The average dishwasher has a lifespan of six to ten years. If you want this convenient appliance to last as long as possible, it’s essential to take proper care of it.
But how do you properly care for your dishwasher? What should you do if you’ve already noticed a pungent smell coming from your appliance? What if the dishes aren’t getting clean enough?
Check out the five dishwasher maintenance tips below. They’ll teach you how to take proper care of this machine and offer valuable advice on what to do if there are smells or other issues.
- Use Your Dishwasher Frequently
- Check the Spinning Arms
- Don’t Forget to Clean These Areas
- Clean the Drain Regularly
- Make Sure Dishes Are Rinsed Properly
- Do You Have More Questions About Dishwasher Maintenance?
1. Use Your Dishwasher Frequently
Daily use of your dishwasher can help keep it free of buildup. It also reduces the risk of smells and lowers how often you’ll have to clean your dishwasher manually.
2. Check the Spinning Arms
Dishwashers use spinning arms to clean dishes by spraying water through small pinholes. If your dishes aren’t getting clean, the spinning components could be to blame. Check to see if the arms still spin, and clean any debris out of the pinholes using a toothpick.
3. Don’t Forget to Clean These Areas
Is there a smell coming from your dishwasher? Did you already clean out the inside to no avail? Chances are high it’s not the inside of your dishwasher that’s the problem, but one of its external areas.
At least once a week, make sure you give these areas a good cleaning:
Edges of the door
Front of the dishwasher
Under the door
Flatware basket
Gasket
Soap dispenser
During your annual spring cleaning, you should also clean further underneath the dishwasher. Doing this will keep your kitchen free of unpleasant smells.
4. Clean the Drain Regularly
You should be cleaning your drain about once six times a year if possible. Before cleaning the drain, make sure you unplug the dishwasher to prevent electrical shocks. Then, follow your owner’s manual to clean the drain out.
Keeping the drain clean doesn’t only prevent smells. It also keeps your dishwasher running as efficiently as possible. An efficiently running dishwasher will also generally keep your energy bills low.
5. Make Sure Dishes Are Rinsed Properly
One of the best dishwasher maintenance tips is to ensure your dishes are adequately rinsed. Large chunks of food can get stuck in the drain, while smaller bits can clog the spinning arms’ holes. Avoiding these issues from the start is your best course of action.
Do You Have More Questions About Dishwasher Maintenance?
Taking care of your dishwasher is simple but often overlooked. It’s easy to forget to clean something with a primary job of cleaning. Following the above five tips, however, can keep your dishwasher free of smells and running well.
Do you have more questions about dishwasher maintenance? Or does your dishwasher need professional repair?
Contact us today. One of our team members is ready to answer any questions you still have. They can also set you up a repair appointment if necessary.
