Some people wouldn’t know the first thing about cleaning their dishwashers. However, it is a task that you should do on a regular basis. Eventually your dishwasher will need a good cleaning to remove food debris and other deposits that build up. When a dishwasher is not cleaned on a regularly, it can make dishes look dingy and old. By routinely cleaning and maintaining your dishwasher, you can make sure that it will run smoothly and provide you with spotless dishes for years to come. Below are a few tips that will keep your dishwasher performing at its best.
Use Your Dishwasher On A Regular Basis
A great way to ensure that your dishwasher is free of debris and build up is by running it on a weekly basis. This will help reduce small particles that settle in the bottom of your appliance.
Make Sure The Spinning Arms Are Clean
Dishwashers will use their spinning arms to spray water on dishes, ensuring that they are thoroughly cleaned. When the arms are locking up or filled with buildup, it means that debris has accumulated inside of the spinners holes. A quick way to resolve this issue is to use either a toothpick or piece of wire to clean out the small openings.
Clean The Exterior Parts Of Your Dishwasher
Sometimes in a hurry, we can forget that food and other pieces of debris may fall on the outside areas of the appliance. By gently washing the exterior door with a warm cloth and household cleaner, you’ll remove any offending smells that might be coming from your dishwasher.
Unclogging The Drain Is Useful
Food particles and build up will sometimes flow to the bottom of your dishwasher near your drain. When this happens the drain will eventually clog and the dishwasher will be less efficient. You can clean that area by removing the largest pieces by hand. then take a brush or cloth and clean out the small deposits.
Don’t Put Too Many Dishes In Your Dishwasher
It can be very tempting to overcrowd your dishwasher. By adding one more bowl or plate you can end up rerunning an entire load of dishes because they are tightly packed.
Toss In A Cup Of White Vinegar
Once you have emptied out your whole dishwasher, add a cup of white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a normal cycle. This will ensure that old food particles are cleaned out, leaving your dishwasher smelling fresh.
Check The Temperature Of Your Water Heater
To guarantee that your dishes are washed at the right temperature, make sure that your water heater is close to 125 degrees. Some units like Bosch dishwashers from 2nds World are shipped out and sent at a lower heat range. By checking the temperature you will be able to have sparkling clean dishes the first time around.
These quick tips should help you in case you ever have a clogged dishwasher or one that just doesn’t work at its best anymore. However, if it is time to purchase a new one, at least you will have these pointers for future use.
