Caring for Your Dishwasher: Everything You Need to Know

Dishwashers are not necessary to have in your home, but they sure are a nice convenience, as they do the hard work of washing dishes for you. But if you don’t take care of your dishwasher, you’ll end up having to go back to washing your dishes yourself. Read on for information about dishwasher care and other helpful tips.

Use Your Dishwasher As Instructed

If your dishwasher doesn’t have a garbage disposal built into it, you should always be sure to rinse your dishes thoroughly before placing them into the dishwasher. Any extra food particles can build up in your dishwasher and end up clogging the drain inside.

Also be sure not to overfill your dishwasher. Overfilling it may cause your dishes not to get clean properly. Don’t stack your plates, bowls, or other items or put them in between the tines in the racks.

Some items should not be put into your dishwasher at all, such as cookie sheets or some baking pans that can rust and leave rust stains inside your dishwasher. Other items such as plastic containers may melt inside your dishwasher, so be sure not to place items inside that don’t say they are dishwasher safe.

Clean Your Dishwasher

Cleaning your dishwasher will ensure it runs properly for years to come. To clean it, run a cycle using a measuring cup of vinegar inside. The vinegar can help remove hard water stains inside and break up any calcium around the drain or in the sprayer arms.

After the vinegar wash, wipe down the entire interior and remove the sprayer arms. Also inspect the sprayer holes for any clogs. If you spot calcium clogging the holes, you can use a toothpick to pick out the clog or you can soak the entire sprayer arm in a vinegar/water mixture to help loosen the debris.

Remove the drain at the bottom of the dishwasher and clean out any debris such as food particles or anything else that may have accumulated at the bottom. This debris can eventually clog your dishwasher drain, leaving you with stinky water inside your dishwasher or odors that may be difficult to get rid of.

You should give your dishwasher a good cleaning at least two or three times per year, or more often depending on how much you use your dishwasher.

Make Necessary Repairs

Some repairs can be simple to do, although others may require the help of a professional repairman. If your dishwasher is not cleaning your dishes properly, the problem could be due to clogged sprayer arms. Inspect them and clean them as needed.

If your dishwasher is leaving water spots on your dishes, try changing the type of soap you use or add a gel rinse in your cycle to give your dishes a cleaner look and dry without those spots. The issue could also be caused by problem with the drying cycle of your dishwasher. Make sure you have it set to heated dry and that it is actually heating up.

If your dishes are getting scratched or scraped, make sure the tines on your rack are not damaged. You may need some new caps on the tines. These can get worn over time and there may be exposed metal that can scratch your dishes.

A dishwasher is not essential for your kitchen but it sure does make doing dishes much easier and faster which is why dishwasher care is important. If you have a dishwasher that is in need of repairs, call our professionals at Art Adams Appliance Repair. We can help with any repairs you need for your dishwasher or any other appliance.