You toss your dirty dishes in your dishwasher daily and then leave the appliance to do the dirty work for you. When the wash cycle is complete, you open up the dishwasher and put away your nice, clean dishes without probably another thought about the dishwasher. Think about how many times you do this and then think about how many times you've cleaned the dishwasher or done any type of maintenance on it. If the answer to the second part is never, you should probably read on. See below for tips on how to maintain your dishwasher.
Clean It
It may sound silly to have to clean the appliance that cleans your dishes (isn't it self cleaning?), but your dishwasher can accumulate calcium build-up or even food particles that didn't get washed down the drain. It can begin to smell if not cleaned, in which case, it's not exactly "cleaning" your dishes at all.
- Add vinegar to the detergent bin and turn the cycle on to to the hottest cycle.
- Take a clean cloth soaked in vinegar when the cycle has ended and wipe down the inside wash tub, being sure to wipe along the rubber seal and inside the detergent bins as well.
Inspect The Sprayers
The sprayer arms can get a calcium buildup in them, clogging them completely or causing them to spray irregularly, which can lead to streaked dishes and glasses. Use an old toothbrush to clean out the sprayer arms. If the calcium buildup is too tough for the toothbrush, pour a little bit of vinegar in them, then use a toothpick to carefully clean out the sprayer holes. These sprayer arms are removable, so if need be, you can soak them in the sink filled with a mixture of vinegar and warm water. Rinse them thoroughly when you're finished cleaning them.
Clean Out The Drain
After the sprayer arms have been removed, look in the drain at the bottom of the wash tub for any food particles or stickers/price tags that may have come off of your plates or glasses. All of these particles can clog the drain, leaving water inside of your wash tub if not removed and eventually a big mess.
Put your dishwasher back together again when you're finished cleaning it out. Be sure to do this type of cleaning on your dishwasher a few times per year to help ensure it works properly each and every time you need your dishes washed. For more information, contact local professionals like Goldman Appliances Inc.
