A dishwasher uses less water than washing by hand and gets dishes hotter than your hands could stand — but only when it is set up with salt and rinse aid, loaded so water can reach everything, and given the right program. Those three habits are this whole guide.
Models this guide covers
- Dishwasher — 12 Place Settings (knob control, A++, 5 programs incl. Intensive 65°C and Hygiene 70°C, delay 3/6/9 h)
- Dishwasher — 10 Place Settings (button control + LED, 6 programs incl. Eco, delay 1–19 h, Extra Hygiene)
1. Installation — by Argosta's technician only
Dishwashers are installed by an Argosta-authorised technician, who connects the water and drain, levels the machine and runs the first test cycle. If the dishwasher is connected by anyone else, the product is out of warranty. Call 17724 or message us on WhatsApp to book the installation visit.
What the technician does, and what to have ready:
- Water in. Have a cold-water tap with its own shut-off valve within reach of the inlet hose.
- Water out. A sink standpipe or dedicated drain where the top of the hose loop can sit 40–100 cm above the floor, so dirty water cannot siphon back. The hose is never extended beyond 4 m.
- Levelling with the adjustable feet so the door closes squarely and water does not pool at one end.
- Earthed socket, no extension cords, with the plug reachable after the machine is in place.
- Test cycle. The technician opens the tap, runs the shortest program empty and checks every joint for drips.
2. First run: salt and rinse aid
Salt (water softener)
- Pull out the lower basket and unscrew the round cap on the tub floor.
- On the very first fill, pour in about a litre of water, then fill with dishwasher salt using the funnel until full. Water overflowing is normal.
- Wipe spilled salt from the tub and screw the cap on tightly — loose salt corrodes stainless steel.
- Run a program straight away to flush the brine. Refill whenever the salt indicator shows, typically every few weeks.
If your model has a hardness setting, ask for your local water hardness or set it to the higher-middle level — Delta tap water is hard.
Rinse aid
Open the small flap next to the detergent door on the inside of the main door, fill with rinse aid to the mark, and close it. Rinse aid makes water sheet off the dishes so they dry spot-free. Start at the middle setting; raise it if you see drops and spots, lower it if you see streaks or foam.
3. Loading
| Where | What goes there | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lower basket | Plates, pots, pans, oven trays, serving dishes | Face the dirty side inward and down; big items at the sides and back so they do not block the spray arm |
| Upper basket | Glasses, cups, bowls, small plates, plastics | Upside down and at an angle so water drains; plastics on top, away from the heater |
| Cutlery basket | Knives, forks, spoons | Mixed up so they do not nest; sharp knives point down |
- Scrape, do not rinse. Remove bones, pips and large scraps; leave the rest for the detergent.
- Spin the spray arms by hand after loading to check nothing blocks them.
- Adjust the upper basket (lift it to the high position) when you have tall pots below or tall glasses above.
- Leave space between items — water has to reach every surface.
- Not for the dishwasher: wooden boards and handles, cast iron, non-stick pans with worn coating, crystal, hand-painted ceramics, aluminium that you want to stay shiny.
4. Detergent
Put one tablet or the measured powder in the main compartment and close the door until it clicks. For heavy loads, add a little powder to the pre-wash compartment. Keep tablets dry — a damp tablet crumbles and will not release. Never use hand dish soap: it foams, floods the floor and can trip the leak protection.
5. Choosing a program
| Program | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eco | Normal daily loads | Longest cycle, lowest water and electricity — the default |
| Intensive 65°C | Pots, pans, baked-on and greasy food | Hottest standard wash |
| Hygiene 70°C / Extra Hygiene | Baby bottles, chopping boards, after illness | Final rinse at the highest temperature |
| Normal / Daily | Mixed, moderately soiled loads | Faster than Eco, uses a little more |
| Quick 30′ at 40°C | Lightly soiled dishes straight after a meal | No drying phase — open the door and let them air |
Half load
Press Half Load when only one basket is full: the machine washes with less water and energy. Fill the basket the display indicates (or either, on models without a choice).
Delay start
Set 3, 6 or 9 hours on the 12-place model, or 1–19 hours on the 10-place model, then press start. The machine waits and runs the program later — useful for cheaper night electricity or for a wash that finishes just before breakfast.
Starting, and the end of the cycle
- Turn the knob (12-place) or press the program button (10-place) to your choice; the indicator lights.
- Close the door firmly — the program starts when the door latches.
- At the end you will hear a beep and the indicator changes. Wait 15 minutes before opening: the dishes finish drying from their own heat, and opening early releases a cloud of steam.
- Unload the lower basket first, so drops from the upper basket do not fall on clean plates.
6. Cleaning and care
- Filter, weekly: twist out the cylindrical filter in the tub floor, rinse under the tap with a soft brush, refit and lock. A blocked filter is the cause of most "it does not clean / it does not drain" complaints.
- Spray arms, monthly: lift them off, rinse, and poke clear any blocked holes with a toothpick.
- Door seal and edges: wipe with a damp cloth; food collects in the lower edge where water does not reach.
- Machine clean, monthly: run the hottest program empty with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack.
- Leave the door ajar between washes so the tub dries and does not smell.
- Close the water tap if you will be away for weeks.
7. Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dishes still dirty | Overloading, blocked spray arm, filter clogged, wrong program | Space items, clear the arms and filter, use Intensive for pots |
| White film on glasses | Hard water — salt empty or hardness set too low | Fill the salt; raise the hardness setting |
| Spots / wet dishes | Rinse aid empty or too low; Quick program used | Fill and raise the rinse aid; wait 15 min before opening |
| Will not start | Door not latched, tap closed, delay start set | Push the door firmly; open the tap; cancel the delay |
| Water left in the bottom | Filter clogged, drain hose kinked or too high/low | Clean the filter; check the hose loop height |
| Foam everywhere | Hand dish soap used | Stop, scoop out foam, run a rinse with a tablespoon of oil to kill the foam |
| Stops and shows a fault / does not fill | Overflow or leak protection has triggered | Close the tap, unplug, check for water under the machine; call service |
| Bad smell | Food in the filter or seal; door kept shut | Clean the filter and seal; run a machine clean; leave the door ajar |
If the leak protection trips or the heater, pump or control is at fault, call the hotline on 17724 — dishwashers are covered by a 5-year warranty with genuine spare parts. See the warranty guide, and if you are still deciding, read is a dishwasher worth it in Egypt?.
Frequently asked questions
Does my dishwasher need salt?
If your model has a water-softener reservoir under the lower basket (most Turkish-built dishwashers do), yes — Egyptian tap water is hard, and without salt you get a white film on glasses and limescale on the heater. Use dishwasher salt only, never table salt.
Why are my glasses cloudy or spotted?
Spots usually mean the rinse aid is empty or set too low; a cloudy white film means limescale from hard water — top up the salt. Set the rinse aid one step higher and run a hot program.
Which program should I use every day?
Eco for normal daily loads — it runs longer but uses the least water and electricity. Intensive 65°C for pots and baked-on food, Hygiene 70°C for baby bottles and chopping boards, and the 30-minute Quick wash only for lightly soiled dishes straight after a meal.
Do I need to rinse dishes before loading?
No — scrape off food scraps and bones, but leave the rest. Modern detergents need some soil to work against, and pre-rinsing wastes water. Do not let dried-on food sit for days, though.
Dishwashers that pay for themselves.
A++ energy efficiency, Hygiene and Intensive programs, half load and a 5-year warranty. Made in Turkey.
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