Sharing some tips on how to keep your dishwasher running smoothly for years to come!

  • You Must Scrape Food Off Plates:  We are not saying you need to clean the plates, because cleaning the plates before you wash the plates is silly.  Scrape food bits off before loading into your dishwashwer will help reduce particles stuck on dishes once the cycle is over.
  • Run Hot Water Before Starting Dishwasher: Before starting the cycle, turn on the faucet and run until the water is hot to the touch. This means your first dishwasher fill cycle will be hot, instead of cold, this is especially useful in the winter.

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  • Don’t Overcrowd The Dishwasher: It’s easier said than done. It’s tempting to layer one more bowl or plate to avoid hand washing, but it’s better to wash a few pieces by hand than to rerun an entire load because dishes were too tightly packed.
  • Use The Correct Cycle: Its generally not a good idea to use a lighter setting to save time or money on your water bills.  Keep all your super dirty dishes or pots together and use the Pots Setting.  Its also good idea to do some of the exceptionally dirty by hand, otherwise you will need to rerun a whole load for just one item.
  • Rise Aid Is Important: When looking to purchase a new soap for your dishwasher, make note if it includes a rinse aid. If it does, then there’s no need to add any extra. You can also use white vinegar as a rinse aid if you dont have any – it works!
  • Run An Empty Cycle With Vinegar:  It’s the same concept as running a vinegar load in your washing machine. You simply toss a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a normal cycle. It cleans out old food particles to keep your dishwasher smelling fresh.
  • Clean The Dishwasher Trap: At the bottom of your dishwasher, under the lower sprayer, there’s usually a piece that is removable. Under it you’ll usually find bits of food that didn’t make it out the drain.  Sometimes the tray comes out so it can be rinsed in the sink; sometimes you need to wipe it out with a paper towel.
  • Clean Your Dishwasher Door Seals: After a few months of use, your dishwasher accumulates a little bit of ick and stick around the rubber gasket in the door and often around the soap door as well. Make sure to give them a once-over with a damp towel to keep the grime down.
  • Check Your Water Heater’s Temperature:   Make sure your water heater is set between 120 and 125 degrees. Many new units have a default setting that is much lower. This is the ideal temperature for washing dishes; a higher setting may cause water to flash dry and not roll off your dishes.
  • Test Your Water: Hard water is killer on dishes and your ability to really get things clean. Make sure to have things tested and soften accordingly.

If you have any questions, please give us a call at Appliance Guard – (310) 318-3538