Avoid Dishwasher Appliance Repair with Some Essential Maintenance

Every appliance in your home plays a major role and keeping them in tip-top shape is important for them to work properly beyond their shelf-life. The dishwasher, an appliance of convenience, is no exception. Though the dishwasher is not an essential appliance of the home, where would we be without it? We’d be washing those plates and pots and pans by hand, no doubt. Who wants to do that? Or, nowadays, has the time? The very thought of being without a dishwasher is enough to make you run screaming from the room—what a nightmare! In some homes, the dishwasher seems to be working overtime. But there are a few easy tips to help you keep your dishwasher in good working order and avoid dishwasher appliance repair.

Use Less Detergent

Today’s machines require a lot less detergent. There is much less water being used by dishwashers now and the extra soap won’t get washed away correctly so only a tablespoon of soap is needed; otherwise you’ll end up with spotted, filmy silverware and dishes. If you use a detergent that is available in plastic packets or tabs that have rinse aids in them, don’t add a rinse aid to the machine’s reservoir. This will make the water become too soft which causes foaming and results in dirty dishes.

Clean and Deodorize

This isn’t so much of an issue if you use your dishwasher every day because putting your dishwasher through a cycle keeps the inside mold-free and clean. However, if you don’t use your dishwasher regularly, you’ll need to put it through a cycle once a week to clean it. This will make sure that mildew or mold doesn’t get transferred from your machine to your dishes. The last thing you’ll want to hear is, “Hey, Mom, when did we get the new dishes with the pattern on them?” Besides, if the mold and mildew is left to build up, then your dishwasher will just end up working exceptionally hard over time which will increase your electricity bill and limit its work life. Also, once a month it’s a good idea to run white vinegar through your dishwasher; this will take away any built-up mildew.

Clean That Cleaning Arm

The dishwashers of today don’t have the old food chopper systems that grind up food items and wash them away. So we all know to remove things like bones and toothpicks from our plates before loading them into the dishwasher—and don’t forget to remove Grandma’s artificial eye from that soup bowl! But those tiny fragments of food which your dishwasher wipes off the plates daily can become stuck in the little holes in the cleaning arm of your machine. Regularly check the cleaning arm to ensure that there is an even, steady stream coming from it. This will make sure that your dishwasher isn’t working harder than it should and that the dishes are being cleaned at top performance.

Maintain a Clear and Clean Filter

At the bottom of the dishwasher there is a filter that needs to be cleared and cleaned twice a week so that you’re getting the best function. An unclean filter equals dirty dishes or worse—if water overloads it could cause harm to your dishwasher or floor damage.

Oh, and let’s not forget to wipe down the tub’s front edge! Take a paper towel and wipe away any stuck-on food that’s built up. If you don’t do this simple task, this stuck-on food could get thrown back on the dishes during a cycle. Gross!!

These tips will render your day-to-day dishwasher use trouble-free and smooth. But, as with any mechanical equipment that’s had the best care, it will break down eventually. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t take it personally because it’s nothing you did wrong. A machine that has hot, flowing water splashing around moving parts which is run by electricity—well, let’s face it, you should know things are certain to happen at some point! When larger problems do arise, come to Fred’s Appliance. We have the tools and expertise to maintain all of your appliances—including your dishwasher—so contact us today for all of your appliance repair needs.