died in a house fire caused by his dryer that he turned on before he went to bed. It may sound over cautious, I never run the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer during sleep hours or when we are not home.

If needed, I run the DW or the dryer before going to bed. If they didn't shut off at the end of the cycles, then that would be different. But I don't do it all the time. Only if needed.

 

[JAS_OH1]

A 7 hour cycle for the DW????

I agree with you about the laundry - I hang immediately after it is done, so I don't have to IRON the things. I don't buy anything that requires ironing if one can deal with the clothing immediately.

Yeah, as I posted, the 1st 4 hours is intermittent prewash. It starts out spraying everything with hot water for 3 minutes then stops and repeats about every 30 minutes until the final cycle when it is a constant wash, then dry.

I'm the same way about ironing. I've shown hubby how to line up the seams in pants to achieve a nice crease. He's quite good at it!

 

[TastyReuben]

So who uses rinsing agents in their dishwashers? I do sometimes. What about ways to clean and deodorize the dishwasher? Every once in awhile i will run white vinegar through a cycle.

I used to use a separate rinse aid, Finish, but the Cascade "action pack" I use (I love that term for describing a detergent pod) has rinse aid included in it, so I don't use a separate one any longer.

I've never deodorized the machine, as it always seems fine after a wash.

 

[TastyReuben]

It starts out spraying everyone with hot water

Ouch!