Evening star., 1961-11-02
Kitchen
Problems
Answered

from time to time in this
column. Address all queries
to Kitchen Counselor, in care
OF the Feature Editor, The
Washington Star, Washing
ton 3, D. C.
Question No. Gould you
please tell me what is wrong
with my dishwasher when
sometimes it gets real dirty
dishes clean and at other
times it doesn't get my fairly
clean dishes clean?-M. S.
Adelphi, Md.
Answer-From the way you
frame your question to me I
would say there is a problem
of water pressure in your
neighborhood. If you are be-
ing consistent in the amount
of detergent you use, the
most likely and frequent
cause of uneven results is the
amount of water in the dish
washer. In older type of dish
washers the amount of water
that a dishwasher allows into
the chamber for washing and
rinSing is controlled by a
timing device. When water
demands are high a dish
washer using this type of
system will obviously not
have the same amount of wa
ter in it to do either proper
washing or rinsing as it
would if the pressure were
normal. This problem has
been solved in the newer and
better dishwashers available
today. A simple device within
the chamber of the dish
washer actually weighs the
amount of water required to
do the proper job so that
uniform results are obtained
regardless of water pressure
in your neighborhood. Not to
be overlooked is the fact that
too high a water pressure in
units not equipped with a
water weighing device can be
equally responsible for un-
even results, though TINS con-
dition is rarer. Too much
water in a dishwaSher can
give you spotted, wet dishes
even after the drying cycle
ends. 1t can also overload
your dishwasher, cause leaks
and even burn out the mo-
tor. Look for this water
weighing device on your new
dishwasher. 1t is a worth
while feature.
Question No. FL recently
bought a home in a project.
How do I know my kitchen
m me cts minimum require
ments?-H. B., Washington.
Answer-This all depends
on what you mean by mini
mum requirements" The
Veterans Administration CVA)
and the Federal Housing
Authority CFHA) set mini
mum standards covering
minimum drawer space, shelf
space, counter space, ETC.,
that vary depending on the
number of bedrooms and also
vary depending on the area
in which you live. If your
house if financed under VA
or FILA guarantees. then
you can almost certainly as
sumo that the minimum re-
quirements have been met.
Inspectors from VA and FLA
must first approve the plans
submitted by the builder and
then check each and every
house before the builder is
given final clearance to sell
the house. If your house is
not financed by VA or FILA
the rule Of "Caveat Emptor"
Let the Buyer Beware
prevails.
Question No. 3-We have
steel cabinets in our kitchen
which are about eight years
old. They are badly in need
Of paint. Could you tell me
the best way to paint these
steel cabinets, or would 1t be
possible to buy new doors for
the cabinets2 - Mrs. j. p,
Lanham, Md.
Answer-For a new looking
kitchen, this job would re-
quire a lot Of hard work on
your part or the help Of a
professional In order to re-
paint them. 1t might be
possible to replace the doors
if you know who made them
and the year in which they
were made. I'd suggest you
contact the manufacturer to
either buy new doors or it
might be possible for them to
refinish your old ones.
Frankly, I have never seen a
do-it-yourself job on steel
cabinets that came out too
well. The costs involved in
replacing or professionally
refinishing your doors is not
so great to justify a compro-
mise.
Question No. 4-Can you
please tell me why build
erS have stopped putting
broom closets in new homes?
Mrs. B. A., Arlington, Va.
Answer-Years ago, kitch-
en- storage cabinets were con-
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