Is your dishwasher not cleaning your dishes properly?
Regular maintenance will help keep your dishwasher from needing repairs too often, but sometimes repairs are unavoidable. If you need a dishwasher repair in Calgary, give First Aid Appliance Repair a call. We offer simple, affordable and hassle-free repairs that same day you call.
While your dishwasher is going to run into problems every now and then, there are some simple tricks that you can use to keep it working its best, for longer.
8 Dishwasher Tips
Loading: Be aware of how you are loading your dishwasher. Make sure that you are only turning your dishwasher on when it is full; this saves energy and water, and results in cleaner dishes. Make sure that you aren’t overloading your dishwasher though; if dishes are stacked, or blocking each other they won’t get cleaned properly.
Clean the filter: If your dishwasher is not draining water, or there is food stuck to your dishes after a cycle, take it as a sign to clean your filter. Every once in a while remove the filter and rinse it. You can also clean it by letting it sit in the sink with hot water and soap; this helps to kill bacteria and remove grime buildup.
Stain colours: Pay attention to the stain colours on your dishes. Tomato sauce can stain the inside of your dishwasher or other dishes, so make sure to rinse the sauce off before putting dishes into the dishwasher. If you notice brown stains inside your dishwasher, then you have iron and calcium buildup. These can be removed using citric acid, such as lemon juice, mixed in with detergent and run on an empty cycle. If you see green stains it means your detergent has dye in it. Try switching to a different detergent that is dye-free.
Use the right amount of detergent: Don’t overdo it on your detergent; using too much soap can cause buildup and even damage your dishwasher. Refer to the instructions on the packaging of your product to determine how much you actually need.
Use fresh detergent: Don’t stock up on too much detergent; if it goes bad it won’t clean your dishes. Only buy what you will use up in 2 months, and make sure to look for expiration dates on the containers. Also, make sure to keep the detergent in a cool, dry space to keep it fresh for longer.
Pre-heating water: You can run hot water in a nearby sink just before you turn your dishwasher on. This will help the water about to be used in your dishwasher heat up faster, so when you finally turn your dishwasher on the water is already hot and will take less time to clean your dishes.
Scrape: Don’t pre-rinse your dishes to the point where they’re already clean when you put them inside the dishwasher. Rinse or scrape off large food chunks or any leftover food off the plates and leave some residue. Your dishwasher and the detergent you use will do a better job cleaning your dishes if they actually have something to clean.
Regular maintenance: Don’t forget to clean and maintain your dishwasher regularly so that it works better, longer. Also, if you start to notice your dishwasher isn’t working properly, call for a repair right away to avoid further, and potentially expensive damage.