Basic Dishwasher Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
In order to keep your dishwasher running properly and your kitchen from overflowing with those dirty dishes, here are some important hints to help you out.
How to Clean and Deodorize Your Dishwasher
Believe it or not, dishwashers need cleaning, too! Have you noticed an unpleasant stench coming from your appliance lately? No need to worry. Here’s how to fix that:
• Make sure your dishwasher is empty. Scrub the inside well with detergent.
• Take out your filter (located on the dishwasher floor). You’ll wash it just like you would a plate, with soap. Turn your faucet to warm and let the water run through your filter, then add in soap and scrub away. Make sure to rinse your filter with clean water to get rid of any food scraps sticking around. Don’t forget to put the filter into your appliance once you’ve finished.
• There are two options for this next step. You can run 3 cups of white vinegar through an empty cycle (doing this too often can harm the dishwasher) so only do so in moderation and do not use detergent in this load. The other option is to put a small amount of baking powder on the dishwasher floor for a twelve to twenty-four hour period, then to run an empty cycle with detergent.
After this, that musty smell should go away, allowing for cleaner future cycles.
What to Do if Your Dishwasher Starts to Show Signs of Rust
Rusting can result from certain items, such as silverware or skillets that cycle through the dishwasher or from metal parts inside the dishwasher that have begun to age. To help with this:
• Hand wash rusted items or apply rust remover and allow the items to sit, washing the objects off with water before returning them to the dishwasher.
• Pull racks out to full length and check to find any rusted areas. Cover these rusted parts with a sealing solvent, such as a certain type of nail polish or liquid rubber. Wipe them down after, allowing them to dry.
• If your dishwasher shows stains from utensils, use a citric acid compound specifically for dishwashers. Pour it into the detergent dispenser and run two cycles. The first cycle will include the compound, and the second will run without any additives, to serve as the rinse cycle.
At this point, a majority, if not all of the rust, should be absent from your appliance and dish ware.
What to Do if Your Dishwasher Won’t Drain All the Way
Occasionally, dishwashers fail to drain due to blockages, but this dilemma can be easily solved by:
• Most importantly, cutting the power off before beginning work.
• You may need to undo screws to access the basket on the floor of the dishwasher.
• Use a thin wire, such as a coat hanger to push any excess food particles out of the way.
Newer models may have buttons to push that drain without you having to dig in and do extra work.
Checking Dishwasher Hoses
Located beneath your sink, it is important to inspect the hoses leading to and from your dishwasher to prevent leaks and ensure proper function. Check at the joints (where the hoses connect at the pipes) for any drips or corrosion. Also, make sure that the drain hose coming from the dishwasher is not kinked or damaged and is properly connected to the drain or garbage disposal. For good measure, these hoses should be replaced at least every five years to make certain that they will not burst.
Charlotte Plumbers With Experience
Need to have your dishwasher looked at? Worried that your dishwasher is broken? Aren’t sure how to replace dishwasher hoses on your own? Give us a call at 704-846-5371 or use our online contact form for service 24/7, 365 days a year.
Article Summary
Quick question & answer: Are there basic dishwasher tips I should know?
As a homeowner there are several basic dishwasher tips you should know. To clean and deodorize your dishwasher, scrub your empty dishwasher with detergent, take out the filter and wash it with soap, and lastly, run 3 cups of white vinegar through an empty cycle without detergent. Check your dishwasher hoses under your sink to prevent leaks.
