How to care for your dishwasher
Wondering what you can do to improve your dishwasher's performance? Here are a few tips on how to clean and maintain your dishwasher for years to come.
Tip one:
You need to keep the areas that are hard to reach clean of build up. The build up can turn into bacteria which can then contaminate your clean dishes. The hard to reach areas include the door jam on the dishwasher door, the top of the sides of the dishwasher and the very top of the dishwasher. Since these parts are plastic and can cause bacteria to build up you will want to use a disinfectant when cleaning these areas. You should also wipe down the front of your dishwasher every time you do dishes. Use a damp washcloth and soapy dishwater to wipe it down.
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Tip two:
If your dishwasher has filters you will need to remove the filters on a regular basis and wash them with a mild detergent. Be sure to run the filters under hot water this will help to remove any build up that gets stuck in the tiny spaces on the filters.
Tip three:
If you notice your dishwasher has a funny order you should run your dishwasher on a short cycle using two cups of white distilled vinegar. This should get rid of any funny order, if not you might want to see if any food has become clogged in the filters or drain. You can also use the vinegar on a monthly basis just to keep your dishwasher fresh.
Tip four:
Make sure that you properly load the dishwasher, every dishwasher is different so be sure to consult your owners' manual before use.
Tip five:
Make sure that you only use the correct amount of dishwasher detergent. And always store the detergent in a cool, dry place so that it does not collect moisture which can interfere with its cleaning ability.
Tip six:
Do not put any other cleaning agents inside the dishwasher because it can create a mass amount of suds and could possible mess up your dishwasher, meaning it might no longer clean your dishes like it is supposed to.
Tip seven:
When installing your dishwasher you should make sure it is plugged into a grounded outlet. Never use an extension cord to plug in a dishwasher.
Tip eight:
If you do not stay in your home during the winter and you turn off the heat in your seasonal home be sure to winterize the dishwasher. Also before using the dishwasher the following year (if you leave your water heater turned on) turn on all of your hot water faucets and let run for several minutes. This will get rid of the hydrogen gas that can build up in hot water heaters during a long period of no use.
Tip nine:
If you get rust stains inside your dishwasher you can go to the hardware store and by a commercial soluble rust remover to put in your dishwasher. Start the dishwasher on the rinse cycle, as the dishwasher is filling open up the dishwasher and add half a cup of rust remover. Let the dishwasher run through the rest of the cycle.
Tip ten:
For stains you can use dishwasher detergent and water, but be sure to wear rubber gloves as the dishwasher detergent is very hard on hands.
Tip eleven:
Sometimes the interior walls can get a film buildup from hard water minerals. You can get rid of this film by using vinegar or citrus acid crystals. Do not put these in the dishwasher until after the dishwasher fills up for the first time. Before using citrus acid crystals you should consult your owners' manual to see if they are safe to use in your dishwasher. Also this build up will not hurt you so if you do not want to take the extra time to run another cycle then do not worry about it.
