Dishwasher Care Guide

Dishwasher Care Guide

It is safe to say that for most people, a dishwasher is an integral part of their everyday life, saving time and energy on those ‘who’s washing the dishes’ arguments. Despite popular belief, dishwashers are far eco-friendlier than washing dishes by hand, saving not only time, but water heater energy and use less water. 

Like the majority of appliances, dishwashers can start to lose performance over a period of time and develop odour, however with a little bit of care and attention, you can help avoid these problems and help this valuable piece of machinery stay running smoothly for longer.

Check the seals

All dishwashers are fitted with a rubber gasket that creates a watertight seal around the door. This is likely to break or crack long before your machine runs out of life. If this happens, your machine will start to leak water onto your floor. To solve this, contact your dishwasher’s manufacturer for a suitable replacement, or just call your local plumbing professional for repairs.

Wash the screen

A slightly unpleasant job, but one that needs to be done nonetheless. At the bottom of your dishwasher, you will find a screen that is designed to catch any debris such as large chunks of food or silverware. To stop the screen from becoming clogged and avoid unpleasant smells, you should remove and clean this regularly.

Clean the spray nozzles

Depending on design, most dishwashers will feature two or more rotating arms lined with spray nozzles. You should periodically remove these arms and wash them in warm soapy water, and even clean each individual nozzle with a small brush.

Eliminate mould and mildew

Like in most damp environments, mould and mildew tend to form and grow. Luckily this is easy to get rid of by pouring around 2 cups of white or apple cider vinegar into the machine when its empty, and rinsing it on the highest setting.

Make sure the dishwasher is level

If a dishwasher is on an uneven surface it can result in poor performance and drainage issues. To avoid this, use a spirit level and adjust the dishwasher’s legs accordingly.

Check the drain taps

Drain taps are a very useful piece of plumbing, not only because they could save your dropped ring from entering the grimy underworld of the sewers, but because they create a watertight seal between the sewer line and your appliance. However, if your dishwasher was installed on the wrong side of the drain tap, it could mean its not closed properly, allowing bad odours to escape into your kitchen.

By reading this simple guide and checking your dishwasher every couple of weeks, you could help prolong the life of your dishwasher, saving you both money and hassle!

West Country Plumbing and Heating only offer the above as an informative guide and cannot be held responsible for any damage or injuries caused. For more information about safety, please contact your appliance manufacturer.