Your dishwasher is a complicated machine, so inevitably there are going to be times when you’ll need to do some basic dishwasher maintenance. This can include only loading your dishwasher with items that are dishwasher safe, and being familiar with the kinds of warning and maintenance symbols that can appear on your dishwasher’s control panel from time to time.
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most common dishwasher symbols, what they mean, and what you should do if they appear. You’ll also learn about the range of Finish products that will keep your dishes clean.
Dishwasher Safe Symbols
There are a few rules and symbols that can help you understand which of your items are really dishwasher safe.
An item is considered dishwasher safe if it can withstand high temperature washing and the chemicals typically found in dishwasher tablets and detergents (which are different from dishwashing liquid). Materials like ceramics, stainless steel, and treated glassware like Pyrex are usually safe to put in your dishwasher. Some items may also have the word ‘dishwasher safe’ or a dishwasher safe logo printed on them.
This symbol usually consists of a few circles with raindrops or lines positioned above them, to represent plates in a wash cycle. Some items may only be ‘top shelf’ dishwasher safe, which means they need to be placed in the cooler top rack of your dishwasher to avoid being warped or burnt.
Some objects should never be put in your dishwasher. Dishwashing can dull knives or break objects that are delicate like china, decorated glass or bone handles items. Dishwashers are also not ideal for wooden items like cutting boards or spoons, as the absorbent nature of wood makes it susceptible to warping.
Objects that are made of materials like aluminium or leaded crystals and glass can also be damaged by the chemicals in dishwashing detergents if put into a dishwasher.
Dishwasher Program Symbols
The symbol for a Normal Cycle is usually simply a pot or pan. If you don’t notice a simple pot or pan symbol, check your dishwasher manual to see which is the Normal Cycle.
The Intensive or Heavy Duty cycle is usually symbolised by a pot or pan with an underline. This cycle is best for pots and pans, and baked-on food messes. It has a longer cycle length, and is hotter than a Normal cycle.
The Eco cycle uses less energy than a Normal cycle, which makes it a good everyday cycle for those concerned about their environmental footprint or power bill. The symbol for the Eco cycle is usually a leaf.
The Glass cycle is best for glassware and other fragile items which require a gentler wash at lower temperatures. It is usually symbolised by a sparkling wine glass, with a longer drying period designed to polish your glassware.
The Pre-rinse cycle symbol is often several short lines, which represents water spraying onto your dishes. This program is best for breaking down dried-on food before starting the wash cycle.
The Quick Wash cycle is usually represented by the number 90 or a clock, as this cycle typically takes 90 minutes to complete. It is very similar to the Normal cycle, but is generally faster.
Dishwasher Indicator Symbols
Aside from this range of cycle types, you may see other indicator symbols on your dishwasher flash up from time to time.
Rinse aid is an important part of the dishwashing process, as it helps prevent streaks and uneven drying. The Rinse Aid Refill indicator is symbolised by a sparkle or snowflake shape. Your machine may be using more rinse aid if it uses hard water to wash your dishes.
The Delay Start function gives you the ability to delay the start of your wash cycle for a set number of minutes or hours. It is usually represented by a series of numbers including 30, 60, or 90.
You may also see a Machine Care symbol, which looks like a dishwasher with a star in the top right-hand corner. This cycle is designed to deep-clean your machine and break down any limescale or grease build-ups.
Dishwasher Error & Warning Symbols
It’s also important to be aware of your dishwasher’s error symbols, and what you should do if one flashes up. If your machine displays a tap symbol, for example, this could mean that your dishwasher is not pumping in enough water during the wash cycle. This can be caused by a clog or damage to your dishwasher’s hose.
However, if your machine displays any error symbols, you should always check your dishwasher’s manual before acting. All manufacturers have different error symbols and messages, so become familiar with yours so you know what to do during a machine breakdown.
Dishwashing with Finish
We recommend using high quality dishwasher detergents and rinse aids in your dishwasher. Try the amazing range of products from Finish to give you a great clean and shine, cycle after cycle. Finish dishwashing tablets like Finish Ultimate Plus and Finish Ultimate Pro are specially formulated to tackle tough burnt-on stains and provide a diamond shine. Plus enhance your clean with Finish Rinse & Shine Aid to help fight water spots and keep your dishes dry.
