Dishwashers are among the most essential appliances found in modern-day homes. As anyone who’s ever lived without one can attest, washing dishes the old-fashioned way can take quite a bit of effort and eat up a fair amount of time. However, in order to get the best possible performance out of your dishwasher, you’ll need to take proper care of it. Failure to give your dishwasher the TLC it requires is liable to result in improperly cleaned dishes and shorten the device’s life. Anyone looking to keep their dishwasher up and running for years to come will be well-served by the following tips.
Don’t Let Small Problems Linger
As is the case with other big-ticket appliances, dishwasher issues should not be left alone for extended periods. Seemingly inconsequential issues can quickly turn into major problems if left to resolve themselves, and the longer you wait to have them addressed, the more it’s likely to cost you. With this in mind, don’t hesitate to enlist the aid of a dependable repair service the next time your dishwasher begins to act up. Spending a little bit of money in the short term can save you a hefty sum in repair and maintenance costs down the line. When seeking out the right dishwasher repair service, look for companies that offer convenient availability, fair pricing and impressive expertise.
Clean Filters and Nozzles
Most dishwashers manufactured in the last 10 to 15 years contain filters that serve as barriers between the dishwasher and the drain. Like most filters, dishwasher filters become dirty over time, which can impact your washer’s efficiency and functionality. To nip this in the bud, make a point of removing and thoroughly rinsing your dishwasher filter under warm water at least once a month. If your dishwasher receives a fair amount of use, the filter may need to be rinsed more often. If you’re unclear on the shape or location of your filter – or how to go about removing it – consult your dishwasher’s owner’s manual.
Dishwasher nozzles also tend to accumulate filth and debris over time. Additionally, build-up is commonly found on nozzles in homes with hard water. Provided you stay on top of things, most nozzle-based filth and mineral build-up can be loosened and removed with a safety pin or wire hanger. For best results, take care to check your filters and nozzles at least once a week, even though they’re unlikely to be in need of cleaning every time.
Thoroughly Scrape and Rinse Dishes
When placing dishes in the dishwasher, the temptation to ignore residual food pieces can be overwhelming. Although children are particularly bad about scraping their dishes, many adults are just as neglectful in this area. While paying dirty dishes no mind after placing them in the dishwasher is certainly convenient, it’s neither good for the device nor conducive to clean dishes. The presence of food pieces can result in clogging, which can compromise the effectiveness of your dishwasher and lead to costly repairs. Furthermore, food particles that remain on dishes throughout the washing process can become stuck and difficult to remove. With this in mind, make sure everyone in your household thoroughly rinses and scrapes dishes in advance of placing them in the washer. You and your crew may find this slightly inconvenient, but this simple precaution can save you money and help extend the life of your dishwasher.
Avoid Overloading
Habitual overloading is among the most common blunders people make with regard to dishwasher maintenance. Wanting to wash as many dishes as you can in one go is perfectly understandable, but this approach is bad for both your dishwasher and dishes. Overloading typically results in unevenly cleaned dishes and overtaxed washers. So, no matter how many dirty dishes have piled up, spreading out large loads across multiple washer sessions is the smartest course of action.
In the absence of a working dishwasher, a sizable chunk of your time is likely to be spent washing dishes, particularly if you hail from a larger household. The more dirty dishes you and your family produce, the more essential a functional dishwasher is. As such, it’s imperative that you take measures to keep your dishwasher in prime condition. Not only will this result in cleaner dishes, it will save you a small fortune in repair and replacement costs.