1. to cut down on the time that servants spent washing dishes
   to make cleaning up after large families easier
2. to prevent the chipping of fine china

In 1886, Josephine Cochrane invented the modern dishwasher because she was fed up with her servants chipping her fine china dishes.

1. nine years
   12 years
2. 15 years

The average life span of a dishwasher is nine years, although that time can be extended significantly with proper care and maintenance.

1. Scrape off larges pieces of food before loading.
   Rinse the dishes well before loading.
2. Don't do anything.

You should leave small food scraps on your dishes because the dishwasher depends on those bits to help balance the pH level of the water for better cleaning.

1. 10 gallons (38 liters)
   15 gallons (57 liters)
2. 20 gallons (76 liters)

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program, up to 20 gallons (76 liters) of water can be wasted by rinsing dishes before they ever go in the dishwasher. That's enough water for a nice hot bath!

1. 24 inches (61 centimeters)
   30 inches (76 centimeters)
2. 36 inches (91 centimeters)

A 30-inch (76-centimeter) dishwasher is usually the largest size available before switching to a commercial model.

1. Each arm is equipped with a small motor that makes it rotate.
   The water spraying from the nozzles creates the spin.
2. A motor located at the top of the dishwasher moves the arms.

The force of the water leaving the nozzles makes the spray arms spin, just like the lawn sprinklers that kids love to splash around in.

1. to pump water in and out of the dishwasher
   to pump water to the spray arms and out of the dishwasher
2. to pump water in the dishwasher and to the spray arms

A reversible pump has the ability to pump water to the spray arms and to pump water out of the machine by switching directions. Water flows into the dishwasher under its own pressure.

1. Group them together by type.
   All the handles should be pointing up.
2. Load spoons in opposite directions.

Face spoons in separate directions to keep them from nesting together and not getting clean. Knives should be washed by hand because a dishwasher can dull the blades.

1. Plates crack from the heat.
   Glasses chip from banging into each other.
2. Dishes stay dirty.

One of the most frequent complaints about a dishwasher is that some dishes do not come out clean and have to be hand washed. Now who wants to do that?

1. computerized control
   mechanical control
2. Both clean equally well.

The control system doesn't make any difference on how well the dishwasher cleans. There are more options with a computerized control system, but the end result is the same.

1. eight gallons (30 liters)
   11 gallons (42 liters)
2. 15 gallons (57 liters)

A dishwasher uses approximately eight gallons (30 liters) of water for a full load of dishes, and it saves you time, too!

1. Energy Star chart
   Association of Home Appliances chart
2. appliance store ratings

The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program guidelines allow you to compare the annual energy consumption of many appliances.

1. It can be controlled by your television remote control.
   The dishwasher matches the nearby decor.
2. It has heavy insulation to cut down on noise when running.

Noise suppression is worth the extra cost if the kitchen is close to your living room or family room. In fact, you may want the extra insulation no matter where the machine is located.

1. Use a little less detergent.
   Use a little more detergent.
2. Run the dishwasher when it's three-fourths full.

Hard water makes fewer suds, so you can add a little more dishwasher detergent to clean dishes better.

1. powdered laundry detergent
   liquid dish detergent
2. Nothing; wait until you have more dishwasher detergent.

Never use anything but dishwasher detergent in your machine. The suds will overflow, and you could end up with a bubble bath in the kitchen.

1. Wash your dishes in cold water.
   Skip the heated dry cycle.
2. Only run the dishwasher when it is full.

Using cold water in the dishwasher is not an option. The water needs to be very hot to properly clean your dishes and kill any bacteria.

1. number of features and options
   size and durability
2. cycle time length and rack position

Focus on size and durability first when you are shopping for a dishwasher. Then you can select the features you will use and avoid the ones you do not need.

1. Remove them before the heated drying cycle and hand dry them.
   Rinse them before loading.
2. Use a rinse aid in the dishwasher.

You can use a commercial rinse aid in your dishwasher to help avoid spots on glasses. The other options are extra work, which you want to avoid.

1. the top rack of the dishwasher
   a small dishwasher
2. a place to store clean dishes

A drawer dishwasher is a small dishwasher that fits in the space of a large kitchen drawer. It uses less energy than a large dishwasher and is a great option for small kitchens.

1. cast iron
   stainless steel
2. silver

You should never put cast iron in a dishwasher because it removes the seasoning and leads to rust. Stainless steel and silver are both dishwasher safe, but once in the dishwasher, objects made from the two should never touch each other because a chemical reaction can tarnish the silver.