After the first time you use it, your softener unit should always have a bit of water in it. You won’t need to refill it.

Using a funnel to pour your salt will help you avoid spills. Hold the funnel above the reservoir instead of plunging it into the unit. If the funnel gets wet, the salt won’t pour through it properly.

You can also run a rinse cycle without dishes to clean any spilled salt out of the dishwasher.

Most dishwashers in the United States do not have built-in softener units that need to be filled with salt. Only select models come with this feature. [7] X Research source

If you notice that your indicator lights are taking more than a month to tell you to refill the unit, they may be broken. Check your unit levels, and call your manufacturer if you’re concerned.