Dishwashers are designed to last 10-15 years, but in reality, many break down after just 2-3 years. The reason? Not because the machine is bad – but because users make 5 fundamental mistakes. This article lists the most common classic mistakes and how to avoid them to ensure your machine lasts longer, your dishes are clean, and you still save money.
Mistake 1: Rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher
This is the MOST COMMON mistake – 90% of new users make it.
Why is it wrong?
- Dishwasher tablets contain enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase) that need "food" to work. Rinsing beforehand = enzymes have nothing to do.
- Wastes 5-8 liters of water per wash.
- Costs you an extra 5-10 minutes of your time.
- The turbidity sensor (water clarity) sees clean water → assumes dishes are already clean → washes gently → remaining stains stick more firmly.
The correct way
- ✅ Only scrape off LARGE food debris (bones, paper, large seeds).
- ✅ Leave grease, sauces, and small food crumbs as they are.
- ✅ Use Largo Classic tablets or Largo All In One tablets – enzymes are strong enough to handle it.
Savings: 5-8 liters of water + 10 minutes/wash = 2,000 VND and 600 minutes/year (10 hours).
Mistake 2: Overcrowding the dishes
"To save electricity, I have to wash a lot at once" – a common logical fallacy.
Consequences
- The spray arms CANNOT reach the dirty surfaces of "sandwiched" dishes.
- Dishes come out dirty → you have to rewash them by hand.
- Spray arms blocked by large items → can cause the machine's arm to break.
The correct way
- ✅ Leave at least 1cm of space between items.
- ✅ Orient dirty surfaces facing inward and downward to catch water.
- ✅ Before pressing Start, manually rotate the spray arms → they must spin freely.
- ✅ If you have too many dishes, choose a program with more wash cycles.
Mistake 3: Using regular dish soap (Sunlight, Mr Clean) instead of tablets
"Why spend so much on dishwasher tablets when I can use Sunlight for cheap?" – a mistake that will end with a broken machine.
Consequences (appearing within 1-3 cycles)
- ❌ Excess foam overflows.
- ❌ Machine displays E15 error (Bosch, Siemens, Hafele).
- ❌ Foam sensor breaks → costs 1-2 million VND to replace.
- ❌ Dishes aren't clean because regular detergents aren't strong enough.
- ❌ Machine cavity accumulates foamy oil, then turns black.
Why?
Regular dish soap is designed for HAND washing → contains many foaming agents (SLS, SLES). Dishwashers use a high-pressure spray mechanism → foaming agents will create HUGE FOAM filling the machine cavity.
The correct way
- ✅ Only use EU-standard specialized dishwasher tablets (Largo, Finish, Somat).
- ✅ Largo Classic: 3,800 VND/tablet – economical.
- ✅ Largo All In One: 5,500 VND/tablet – 7-in-1.
- ✅ 1 tablet/wash is enough (even for a full machine).
Savings: no 1-2 million VND repair costs for sensors, no time spent cleaning up overflowing foam.
Mistake 4: Ignoring salt and rinse aid
"All In One is enough, no need for separate salt and rinse aid" – the most expensive mistake.
Consequences
- ❌ Water softening system DRAINED of minerals is not replenished → BREAKS after 6-12 months.
- ❌ Cost to repair water softening system: 3-5 million VND (almost the price of a new machine!).
- ❌ Dishes have white streaks, cloudy glass.
- ❌ Heating element accumulates limescale → machine runs sluggishly, consumes 30% more electricity.
Why do you still need them even with All In One?
All In One has a water softening function in the WASH WATER – it DOES NOT replace the machine's water softening system which requires separate SALT for consumption and regeneration. Similarly, the rinse aid in All In One is only "supplementary" – machines with special drying technology (Zeolith, AirDry, TrueSteam) still need SEPARATE RINSE AID.
The correct way
- ✅ Pour Largo German Salt 2kg – 175,000 VND into the salt compartment at the bottom of the machine → lasts 2-3 months.
- ✅ Pour Largo Rinse Aid 1L – 189,000 VND into the rinse aid compartment on the door → lasts 6 months.
- ✅ Monitor "Refill Salt" and "Refill Rinse Aid" warning lights.
Mistake 5: Closing the dishwasher door immediately after washing
"After washing, close the door for aesthetics" – a mistake that causes FOUL ODORS + BLACK MOLD.
Consequences
- ❌ Humid steam ACCUMULATES in the sealed compartment → ideal environment for mold.
- ❌ Door rubber gasket turns black, softens, cracks.
- ❌ Next time you open the door, an unpleasant smell "hits you".
- ❌ Dishes inside remain damp, not completely dry.
