Before you need high-tech appliance repair, it’s best to maintain your dishwasher’s condition.
Imagine your dishes piled sky high after last night’s dinner party, caked with the leftovers of that creamy spinach artichoke dip. That’s when you depend a lot on the dishwasher.
Indeed, dishwashers are workhorses when maintained properly. Ignore it, though, and you’ll be right back on dishwashing duty in no time.
Take it from us: a few simple maintenance tasks can keep your dishwasher running like new for years. Let’s get to it!
#1 Give Your Dishwasher a Deep Clean by High-Tech Appliance Repair
Grease, limescale, and plain old dirt build up inside your dishwasher over time. All that gunk impairs cleaning performance.
Here’s how:
- Run a hot vinegar cycle. Give 2 cups of household vinegar to a bowl and lay it on the lower rack. Run your dishwasher on the hottest setting with no dishes. The vinegar breaks up grease and mineral deposits.
- Then, clean the filter. Hidden at the bottom of your dishwasher is a filter that traps food particles. Remove it and rinse under hot water, scrubbing with a toothbrush if needed.
- After that, wipe the door seals. Food and grime love to hide in the rubber seals around the door. Attack them with a soapy, wet cloth.
- Don’t forget to unclog the spray arms. Remove the upper and lower spray arms. Use a toothpick to clear out any blocked holes.
- Finally, disinfect with bleach. Kill bacteria and mildew by running an empty cycle with 2 cups of bleach.
If possible, aim to give your dishwasher a thorough, deep clean every 1-2 months. Therefore, you’ll keep it working at its best.
#2 Check The Rinse Aid
Skipping rinse aid is a surefire path to spotty, film-covered dishes.
The little window on the rinse aid dispenser shows when you need to refill. Top it off to the max line with a liquid rinse aid, and make sure the cap is tight.
While you’re at it, take a second to wipe down the cup and clean out any gunky buildup. This way, you won’t need dishwasher repair anytime soon!
#3 Don’t Overstuff Your Dishwasher
It’s hard to resist cramming as many plates and pans as possible into your dishwasher after a big family dinner or party. Avoid the temptation!
Therefore, overloading the dishwasher prevents water from reaching and cleaning all the surfaces. Leave a little breathing room around each item for the water to circulate.
Finally, check your owner’s manual for the recommended number of place settings per wash cycle and stick to it. Also, take care that dishes aren’t blocking the spray arm; it needs to spin freely.
#4 Use the Proper Detergent
Dishwasher detergent has special cleaning agents perfect for busting through baked-on, greasy messes. Using the right amount of quality detergent is a must for sparkling dishes.
Next, check the lines in your detergent dispenser cup and fill it to the recommended amount based on soil level. Too much or too little detergent can make your dishes dingy.
If you have perpetually hard water, try a detergent specially formulated for it or add water softener salt. The minerals in hard water reduce the cleaning power of detergent.
#5 Clean the Water Inlet Valve Filter
The little water inlet valve filter keeps grit and particles from getting into your dishwasher’s interior parts. Every few months, shut off the water supply and unscrew the valve and rinse the filter until it’s debris-free.
Replacing the clean filter and turning the water back on should solve any flow problems. Call in a pro if issues continue.
Know When to Call High-Tech Appliance Repair
Though basic care is a DIY job, some dishwasher issues require a pro’s know-how.
Then, reach out to our friendly high-tech appliance repair pros if you notice:
- Leaking water
- Error codes that won’t go away
- Rust spots inside the tub
- Problems filling with water
- Dishes are not getting fully cleaned.
Our appliance repair service has the skills to diagnose any dishwasher problem correctly and the experience to fix it quickly. Moreover, we’ll get your appliance back to peak cleaning performance in no time.
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