I Feel Like a Dum@ss!!

I've been dumb too many times and in too many ways to list them all but here are a few I can think of, mostly because I've been reminded of them through other people's posts on this thread!

1.  Didn't know how to program the timer on a boiler and didn't know that it would default to "off" with any power fluctuation.
2.  Didn't know that a dishwasher would ever need salt added to it, nor did I have any idea where the salt should go.
3.  Didn't know how to use our washer.
4.  Didn't know how to operate our front door handle/lock.
5.  Didn't know how to change a bayonet lightbulb.
6.  Didn't know that I should thank the bus driver.
7.  Didn't know that PE uniforms should be left at school until the halfterm, so I kept sending my children back into the school to get their bags.
8.  Didn't know that I was expected to serve dinner (tea) at every playdate so I sent a couple kids home early/hungry.

2.  Didn't know that a dishwasher would ever need salt added to it, nor did I have any idea where the salt should go.

I still don't know this. 

Yeah, where DOES it go?  Our dishwasher is not doing a great job lately, but it's not the mechanics of it..things just aren't rinsing well.  Is the salt the key to this?  Or is there some sort of filter I can change?

Yeah, where DOES it go?  Our dishwasher is not doing a great job lately, but it's not the mechanics of it..things just aren't rinsing well.  Is the salt the key to this?  Or is there some sort of filter I can change?

We just got a new dishwasher, and there's a little compartment in the bottom where the salt goes. It came with a funnel for adding salt as well. (Not that I've done it yet.) This is all news to me as I've never had a dishwasher before, even in the US. Is it different there?

The reason for salt is that some dishwashers have a built-in water softener that needs certain types of salt to act. If you live in a soft water area (e.g. most of Scotland), you probably don't need to worry about it, but if you're in a hard water area (e.g. much of England) it helps extend the life of your dishwasher. The machine should come with instructions for it if it does use salt.

The reason for salt is that some dishwashers have a built-in water softener that needs certain types of salt to act. If you live in a soft water area (e.g. most of Scotland), you probably don't need to worry about it, but if you're in a hard water area (e.g. much of England) it helps extend the life of your dishwasher. The machine should come with instructions for it if it does use salt.

I haven't read our instructions yet, but I'm sure you're right. Cornwall has soft water so perhaps I don't need to bother.

Make sure you use dishwasher salt, not kitchen salt!

It's in the same section as dishwasher detergent. "Finish" is a good brand and it comes in a big blue bag, often on the bottom shelf.

Your manual will tell you how to test your water and what setting to use. You must do this! If you don't set it properly, you'll either use too much (grey salty film on your dishes) or too little (dirty dishes) salt.

Your manual will tell you how to test your water and what setting to use. You must do this! If you don't set it properly, you'll either use too much (grey salty film on your dishes) or too little (dirty dishes) salt.

Ha!  None of our appliances had manuals.  That goes a way towards explaining my dumbness.  We have very hard water here.  I have no idea how to test it or what setting to use or even what/where the setting is!  After being told by a neighbor that I should put salt in that compartment in the bottom, I've just been dumping bags of dishwasher salt in it for years.  Luckily it's worked out fine so far.

Knowing you have very hard water is good enough.

After my mum died in May, I went home to help dad out and he was complaining that the dishwasher wasn't doing the job. I looked everywhere for the dishwasher salt compartment and there wasn't one LOL

My dumb@ss moments all seem to happen in America, these days 

I still haven't figured out how to (consistently) wash & rinse my face without scalding my hands, using the separate bathroom taps.  Filling the basin makes no sense, since I'd just be splashing dirty water back onto my face.  Kind of important that I not do that, since I'm sterilising my face for medical reasons.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that has locked themselves inside their house!!!  Yay!!!

Guess I should go and read my dishwasher manual.... this salt business is news to me!

New dumb@ss moment- we were using the oven last night and the heat melted some of the laminate on the kitchen drawers.   The sellers of the house didn't tell us what the symbols on the oven meant before they left.  No fan=ridiculous amount of heat.

I still haven't figured out how to (consistently) wash & rinse my face without scalding my hands, using the separate bathroom taps.  Filling the basin makes no sense, since I'd just be splashing dirty water back onto my face.  Kind of important that I not do that, since I'm sterilising my face for medical reasons.

I don't get the concept of having 2 taps...my English hubby STILL has not been able to explain to me how to successfully (and cleanly) use these properly...thank God our house is brand new and came with only one faucet...still trying to figure out how to wash my hands at the pub though.   

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=43711.0

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=45863.0

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=43711.0

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=45863.0

Yeah those are the exact same suggestions my hubby gave me...which to me, are still unsuccessful and/or unclean.  I guess this kinda goes along the same lines of British people not rinsing their dishes and thinking that's clean.  (No offense to anyone because it's just a difference of opinion.)

After my mum died in May, I went home to help dad out and he was complaining that the dishwasher wasn't doing the job. I looked everywhere for the dishwasher salt compartment and there wasn't one LOL

I have very hard well water here in FL and our dishwasher doesn't have a salt compartment.  Is JetDry supposed to replace salt here?