The correct way
- ✅ After the cycle ends, CRACK OPEN the door for 30-60 minutes (5-10cm).
- ✅ Steam escapes → dishes dry quickly + no odor.
- ✅ Only then close and put away dishes.
Tip: Machines with AutoOpen / AirDry / AutoRelease technology (Electrolux, AEG, Sharp) → door OPENS AUTOMATICALLY after the cycle. No need to do it manually.
Bonus – Mistake 6: Incorrect water hardness setting
Water hardness in Vietnam varies by region. Most users leave the manufacturer's default setting (usually H:3) → incorrect for northern and central regions.
| Region | Correct H level (Bosch, Siemens) | Correct L level (Electrolux, AEG) |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi, Hai Phong | H:4 | L:6-7 |
| Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho | H:3 | L:4-5 |
| Da Nang, Hue | H:5 | L:7 |
| Well water, rocky mountainous areas | H:6-7 | L:8-10 |
Incorrect hardness = 2-3 times more salt consumption + white streaks on dishes + limescale on heating element.
Summary of 5 mistakes + 1 bonus
| Mistake | Consequences | Cost if wrong |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rinsing dishes beforehand | Wasted water + dirty dishes | ~700,000 VND/year |
| 2. Overcrowding | Dirty dishes, broken spray arm | 500,000 VND to replace spray arm |
| 3. Using regular dish soap | E15 error, sensor damage | 1-2 million VND |
| 4. Skipping salt + rinse aid | Water softening system damage | 3-5 million VND |
| 5. Closing door immediately after wash | Odor, mold, cracked gasket | 200,000 VND to replace gasket |
| Bonus: Incorrect water hardness | Wasted salt + limescale | 500,000 VND/year |
Total "damages" if all 5 mistakes are made: ~5-9 million VND/year + machine breaks down early after 2-3 years.
Complete solution: Use correct EU-standard supplies
80% of the above mistakes are related to supplies. The simplest solution:
→ Largo 3-item Combo – 555,000 VND (Classic 60 tablets + Salt 2kg + Rinse Aid 1L)
- ✅ Full set of EU-standard supplies for 2-3 months.
- ✅ Saves 38,000 VND compared to buying separately.
- ✅ Avoids 80% of mistakes due to missing supplies.
Not decided yet? Try the Largo Trial Kit – 9,000 VND (4 tablets).
Summary
The 5 mistakes above are the biggest reasons dishwashers break down early. Worse: most users don't know they're making mistakes – until the machine breaks.
Follow these 5 steps correctly → machine lasts 10-15 years:
- ✅ Do not rinse dishes beforehand – only scrape off large food debris.
- ✅ Load with 1cm spacing, spray arms spin freely.
- ✅ Use EU-standard Largo tablets – DO NOT use regular dish soap.
- ✅ Add separate Largo salt + rinse aid even if using All In One.
- ✅ Crack open the door for 30 minutes after the cycle.
Purchase genuine German-imported Largo products (REX, EVFTA codes, 25-40% better price than Finish): www.sieutietkiem.com or www.largo.vn. For specific machine brand advice: inbox facebook.com/largovietnam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why shouldn't I rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher?
A: Dishwasher tablets contain enzymes that need "food" (stains) to work. Rinsing beforehand means the enzymes have nothing to do. The turbidity sensor sees clean water → assumes dishes are already clean → washes gently → remaining stains stick more firmly. Additionally, it wastes 5-8L of water per wash.
Q: If I use All In One, do I still need salt + rinse aid?
A: Absolutely. All In One has supportive functions but CANNOT replace the salt in the machine's water softening compartment. Lack of salt → system breaks after 6-12 months. Repair cost is 3-5 million VND.
Q: Can I use Sunlight dish soap instead of tablets?
A: Absolutely NOT. Regular dish soap contains many foaming agents (SLS, SLES) designed for handwashing. When subjected to the high-pressure spray inside the machine, it will create enormous foam → overflowing, damaging sensors, and triggering E15 errors. You must use specialized dishwasher tablets like Largo Classic or All In One.
Q: Do I need to open the dishwasher door after washing?
A: Yes, crack it open for 30-60 minutes. The humid steam inside the compartment needs to escape. Closing it immediately = moisture accumulation + black mold + odor. Machines with AutoOpen (Electrolux, AEG, Sharp) open automatically, so manual action is not needed.
Q: My machine has been used for 1 year with incorrect dishwasher tablets, can I switch now?
A: Yes. Run 2-3 Self-Clean cycles with Largo All In One tablets to clean the compartment. Refill Largo salt + rinse aid. From the next cycle onwards, dishes will be cleaner + the machine will operate more durably.