A water softening apparatus having an improved structure to provide a function of an air brake, a dishwasher including the same and a control method thereof, the water softening apparatus having an air brake assembly and a regeneration tank and configured to soften wash water being supplied from a tub, wherein the air brake assembly including a water supply valve allowing wash water to be introduced therethrough, an ion exchange tank to accommodate an ion exchange resin therein, and a plurality of valves installed on a first path allowing wash water being introduced through the water supply valve to flow toward the ion exchange tank, wherein the regeneration tank is connected to the air brake assembly and accommodates regeneration material configured to purify the ion exchange resin.

An apparatus for introducing scale remover to a dishwasher for enabling a descaling or cleaning agent to the introduced to a dishwasher and its conduits in a manner which optimized cleaning efficacy is configured to be connected to a conventional dishwasher between the dishwasher and its water input line. A diverter having an output that is connected to the dishwasher's input conduit combines the conventional water input conduit from the water input line and a container output conduit connected to a fluid container containing a conventional descaling solution. In use, a user would actuate the apparatus for introducing scale remover to a dishwasher to cause descaling solution in the fluid container to be directed into the dishwasher input conduit and the dishwasher. Once empty, a water shut off valve controlling the water input line is opened and the dishwasher is turned on to run a normal cleaning cycle.