Dos and Don’ts of a Dishwasher
Maintaining your dishwasher properly can prevent common household headaches such as foul odors, clogged drains, and costly repair calls. Below are the essential do’s and don’ts for keeping your machine running efficiently.
The Do’s: Essential Maintenance
Clean the Filter Regularly: Most modern dishwashers have a manual filter at the bottom. You should remove and clean it every few weeks to prevent food particles from clogging the pump and causing drainage failure.
Scrape, Don’t Pre-Wash: Scrape off large food scraps into the bin, but avoid fully pre-rinsing dishes. Modern sensors detect soil levels to adjust the cycle; if dishes are too clean, the machine may run a shorter, less effective cycle.
Use Proper Loading Patterns: Face dirty surfaces toward the sprayer arms and ensure they can rotate freely. Overloading restricts water flow and puts extra strain on the motor and pump.
Run a Monthly Cleaning Cycle: To remove limescale and grease buildup, place a bowl of white vinegar in the top rack and run an empty hot cycle.
The Don’ts: Items to Keep Out
Subjecting the wrong items to high heat and abrasive detergents can ruin your belongings and damage the machine.
Cast Iron: The dishwasher will strip the seasoning, causing the iron to rust.
Sharp Kitchen Knives: High heat and moisture can dull the blades and rot wooden handles.
Wood Products: Cutting boards and wooden spoons will warp, crack, or swell in the humid environment.
Insulated Mugs: The heat can damage the vacuum seal that keeps your drinks hot or cold.
Nonstick Pans: Repeated cycles will wear down the coating, causing it to flake off over time.
When to Call for Repair
If you notice these red flags, it may be time to put in a work order:
Unusual Noises: Grinding or rattling can indicate issues with the pump, motor, or door latch.
Standing Water: If water remains at the bottom after a cycle, you likely have a clogged drain pump or hose.
Leaking: Often caused by a damaged door seal or a faulty drainage hose.
Burning Smell: This could be a mechanical fault or a plastic item that has fallen onto the heating coil
