A Dwyer
How To Operate the Common House Dishwasher
Excerpted 7/6/2018, from "How to Clean the Kitchen after Meals, 2/14/2000"
Why it needs to be done
To facilitate food safety, maintain equipment and facilities, and save labor and water.
Who is responsible
The meal’s clean-up crew.
When it needs to be done
After every meal in the common house.
How long it takes
Depending on how many diners there were, between half an hour for one person, and one and a half hours for two people.
What to do
Before the meal
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* Fill one or more bus-tub with soapy water.
- * Press ON to fill. The dishwasher takes a while to bring the water up to temperature.
After the meal
- * Scrape dishes. Plant-based scraps (veggies, fruit, pasta, bread) go into the compost bucket. Put meat and dairy scraps in the garbage. Put oily things in the garbage.
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* Soak dishes for a short time in the bus-tubs and swish to remove debris before loading in the racks. Rinsing under running water before putting in the dishwasher is not necessary and wastes water. Oily foods such as spaghetti sauce may require additional detergent in the soaking tubs. The dishwasher isn't designed to deal with dried-on food.
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* Load the rack with dishes. Plates, bowls, and tall glasses go in the rack with prongs. Face dishes to the inside of the rack. Do not overload racks; run additional batches instead. Wash glasses and silverware first while the water is cleanest. Silverware goes in the flat rack or in the silverware basket.
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* Place the loaded rack in the dishwasher and close the door. Press WASH.
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* Load the next rack(s).
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* Near the end of a cycle, the dishwasher will become quiet. The temperature gauge goes up to 180F. When the temperature drops and dishwasher is silent, the cycle is finished – about ninety seconds.
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* Remove the rack and set it on the counter. Dishes are HOT!
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* Allow the dishes to air dry rather than towel drying. If the rack was taken from the dishwasher immediately, the dishes are hot enough t takes only a few minutes.
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* Put the next rack of dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Load an empty rack. Put away clean dry dishes, mostly onto the bus cart. Repeat until all dishes are washed.
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* If, after several batches, items are no longer coming clean, drain the dishwasher (press OFF), clean the strainers, and refill with fresh water (press ON).
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* Do a last batch of sponges, dish scrubbers, sink strainers, and bus tubs.
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* Drain the dishwasher (press OFF).
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* Remove and clean strainers. Spray the interior with vinegar (hold your breath!). Remove top and bottom spray arms and wipe them clean, especially spray openings.
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* Leave dishwasher door open to dry.
What the community can do to help –