Siemens Home Appliances
Your everyday life made easy
Everyone needs an extra helping hand in the kitchen. So how can you get the most out of your dishwasher? We’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help you achieve great results, every time.
To ensure the best results, it is recommended to run a special cleaning and care programme at least once a month. If your appliance has this programme integrated already, you will be automatically reminded to run it on the machine when required. If you connect your smart dishwasher to the Home Connect app, you will also get a reminder on your smartphone. After thirty washing cycles, the app will remind you to run the special cleaning and care programme, to help keep your dishwasher in tip-top condition.
If you are not sure if there is a specialised care programme on your dishwasher, it’s best to check the online user manual, where you can find model-specific information. Your appliance user manuals are always handy within your My Siemens area.
Step 1: Measure the water hardness & adjust the water-softening system
Your dishwasher needs soft water with low lime concentration to avoid glass corrosion and to prevent spots of white limescale on utensils. You can determine the water hardness before using your appliance for the first time. Find the water hardness test strips attached to the user manual or just follow the link below.
Once you’ve measured the water hardness of your tap, adjust your dishwasher’s internal water-softening system. Refer to your user manual, where you’ll also find a water-hardness table to help you get the settings right.
Step 2: Top up the salt & add rinse aid
The water-softening system requires dishwasher salt to function properly. To add salt, undo the screw cap, and first fill the salt dispenser with water and then pour in the salt using a funnel until it’s full and the water runs out. Make sure to screw the cap back on. Then, turn on the dishwasher or run a cleaning programme to wash away any salt overflow. Never fill the salt dispenser with detergent. Your water hardness will determine how often you need to perform this step. Always make sure to check the level of salt before topping it up.
Your dishwasher also needs rinse aid for stain-free cutlery and shining glassware. Open the rinse aid dispenser by pressing and lifting the plate on the cover. Then, carefully pour the rinse aid to the max line shown. Finally, remove any rinse aid that has spilt over with a cloth to avoid excessive foam during the next rinse cycle. Your dishwasher will automatically remind you when you need to top up salt and rinse aid.
Step 3: Add detergent & run a hot cycle
Use tablets, powder or liquid dishwasher detergent in your appliance. Never use washing-up liquid. Adjust the detergent dose individually, depending on how dirty your dishes or pans are. You can use the graduated detergent dispenser to determine the correct amount to add.
If you’re using combination tablets such as 3-in-1, 4-in-1 or 5-in-1, be aware that apart from the detergent they also contain rinse aid, salt replacement substances and additional components, such as glass protection or stainless-steel cleaner. These combination tablets usually only work up to a water hardness of 21°dH. If your water hardness is higher, you’ll need to add salt and rinse in combination with the multi-tabs.
Have you successfully completed all of the above steps? Now run a hot wash without loading the dishwasher. After the cycle, your dishwasher is ready for its first load.
