Dishwasher Maintenance Tips – Keep it Operating at Peak Performance

Washing dishes typically ranks among the least favorite of household chores. Luckily, your dishwasher takes that task off your to-do list. It makes after-dinner cleanup a breeze and keeps your kitchen sink from filling up with dirty dishes. Unfortunately, when your dishwasher breaks down, the task of washing dishes can seem more monumental than ever. Dishwasher maintenance can have a significant impact on its performance. Following some simple tips can keep your dishwasher operating properly and help you avoid those annoying breakdowns.

How You Load Your Dishwasher Matters

This can have a significant impact on dishwasher maintenance and how clean your dishes are when it’s time to unload them and put them away. Specific loading instructions for your machine should be included in your owner’s manual but here some loading tips that that apply to almost any model.

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The bottom rack should be reserved for larger items. Smaller items such as glasses and cups should be placed in the top rack. The loading of utensils will vary depending on the type of cutlery basket your machine has. If it only has smaller openings, most utensils should be loaded facing up. Sharp knives should always be loaded face down to avoid any injuries. If there are larger openings, you may want to alternate between loading them face up and face down to avoid nesting which can result in food residue being left behind. Make sure long-handled utensils are loaded in a way where they will not interfere with or obstruct the sprayer arms. This can cause damage to the machine.

One of the most common mistakes is overloading the dishwasher. This can prevent proper water circulation, leaving food residue to remain on some items or result in chipped or broken tableware. Also, if items are loaded improperly and shift during operation, they can come in contact with the sprayer arms and cause damage. While making sure the dishwasher is full before you run it will save on energy costs, overloading it can cost even more if you have to run it a second time or end up needing repairs.  

Scape or Rinse Before Loading

While it might make the after-dinner clean up easier, dishes shouldn’t go right from the table into the dishwasher. Scraping or rinsing excess food from dishes, utensils, and even glassware is an important part of dishwasher maintenance. Food particles can clog various parts of the machine including the pump assembly, drain lines, and sprayer arms. This can impact performance, cause bacteria to build up and potentially lead to the need for dishwasher repair.

So you may be thinking “Do I have to wash everything before loading it into the dishwasher?”

The answer is no. Actually, the enzymes in today’s dishwasher detergents require some food residue be present to activate. but scraping or rinsing off most of it before loading your dishwasher, the better the machine will perform. Also, reducing the build-up of food residue in your dishwasher can help you avoid costly repairs and extend its life span.

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Combat Build-up

In addition to food residue, mineral deposits or limescale builds up inside your dishwasher, especially if you have hard water. Also if your water has high levels of iron, you may see rust rust-colored staining on the inside of the machine. This is not only unsightly, but it can also clog sprayer arm nozzles It is recommended you use a dishwasher cleaner once a month to remove build-up and staining. This simple dishwasher maintenance tip is an easy way to keep your machine operating at peak performance.

Professional Dishwasher Maintenance and Repair

Even with the proper care, you may still find yourself in need of professional dishwasher maintenance or repair. At Jersey Coast Appliance, we do our best to solve all of your dishwasher maintenance needs. Our trained technicians have the knowledge and experience to keep your dishwasher operating at its best or advise you when the best solution would be appliance replacement. We service and sell a wide variety of dishwasher brands and carry a large inventory of parts including Kenmore. Contact us for all of your dishwasher maintenance needs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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