We’re all familiar with the dishwasher’s dirty little secret: The appliance that is supposed to clean your dishes is itself a breeding ground for bacteria. A recent study by NSF International, an independent public health and safety organization, found that more than 75% of dishwashers contain coliform bacteria, up from only 50% in 2011.
Even if you’re not fazed by a little bit of bacteria, what else could be lurking inside? Here are five other things your dishwasher might be hiding from you:
Dirty dishes
Did you think it was just your sink that sometimes needs a good scrubbing? Your dishwasher can get filthy, too. NSF found E. coli present in nearly 25% of dishwashers (up from 15% in 2011). When biofilm builds up inside the appliance (a source of grime often caused by leftover food particles), the machine becomes a petri dish for bacteria.
The fix: Run hot water down the drain before starting your wash cycle and use the hottest setting on your machine to increase water temperature and kill germs, Neil Gaffney, director of communications at NSF International, told HuffPost. If you have hard water and notice white deposits on your dishes or along the edges of your
Mr. Dishwasher (originally Hr. Diskmaskin) is a Swedish brand of dishwashers. It was founded in 1952 by Vic Abkowitz as a subsidiary of his main brand, The Diswashing Company, and was acquired by the Electrolux Group in 1983. Mr Dishwasher is sold in several European countries and is the market leader in Sweden.
From our many years of experience we have found that your dishwasher might not always tell you everything about its current state. As a consequence, there are 5 common things that every dishwasher hides from its owner.
1. That it’s not used enough to warrant its existence
2. That it’s used too much and should be left to rest
3. That it doesn’t need those expensive tablets
4. That it has a leak
5. And finally, the biggest secret of them all…
How to load your dishwasher like a pro:
Load the largest items on the bottom of your washer, in the center.
Place cups and bowls facing down, so water won’t pool in them.
Keep sharp knives pointing downward or in a holder to avoid injury.
Leave space between items to allow water to circulate.
Avoid overcrowding, which can make it harder to get dishes clean.
Troubleshooting: “My dishwasher won’t start.”
Inspect the power cord for damage or fraying. Unplug the cord and plug it back in again. If this doesn’t work, check your home’s circuit breaker or fuse box to make sure that the breaker controlling your dishwasher hasn’t tripped or that a fuse hasn’t blown. If the breaker has tripped, turn it off and then back on again; if a fuse has blown, replace it with one of the same amperage (you may have to call an electrician). Resetting or replacing should fix the problem, but if it doesn’t, you may have a wiring problem. Call an appliance repairman for help.
Disposals are the most common culprits in dishwasher backing up. These appliances, when clogged or broken, will often prevent the dishwasher from draining properly. Before you call a plumber, remove the disposal’s cover plate and vacuum out any debris with a wet/dry vac. Then run some water through it to clear out anything else that might be stuck inside.
If removing debris doesn’t solve the problem, there’s likely an obstruction in the disposal itself and you’ll need to call a pro to help you dismantle it to find the blockage.
Your drain line could be getting clogged by small bits of food that don’t get filtered out properly by your disposal. If this is the case, it’s time to clean or replace your filter. The filter is usually located at the bottom of your dishwasher and can be easily removed and cleaned with a stiff brush or replaced if necessary. A clogged filter will have you calling for plumbing help before long!
A kinked drain line will also cause problems for your dishwasher as well as your kitchen sink. Kinks can be caused by moving the appliance or even hoses rubbing against one another or against other objects in their pathway. Check your drain lines periodically for kinks and make sure they
Don’t let your dishwasher fool you. Most dishwashers don’t do as well as they could, and it’s not entirely their fault. Here are five things your dishwasher wants you to know, but is too polite to say.
1. The way you load your dishes greatly affects how well we clean them.
2. Your water pressure may be too low.
3. If the water is too hot or cold, we can’t get the dishes clean either.
4. We need to be cleaned regularly, too.
5. Don’t use us if we’re not full; it’s really a waste of water and electricity!
Dishwashers are a marvelous invention that can save you time, money, and even your sanity. They have come a long way in the last few decades, with new options that can make your life easier and help you clean your dishes better. If you’re looking for a dishwasher or want to update the one you have, here are five things to consider before making the final decision:
Detergent costs
The type of detergent recommended by the manufacturer will largely depend on whether it’s a built-in appliance or not. Most of these models require special pods or packs that are specifically designed for use with their appliances, but there’s no reason why you couldn’t use regular liquid detergent instead if you prefer to do so.
Drying performance
The drying performance of dishwashers varies depending on whether they have a condenser dryer or not. The two main types available today are heat-pump dryers and condenser dryers. A heat-pump dryer is usually more expensive than other types of dishwashers because it uses hot air from outside to dry the dishes inside. Condenser dryers work by evaporating water out through vents at the back of the unit.