Your dishwasher is a convenient appliance that exists only to make sure your dishes are clean. When it stops performing this essential function, it can be discouraging.
However, before you call an appliance repair service, there are a couple of things you can do to make sure your dishwasher continues to clean correctly. Keep reading to find out!
What You Need to Know
The first thing that you can do to make sure that your dishwasher cleans your dishes correctly is fairly simple: operate your dishwasher correctly. This means using the right type of detergent, making sure that your water is getting hot enough, and loading the dishes correctly.
Even though you might assume that you’re doing all of these things correctly, different dishwashers have different instructions. Especially if you’re using a secondhand dishwasher, this information is absolutely essential to making sure that your dishes are getting clean. Read the owner’s manual for model-specific instructions.
Go-To Dishwasher Cleaning Solutions
Two of the quickest solutions to dishwasher woes only require simple cleaning and inspection.
1. Clean the Spray Arm. The spray arm is the rotating part at the bottom of the dishwasher that helps soak dishes and rinse them after the detergent is applied. You may need to check your dishwasher’s manual in order to locate the spray arm.
Most spray arms can be removed and cleaned out fairly simply. Each spray arm has small holes that expel water when the dishwasher is in use, and these holes are easily clogged with food particles or dirt. Cleaning these holes out will improve your dishwasher’s performance no matter what, so it’s worth inspecting the spray arms. Our second solution requires this arm to be removed anyway.
2. Clean the Dishwasher Filter. The filter is often located under the spray arm on the bottom of your unit. This is what keeps all the food that gets cleaned off of your dishes from being put back into your water system. As a result, debris often gathers here.
If it’s possible to remove the filter screen from your filter (again, consult your dishwasher’s manual if you aren’t sure), you should. Cleaning this out and removing all the debris gathered here is essential. You can use a vacuum that is intended for wet materials to suck out the food and other debris and keep this area clean.
Other Solutions
Other methods of maintaining your dishwasher’s performance include checking that the dishwasher is getting enough water (check to see that the dishwasher is full up to the heating coil when it is finished filling, before the wash cycle). If the dishwasher isn’t getting enough water, the float may be stuck. Once you have located this part, you can check to make sure that it is operating as it should with the level of the water.
Otherwise, the inlet screen or valve may be at fault. You can manually check these parts as well.
Unfortunately, if none of these solutions make your dishwasher perform better, it may be time to call an appliance repair service You can contact All Brands Appliance Repair for advice, consultation, and to make an appointment!
