Top 3 Essential DIY Dishwasher Maintenance Techniques

Dishwashers help you save time by automatically cleaning dishes instead of forcing you to wash them the old-fashioned way. However, when your dishwasher fails to work properly, it can often cause concern. If you notice that your dishes are not as clean as they should be, there could be a few reasons why.

You can maintain your own dishwasher and save yourself a few bucks on a service call if you know what to look for when it fails to work properly. While you may not always be able to take care of the problem yourself, there are many things that you can do to get that dishwasher back in tip-top shape and ensure that your dishes are coming out sparkling clean.

We have collected the best maintenance and cleaning techniques that are easy to do and will help to keep your dishwasher clean and problem-free. Use the article navigation buttons below to navigate

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• 1. Technique
• 2. Technique
• 3. Technique

1. Technique

When your dishes aren’t getting clean, there could be a couple of things causing the problem. If the unit is running properly but your dishes are still coming out dirty, you may have a water flow problem, and there are a couple of ways that you can solve this issue.

First, take a look at the spray arm. Removing the arm and cleaning out the holes inside could instantly give you better cleaning power. Keep in mind that while some spray arms simply snap off, others have screws holding them on, so be sure that you do not break anything when you remove the arm.

The inlet screen could also be clogged. If this is the case, you may need to clean or replace the screen and/or valve. You just have to disconnect and remove the water line and then take out the valve to replace it. Detailed instructions at Family Handyman

2. Technique

Dishwashers tend to accumulate dirt buildup over time. In order to keep it running properly and to ensure that your dishes come out clean, you have to actually clean your dishwasher from time to time. You can begin by simply pulling out the lower rack and checking to see that nothing is clogging up the drain.

Vinegar or even lemon Kool-Aid – non-sweetened, of course, are great for cleaning, and both will eliminate dirt and debris. If you really need to sanitize, you can add bleach or baking soda to give it a really deep clean. Keeping the inside of the dishwasher clean and food-free is essential to ensure that your dishes always come out sparkling.

Bleach is great for eliminating mold and mildew, although you should avoid using bleach on dishwashers that are stainless steel on the inside. Detailed instructions at One Good Thing by Jilee

3. Technique

Hard water can be really hard on your dishwasher and cause quite a buildup over time. Tang, the orange breakfast drink, is actually an excellent cleaner to get rid of that buildup. You just have to put it in your dishwasher about once each month, and it will help you to prevent hard water deposits.

Imagine something so yummy being so great for cleaning the dishwasher, and it’s relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare the price of Tang to the cost of having your dishwasher professionally serviced. Detailed Instructions at One Creative Mommy