7 Things You Can Do To Help Your Dishwasher Last Longer
We don’t think about dishwashers a lot, but when they break down, we wish we had. Here are some tips to help your dishwasher last longer.
1. Keep the door closed when not in use
2. Try to run full loads
3. Wash with warm water instead of hot
4. Avoid using the pre-rinse cycle (the extra water is unnecessary and can cause problems)
5. Empty the filter regularly and thoroughly (clean it if needed)
6. Clean out the spray arm holes occasionally to avoid clogging and blocked water flow
7. Periodically check for leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible
You might not think much about your dishwasher. That’s because, when it works right, it’s like magic. You load it, turn it on and come back to perfectly clean dishes. But like any appliance, there are things you can do to help make sure your dishwasher lasts a long time.
Here are seven tips to help you get the most from your dishwasher:
Load your dishwasher the right way
Dishwashers have two racks: one for plates and bowls and another for glasses and cups. Place large items on the bottom rack so water can properly circulate around them. Make sure small items don’t fall through the spaces in the racks onto the spray arm or heating element below. Ensure lids, measuring cups and other utensils fit securely in their compartments before turning on the machine. Running an empty dishwasher is a waste of energy and water. Do not overload your dishwasher; this could prevent it from cleaning properly.
Use the correct type of detergent
Make sure you use a phosphate-free detergent (most detergents sold today do not contain phosphates). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how much of which types of detergents to use under different conditions (e.g., soft water vs.
Are you taking proper care of your dishwasher? Would you be surprised to learn that a dishwashing machine needs some extra attention from time to time to make it last for the long haul and clean your dishes as effectively as possible?
Here are seven expert-recommended maintenance tips to help your dishwasher last longer.
1. Start by reading the owner’s manual. The first thing you should do when you buy a new dishwasher is read the owner’s manual. You’ll find important information, such as how to properly load your dishes, what type of detergent works best and how much detergent is appropriate for each load.
2. Clean the exterior regularly with warm soapy water. Use warm soapy water to wipe down the front and sides of your dishwasher every month or two.
3. Run an empty cycle with bleach or vinegar. Fill a dishwasher-safe cup with white vinegar and place it on the top rack, then run the machine through a complete wash cycle once a month (or once every six months if you have hard water). This will clear out any possible clogs in the drain line and freshen up the interior by reducing residue buildup and smells over time.
4. Remove debris from the bottom of the tub before each
A dishwasher is an essential item in most kitchens and for good reason. A dishwasher saves you a lot of time and effort when it comes to cleaning your dirty dishes. It’s a great appliance to have, but like any other machine, a dishwasher wears down over time. Learn how to keep your dishwasher running strong so it doesn’t break down on you.
Watch out for the garbage disposal. Your garbage disposal is not the same thing as your dishwasher, and they should not be connected. Your garbage disposal can wreak havoc on your dishwasher if they are hooked up together, causing leaks, clogs, and other issues that will cost you in repair costs or replacement costs of a new dishwasher.
Don’t overload it with soap. Overloading your dishwasher with soap is not going to clean your dishes better than the recommended amount of soap would. If anything, overloading the soap will cause excessive suds which can overflow from the machine and cause big messes on the floor that are difficult to clean up!
1. Don’t overload your dishwasher.
When you cram your plates and cups into the dishwasher, you do two things: One, you make it hard for the water to get through all of those layers of dishes that you’ve stacked up. Two, you make it hard for the dishes to dry once the cycle is finished because they’re stuck in a damp pile.
2. Replace your dishwasher filter regularly.
As water drains from your dishwasher, it runs through a filter to catch any tiny debris that might be in the water. That debris stays in the filter until you clean it out or replace it (depending on how fancy your dishwasher is). If you don’t clean out this filter regularly, then you could start to experience problems with your dishwasher’s drainage system, which could cause water damage to your kitchen floor and cabinets.
3. Use rinse aid.
If you’ve ever opened your dishwasher while a dirty cycle is running and seen soap bubbles inside, then that means that something isn’t rinsing as well as it should. Usually, this is a sign that there is no rinse aid left in the dispenser or your rinse aid setting needs to be turned up higher. Either way, you’ll want to
1. Don’t pre-wash dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. It might seem like a good idea to rinse off every last crumb and bit of sauce from your plate before you put it in the dishwasher, but that can actually damage the dishwasher over time. Dishwashers are designed to clean even fairly dirty dishes without any pre-rinsing at all. In fact, if your dishes are rinsed too well before they go into the machine, that can even cause more work for the dishwasher because it won’t be able to detect how dirty they are and will therefore run longer than necessary.
2. Use a rinse aid to help keep your dishes dry and prevent spotting. Many people don’t realize that it’s not just soap that helps get your dishes clean; you also need a rinse aid to eliminate hard water buildup and spots on your dishes after each load.
3. If you have hard water, use a water softener in addition to a rinse aid. Even if you have a water softener for your whole house, adding an inline unit specifically for the dishwasher will improve performance significantly.
4. Keep the door open after each wash cycle to allow moisture to evaporate from the inside of the appliance and prevent
1. Clean the filter – If you leave food caught in the filter, it will start to smell and attract cockroaches. Take the filter out of your dishwasher and clean it regularly.
2. Load your dishwasher properly – There’s a right way and a wrong way to load your dishwasher. If you don’t load it right, dishes won’t get clean. The easiest way to learn how to load your dishwasher is to follow the instructions in the owner’s manual that came with your dishwasher.
3. Rinse off food before putting dishes in the dishwasher – Food can get caught in the filter if you don’t rinse it off first. If you leave food on your plates, then there’s a good chance that it will get stuck in the filter and eventually start to smell bad and attract cockroaches.
4. Run your dishwasher regularly – Dishwashers have heating elements that can burn out if you don’t run them often enough. You should run your dishwasher at least once per week, even if you haven’t used it much during that time period (e.g., if you were on vacation).
5. Use less detergent – Using too much detergent can damage the pump, which will shorten the life