1. Check the Drain
Take out the bottom rack in your dishwasher and take a close look at the drain area. There should be no hard chunks of food debris that could damage the pump or scratch your dishes. It’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves when doing and be careful. It’s not unusual for dishwasher repairmen to find materials, such as broken glass, pieces of bone and sharp stones, so be careful when removing these materials and watch your fingers.
2. Carry Out a Vinegar Washing Cycle
Fill a dishwasher safe cup with regular white vinegar and place it on the top rack in your dishwasher. Apart from this cup of vinegar, the dishwasher should be empty and clear of any debris. Run a long wash cycle on the hottest water temperature to clean the inside of the machine. The white vinegar will clean away any deposits of greasy material, sanitize the dish cleaning area and remove any unpleasant odors.
3. Carry Out a Baking Soda Washing Cycle
Once the vinegar washing cycle has finished, take a handful of baking soda and sprinkle it over the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run the machine at the highest water temperature, but only a short washing cycle is needed this time. The baking soda will remove any remaining stains in your machine and also act as a powerful deodorizer.
4. Carry Out a Bleach Washing Cycle (Optional)
For those who have a problem with mildew and mold, pour a ½ cup of bleach into the bottom of the dishwasher and then run a short washing cycle using the hottest water temperature. Be careful, however, if your dishwasher has a stainless steel interior, do not carry out this step; bleach is corrosive, and it could damage your machine.
General Dishwasher Tips
- Always run your garbage disposal before you turn on your dishwasher, they both drain into the same pipe, and the drain needs to be clear.
- Run the hot water in your sink until it gets hot, then start the dishwasher and your dishes will be cleaner.
- Conserving water and energy by running a full dishwasher is smart, but don’t pack the machine too tight, or the cleaning will be less effective. The machine needs to spray water across every surface so leave some gaps between your dishes.
- Dishwasher detergents need grease and grime to work, so don’t rinse the dishes too much before placing them in the dishwasher.
- Your water temperature needs to be hot enough to clean your dishes so set your water heater to approximately 120F. If the water is too cool the cleaning will be less effective, but take care, if the water is too hot it could easily scald someone.
Reliable Dishwasher Repair Services
These days, a dishwasher is an essential fixture in a modern kitchen, so if your appliance is not operating at peak efficiency or delivering great performance, you may want to consider obtaining help from a professional home appliance repair service.
For further advice or help with your dishwasher repair needs, ensure that you speak to a certified appliance repair service.
