Easy Dishwasher Maintenance

Your dishwasher is one of your most over used and over looked appliances in your kitchen! Chances are you run your dishwasher anywhere from 4-7 times a week! If you’ve ever been without a dishwasher, you know how much time and hard work having a working dishwasher can save you. In addition to being convenient, dishwashers often use less energy and water than washing all your dishes by hand. However, like all hard working appliances in your home, your dishwasher needs some regular maintenance to stay in tip top shape. Over time, you may have noticed that your dishwasher doesn’t wash as well as it used to or that it may start to smell. Fortunately, its nothing a little easy dishwasher maintenance can’t fix!

Check the seals. Your dishwasher may run long after the rubber gaskets that form a watertight seal around the door are functioning. If you notice any water leaking onto the floor around your dishwasher, don’t panic! It may be a simple case of needing to replace the seal.
Keep the screen clean. The small screen at the bottom of your dishwasher on the inside is designed to catch any large food particles or fallen silverware or other dishes. Most of us avoid this area like the plague and can think of a million things we’d rather do than clean it, but giving it a good cleaning can keep your dishwasher running efficiently and can prevent smells.
Clean the spray arm nozzles. Check your user manual from your dishwasher’s manufacturer and periodically remove these arms and clean them in warm, soapy water. You can use an old toothbrush to clean each spray nozzle to make sure you’re getting the maximum water flow to all your dirty dishes.
Check for mold and mildew. While it sounds gross, mold and mildew in the dishwasher can really be a common occurrence. Mold and mildew can be very easy to combat- just pour two cups of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar into your empty dishwasher and run it once on the heaviest setting.
Make sure its level. Just like pictures hanging on a wall, your dishwasher can become unlevel, causing it to work at a diminished capacity or leak. You can check to see if your dishwasher is level by placing a bubble level on the floor on the inside of your dishwasher, If needed, adjust the legs to make it level.

Keeping up with some basic dishwasher maintenance can help keep your dishes sparkling clean and can greatly prolong the life of your dishwasher. For dishwasher repair, maintenance, or replacement call Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 today.