Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
About This Quiz
If you're lucky enough to have one in your kitchen, a dishwasher waits patiently in your kitchen to clean all your dirty dishes for you. Take this test to see whether you know what really goes on inside while your dishes are bathing!
Why was the modern dishwasher invented?
to cut down on the time that servants spent washing dishes
to make cleaning up after large families easier
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.
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What is the typical life span of a dishwasher?
nine years
The average life span of a dishwasher is nine years, although that time can be extended significantly with proper care and maintenance.
12 years
15 years
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How should you prep your dishes for the dishwasher?
Scrape off larges pieces of food before loading.
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.
Rinse the dishes well before loading.
Don't do anything.
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Approximately how much water could be saved by not rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?
10 gallons (38 liters)
15 gallons (57 liters)
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!
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What is the largest size dishwasher made for residential use?
24 inches (61 centimeters)
30 inches (76 centimeters)
A 30-inch (76-centimeter) dishwasher is usually the largest size available before switching to a commercial model.
36 inches (91 centimeters)
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What makes the spray arms inside the dishwasher rotate?
Each arm is equipped with a small motor that makes it rotate.
The water spraying from the nozzles creates the spin.
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.
A motor located at the top of the dishwasher moves the arms.
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What is the purpose of the reversible pump in your dishwasher?
to pump water in and out of the dishwasher
to pump water to the spray arms and out of the dishwasher
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.
to pump water in the dishwasher and to the spray arms
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What is the best way to load silverware into a dishwasher?
Group them together by type.
All the handles should be pointing up.
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.
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What is one of the most frequent complaints about dishwashers?
Plates crack from the heat.
Glasses chip from banging into each other.
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?
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Which type of dishwasher control system cleans better?
computerized control
mechanical control
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.
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Approximately how much water does it take for a dishwasher to wash a full load of dishes?
eight gallons (30 liters)
A dishwasher uses approximately eight gallons (30 liters) of water for a full load of dishes, and it saves you time, too!
11 gallons (42 liters)
15 gallons (57 liters)
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When shopping for an energy-efficient dishwasher in the U.S., what rating can you use to help make a decision?
Energy Star chart
The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program guidelines allow you to compare the annual energy consumption of many appliances.
Association of Home Appliances chart
appliance store ratings
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What is an important feature to consider if your dishwasher is close to your living room or family room?
It can be controlled by your television remote control.
The dishwasher matches the nearby decor.
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.
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If your home has hard water, what adjustment should be made when using your dishwasher?
Use a little less detergent.
Use a little more detergent.
Hard water makes fewer suds, so you can add a little more dishwasher detergent to clean dishes better.
Run the dishwasher when it's three-fourths full.
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What can you use in a pinch if you run out of dishwasher detergent?
powdered laundry detergent
liquid dish detergent
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.
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Which of the following is NOT an option for conserving energy when using your dishwasher?
Wash your dishes in cold water.
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.
Skip the heated dry cycle.
Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
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When selecting a dishwasher, what factors are most important?
number of features and options
size and durability
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.
cycle time length and rack position
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How can you help avoid spots on your glassware?
Remove them before the heated drying cycle and hand dry them.
Rinse them before loading.
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.
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What is a drawer dishwasher?
the top rack of the dishwasher
a small dishwasher
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.
a place to store clean dishes
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Which of the following should you NEVER put in a dishwasher?
cast iron
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.
stainless steel
silver
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You Got:
/20
iStockphoto/Thinkstock
Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
About This Quiz
If you're lucky enough to have one in your kitchen, a dishwasher waits patiently in your kitchen to clean all your dirty dishes for you. Take this test to see whether you know what really goes on inside while your dishes are bathing!
