If you have accidentally used regular table salt (sodium chloride) instead of dishwasher salt in your dishwasher, don't worry too much. While dishwasher salt is specifically designed for use in dishwashers and helps soften water and prevent limescale buildup, using regular salt for a few cycles is unlikely to cause significant harm. Here are some steps you can take to mitigate the issue:
Stop using regular salt: First and foremost, stop using regular salt in the dishwasher. Continuing to use it could potentially lead to limescale buildup and other issues in the long run.
Remove any leftover salt: Check the dishwasher's salt compartment and remove any remaining regular salt. If there's a substantial amount of regular salt, you may want to remove it manually.
Run a rinse cycle: To flush out any remaining regular salt from the dishwasher's system, run a rinse cycle without any dishes inside. This will help rinse out the salt and prevent it from coming into contact with your dishes in the future.
Add dishwasher salt: Purchase dishwasher salt from a store and add it to the dishwasher's salt compartment as per the manufacturer's instructions. Dishwasher salt is specifically formulated to work in dishwashers and helps to soften the water, which leads to more efficient cleaning and prevents limescale buildup.
Inspect for issues: After running the rinse cycle and adding dishwasher salt, monitor your dishwasher's performance for a few cycles. If you notice any unusual behavior or performance problems, it's best to consult the dishwasher's user manual or contact the manufacturer for guidance.
Remember, using regular salt in the dishwasher occasionally is unlikely to cause severe damage, but it's essential to switch to the appropriate dishwasher salt as soon as possible to maintain the dishwasher's optimal performance and prevent potential issues in the long term.