Dishwashers are a great appliance to have for the busy family, the family that cooks a lot, or for anyone that hates to wash dishes by hand. This appliance is not a maintenance-free appliance though. It needs to be cared for in order to keep it working properly and efficiently for years to come. Your dishwasher should be cleaned and inspected to prevent breakdowns and costly repairs. See below for dishwasher cleaning instructions.
Here's What You'll Need:
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- Microfiber cloth
Instructions:
- Combine the vinegar and baking soda together into a container.
- Be sure your dishwasher is clear of dishes and other items (other than the racks).
- Pour the mixture into the bottom of your dishwasher.
- Then run your dishwasher on the hottest setting (such as the sanitize setting).
- The baking soda and vinegar will help break down hard water and clean out any smells inside your dishwasher.
- Once the dishwasher cycle ends, you can open it up and wipe down any leftover residue with a damp microfiber cloth.
Cleaning your dishwasher is important, but you should also inspect it for any damage, food particles trapped in the bottom drain, as well as clogged sprayer arms. See below for tips to help you inspect your dishwasher.
- Check For Damage. Look at the inside tub for cracks that can cause leaks. Then look at the seals and inspect them for cracks, built up dirt, as well as any loose seals. If they are cracked or loose, you should have the seals replaced. You can find a replacement seal online or call the manufacturer for a replacement seal.
- Remove Food Particles. Food particles can become trapped below the sprayer arms in the bottom drain of your dishwasher tub. These food particles can build up over time and cause your drain tub to keep standing water. To look at your drain, first unplug your dishwasher or turn the power off to your appliance. Then remove the sprayer arms, and inspect the drain below. If the drain is clogged with food particles, you can remove it and clean it using a vinegar and baking soda mixture. Then clean the bottom of the dishwasher tub as well.
- Inspect The Sprayer Arms. With the sprayer arms removed, inspect each one for food particles or hard water clogging the spray holes. If you see any clogged, use a toothbrush to gently remove any build-up. If this doesn't work, you can use a piece of wire and gently clean out the sprayer holes.
Keep your dishwasher clean inn order to keep it running properly. Also be sure to inspect it often to prevent costly repairs.
For appliance repairs, contact a company such as Kaylor Appliance & Refrigeration Service.
