Before using your AEG dishwasher for the first time, follow a few initial steps to get the most out of your appliance.
1. Set the water hardness level on your dishwasher
Your dishwasher contains a water softener that removes minerals from the water supply for better cleaning results. To find out the hardness of your water, use a test kit or check with your local water supplier.
Make sure the dishwasher is set to the correct level according to your water. The default setting is level 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.
To adjust the default setting, check the user manual for instructions on your model.
| German degrees (°dH) | French degrees (°fH) | mmol/l | Clarke degrees | Water softener levels |
| 47 - 50 | 84 - 90 | 8.4 - 9.0 | 58 - 63 | 10 |
| 43 - 46 | 76 - 83 | 7.6 - 8.3 | 53 - 57 | 9 |
| 37 - 42 | 65 - 75 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 46 - 52 | 8 |
| 29 - 36 | 51 - 64 | 5.1 - 6.4 | 36 - 45 | 7 |
| 23 - 28 | 40 - 50 | 4.0 - 5.0 | 28 - 35 | 6 |
| 19 - 22 | 33 - 39 | 3.3 - 3.9 | 23 - 27 | 51) |
| 15 - 18 | 26 - 32 | 2.6 - 3.2 | 18 - 22 | 4 |
| 11 - 14 | 7 - 18 | 1.9 - 2.5 | 13 - 17 | 3 |
| 4 - 10 | 7 - 18 | 0.7 - 0.8 | 5 - 12 | 2 |
| < 4 | < 7 | < 0.7 | < 5 | 12) |
1) Factory setting
2) Do not use salt at this level
2. Fill the salt container
Your dishwasher uses salt to soften the water for improved cleaning results. Learn how to add salt here.
- When adding salt for the first time, pour 1 litre of water into the salt container before adding the salt.
- If your water hardness level is 1 in the scale above, do not use any salt.
3. Fill the rinse aid dispenser
Add rinse aid for best drying performance. Learn how to add rinse aid here.
4. Open the water tap
Ensure that the water is turned on for your dishwasher.
5. Run an empty cycle without detergent
Start a programme to remove any residuals inside the appliance. This will also automatically recharge the water softener capabilities of your dishwasher. Don’t use detergent, and don’t put dishes in the baskets.
For more information about your specific dishwasher model, check the user manual. You can find your user manual here.
