Having a dishwasher at home can be a major convenience. It saves you the time it takes to wash the dishes by hand and also keeps you away from the dirty stuff. However, like with most appliances, they must be maintained regularly. After all, it’s responsible for cleaning some of the cleanest utensils in your house. Here are some tips to keep your dishwasher functional at all times.
Use it Regularly
This may sound counterproductive, but using your dishwasher on a regular basis is a great way to keep it in shape and in good condition. If you use your dishwasher to clean your dishes every day, you’ll never be able to gather up any debris inside. On the other hand, if you for whatever reason use it sparingly, the dishwasher will end up gathering dust. And, when you do decide to use it, you’ll have to clean it, otherwise, you’ll end up with dirtier dishes than before you put them in.
Clean the Exterior
Even though using your dishwasher on a regular basis can prevent it from gathering dust on the inside, that doesn’t mean it’s safe from outside dirt. This is especially true if you live in areas that naturally gather dust frequently. Inspect every inch of the dishwasher’s edges and exterior, and be sure to get rid of any dust or dirt that’s gathered in-between. The dirt found outside the dishwashers won’t directly affect its performance for the most part, but it’s a good habit to follow nonetheless. And besides, who wouldn’t prefer to keep their kitchen a little bit cleaner?
Clean out the Drain
The drain is where all the food and debris gather at the end of every dishwashing session. For some, it can be tempting to leave the debris and dirt after washing and just clean it up every now and again. But this can have consequences by clogging the drain or even causing a smell to build up inside the appliance. You’ll want to clean out the drain as much as possible, preferably after every time you use the dishwasher. Yes, it may be a bit dirty, but it certainly beats getting rid of every spot by hand.
Inspect the Spray Arm
The spray arm is responsible for the magic that cleans your dishes good as new. Because of this, they’re arguably the most important part of the dishwasher, and as such, they should be checked on frequently. If you’ve noticed that your dishes and utensils haven’t been nearly as clean as they once were, then it’s possible that there’s something wrong with the spray arms. Dishwasher rinse aid may not be enough if the sprinklers themselves are defective. Check if there’s anything blocking or affecting it, and if you aren’t sure what the problem is, have an expert check it out. You may need to spend a bit on repairs, but they’re well worth the cost if you want to keep using the dishwasher.
Get Rid of Any Mold or Mildew
Mold and mildew are commonplace in areas that are frequently damp and wet. This makes dishwashers possible places to find both growing in its corners, especially older ones. If your dishwasher’s seen some years, then you should check every inch of its insides to see if there’s any mildew or mold growing. If they are, you can remove them by rinsing the dishwasher with a bleach solution. Bleach gets rid of both mold and mildew quite easily, but they’re also bad on stainless steel, so don’t use them if your dishwasher’s made of the material.
Conclusion
Dishwashers are a convenience that many people take for granted. By keeping the appliance regularly cleaned and inspected, you won’t have to worry about cleaning grimy dishes for the foreseeable future.
