Your dishwasher is the powerhouse of your kitchen, cleaning all the dirty plates, cups, and cutlery. What you may not realize, though, is that some of your daily habits could prevent the appliance from working as well as it could—or set you up for dishwasher repair. Here are some tips to keep your dishwasher in top condition. 

How to Improve Dishwasher Performance

1. Scrape Before Loading

While you don't need to rinse the dishes before washing them, scraping extra food and gunk off your dishes before loading is important. You’ll ensure the dishes get clean and prevent clogs and a full waste trap. 

2. Leave Some Space

Overloading the unit will prevent it from fully cleaning the contents. When dishes are packed too tightly, the water and soap can’t reach all of the surfaces, and your dishes will come out dirty. Instead of stuffing items into every possible spot, hand wash them to avoid having to re-wash an entire load. 

3. Heat the Water

A dishwasher goes through several cycles to clean the contents, and often, the first rinse uses cold or lukewarm water because the hot liquid hasn’t reached the machine. Running the kitchen faucet for a few moments before starting the dishwasher helps the hot water get to the appliance sooner, ensuring your dishes are hit with a blast of hot water from the start. 

4. Check the Water Temperature

Ideally, a dishwasher’s water temperature should be between 120 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Test the hot water in your kitchen faucet, and adjust the water heater if needed. If the water is at the proper temperature, the washer may need a repair.

5. Clean the Machine

Even washers need to be cleaned themselves sometimes. At least once a week, empty the waste trap underneath the lower sprayer of food and other debris that can cause clogs and odors. Once a month, pour a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the machine and run a normal cycle (without any dishes) to clean and remove odors. Check and clean the seals as well.

 

Even when you do everything you can to keep your dishwasher in top condition, sometimes components can fail. If you need dishwasher repair, Complete Appliance Service in Fort Wright, KY can help. For almost 40 years, these experts have served homeowners throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. To request a quote, reach out online or call (513) 661-3708.