A dishwasher uses a combination of mechanical action, hot water, and detergent to attempt to clean the greasy surfaces of dishes effectively. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how a dishwasher cleans greasy dishes:
Pre-wash: Before starting the main wash cycle, some dishwashers have a pre-wash phase where water is sprayed over the dishes. This helps to remove loose food particles and some of the initial grease and grime.
Main wash cycle: The main wash cycle is where the real cleaning action takes place. The dishwasher fills with hot water, typically around 120-140°F (49-60°C), depending on the selected settings. Hot water is more effective at breaking down and dissolving grease than cold water.
Detergent: The dishwasher uses specially formulated dishwasher detergent, which is designed to break down and remove grease and food particles from dishes. Dishwasher detergents contain enzymes and surfactants that help to emulsify and lift away grease and grime.
Spray arms: The dishwasher has spray arms located at the bottom and top, which rotate and spray the hot soapy water throughout the dishwasher's interior. These spray arms direct the water at high pressure onto the dishes, ensuring thorough coverage and cleaning.
Mechanical action: The high-pressure water, along with the rotating spray arms, creates a mechanical action that helps to dislodge and remove stubborn grease and food particles from the dishes' surfaces.
Rinse cycle: After the main wash cycle, the dishwasher drains the soapy water and starts the rinse cycle. Fresh hot water is used to rinse away any remaining detergent, grease, and food residue.
Drying: Some dishwashers have a drying cycle that uses heated air to dry the dishes. The combination of hot water and heated air helps to evaporate any remaining water droplets, leaving the dishes clean and dry.
Optional features: Many modern dishwashers come with additional features like steam cleaning, higher water pressure options, or specialized cleaning cycles for particularly greasy or heavily soiled dishes.
It's important to note that while dishwashers are generally very effective at cleaning greasy dishes, heavily caked-on or burnt-on grease may require pre-soaking or manual scrubbing before loading them into the dishwasher for the best results. Additionally, using an appropriate amount of detergent, not overcrowding the dishwasher, and scraping excess food off the dishes before loading can further improve the cleaning performance.