Dishwasher Preventive Maintenance Tips
Imagine how messy your kitchen would look with unwashed dishes and bowls in case of the break down of your dish washer!
Imagine the amount of effort you would need to put in order to clean up all those messy dishes! That is why the maintenance of your dish washer is so important.
We have put together a short dish washer maintenance guide. This will help you extend the lifespan of the appliance and will also reduce maintenance expenses. Even if you have an appliance warranty plan, warranty companies expect you to maintain your appliances in good condition.
Maintenance and Care Tips for Dish Washer
- If you have been using your dishwasher regularly, then it regular cleaning is not needed for the inside of the dish washer. But if you have not used it for some time, then you need to clean it with dishwasher cleaner and deodorizer. You can clean the exterior of your dish washer with a bit of detergent and a wet sponge.
- The small water filters at the bottom of the dish washer have to be cleaned regularly. You might have to replace a filter if there are any holes in it. You just have to follow the manual’s instructions to clean or to remove the filter.
- It is very important to choose the right detergent for your dishwasher. Also, it is equally important to follow the instructions given while using the detergent. Adding extra detergent might leave a layer of detergent residue, Hence you should use a minimal amount of dishwasher detergent.
- Overcrowding the dishwasher with too many dishes should be avoided. Dishes not only remain dirty but also they might break due to the insufficient space.
- You cannot rely on dishwasher alone to clean your dishes. Sometimes there may be large food particles on your plates which need to be removed manually.
- Delicate glassware, wood, copper, cast iron items should not be washed in a dishwasher.
- Place bowls, cups, glasses and other serving utensils on the top rack of your dishwasher. Put the plates, pans, pots and utensils on the bottom rack.
- Check if your sprayer is working properly and is not blocked.
- Avoid the nesting of spoons or forks as much as possible for complete cleaning. Also place the knives downward always for safety.
- Always try to run a full dishwasher instead of a partially filled one. There are more chances of breakage and damage when your dishwasher is partially full.
- Run an empty dishwasher with a cup of baking soda and one and a half cups of vinegar to clean and freshen the dishwasher. Do this periodically.
- Keep a check on the food drains, filters and gaskets to avoid any sort of blockage.
- Rust stains on the dishwasher can be treated with rust remover.
- It is always better to go for stainless steel tubs than the plastic ones because it resists hard water and sound dampening. Heat is preserved more in steel tubs leading to quick dryness of the dishes.
- When loading dishes, be sure that the dishes do not block the spray arm.
- Avoid detergent packets as the plastic does not always dissolve completely and may clog your machine.
These above mentioned simple maintenance tips can make your dishwasher run efficiently and reliably. They also help in extending the life span of your dishwasher leading to prevention of high replacement or repair bills.
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I am trying to find out what mixture to put in the dishwasher when it is not going to be used for awhile. There is a mixture of bleach or baking soda to put in the dishwasher to keep a seal from drying out.
I always run my dishwasher full. My daughter is a plumber and she comes to clean the filter for me as my arms are to short to reach it. A little bleach keeps the washer clean and smelling nice.
No, Nadya, don’t use bleach. It attacks things like seals and gaskets!