How to Keep Your Dishwasher in Tip-Top Cleaning Condition
How convenient is the dishwasher? These days, most homeowners can’t imagine what it would be like not to have a dishwasher. They save countless hours of manual dish scrubbing, making after-meal cleanup exponentially easier than it would be otherwise. As such, it is very much in the interest of homeowners to maintain their dishwashers—to ensure they are running as intended.
Indeed, a dishwasher—like any other household appliance—is not meant to run forever. With that said, taking good care of your dishwasher can prevent you from having to replace it prematurely. Here’s how.
Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold
Temperature control is a big issue with dishwasher maintenance—and one that many homeowners fail to take seriously. The manufacturer instructions for your dishwasher will specify the temperature you need to set your hot water on, and it is important to follow those guidelines. Turning your hot water temperature too high can cause the paint inside the dishwasher to peel, which can lead to more serious maintenance issues. If you don’t have your manufacturer manual, of course, you can likely find it online.
Checking the Filters
Another important consideration: The filters. Your dishwasher likely has filters located on the interior floor; these filters are designed to trap pieces of food that fall from dirty dishes. Keeping these filters clean and free of clogging is vital, so make sure you’re checking them and wiping them down after you run each load.
Build-Up on the Spray Arms?
Another oft-neglected part of the dishwasher is the array of spray arms. There are likely spray arms located on the floor and the ceiling of the dishwasher, and these spray arms are crucial for the proper functioning of the entire machine—because, of course, they are the source of the water that fills the dishwasher and gets your dishes clean! However, sometimes, food particles can build up and clog the spray arms. You might make a point to occasionally check them and use tweezers to remove any build-up that is obstructing the water flow.
Washing the Washer
A final dishwasher maintenance tip: Every month, run the dishwasher with nothing in it but two cups of vinegar. This effectively cleans the dishwasher itself, removing mineral and soap build-ups that have accumulated throughout the many loads of dishes. This step is crucial for disinfecting the dishwasher and for preventing the growth of mold. A related—and surprising—strategy is to run the dishwasher with nothing but a packet of lemonade-flavored Kool-Aid, which can eliminate stains and lime deposits.
The bottom line is that, the better you care for your dishwasher, the better it will serve you—and the longer it will last! Should you have a more serious dishwasher maintenance issue, or need a new one replaced, don’t hesitate to contact the professional plumbers at Unclog.it.
