How to Take Care of Your Dishwasher

Many of us think that there is no need to wash and take care of our dishwasher — after all, if it washes the dishes well, it can take care of itself. However, this is not actually true. A dishwasher, like any other household appliance, needs proper care. Otherwise, its service life will be reduced or it will begin to do a not-so-great job when washing the dishes.

5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you how to take care of your dishwasher to prolong its service life.

• Remove all dishes from the dishwasher before cleaning it.

• Remove and rinse the spray arms with water. If necessary, clean the holes on them with a toothpick — clogged holes lead to a drop in the quality of dishwashing. After that, rinse the arms again, and then pat them dry with a paper towel.
• Place the spray arms back in the dishwasher.

• The filter is the place where food particles get caught. A stopped-up filter can cause overflows and a drop in the quality of dishwashing, so it’s important to give it a cleanup every week or so.
• To access the dishwasher filter, pull the bottom rack all the way out. The filter is usually located in one of the bottom, back corners of the appliance. It consists of several parts — 1 or 2 coarse filters, which allow for the collection of large particles of food, and fine filters, which retain small impurities.
• If your filter is removable, twist to remove it from the dishwasher and rinse it under hot running water to remove food particles and other debris. Then wash all of the parts of the filter with water and dishwashing liquid. Wipe out the area beneath the filter, inside the dishwasher, with a damp cloth, sponge, or toothbrush. Once clean, put the clean dishwasher filter back into place.

• Clean the rubber seals once a month. Clean the gaps between the seals with an old toothbrush. Dilute dishwashing liquid or soap in hot water and brush it over the seal. Then remove any remaining detergent with a clean, damp sponge and wipe the seal with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth.
• Clean the bottom of the door regularly. The stream of water doesn’t reach this area, so residue accumulates there all the time. Clean debris from this space by hand, using wet wipes.
• Run an intensive program every 6 months without dishes, but still using detergent (use a special dishwasher care product recommended by the manufacturer). This will keep all parts of the dishwasher clean and will remove accumulated fat and oil from the drain hoses.

• Open the dishwasher door a few inches as soon as the cycle ends. This allows trapped moist air to escape.
• After unloading the washed dishes, pull out the bottom rack to look for any leftover food that may have fallen into the well and remove it with a paper towel to prevent odors and future buildup.
• Wipe the exterior of the dishwashing machine with a damp cloth and a neutral detergent from time to time. Make sure water does not enter the control panel. Don’t use abrasive products, scouring pads, or solvents to clean the dishwasher’s exterior.
• All the actions described above don’t take much time, but they extend the life of your dishwasher significantly.