According to the data aggregate site Statista, over nine million dollars were spent on new dishwashing machines in 2015 alone. With so many new dishwashers in so many new homes, a lot of people asking how they can best maintain the useful appliance to keep it working at its best.
Our first piece of advice is keep it clean. Just because a dishwasher is good at washing dishes doesn’t mean it’s also perfectly suited to keep itself clean. Follow these five tips for keeping your dishwasher working and looking great.
Clean out the seals regularly.
Ickiness loves to grow in damp, dark places. Places like the seal around the door on your dishwasher. Grossness can grow around the door’s rubber gasket and the detergent door as well – give them a quick wipe down with a cloth every time you unload the dishwasher to help avoid unpleasant build-up.
Keep an eye on the dishwasher trap.
Another place you might not think about when it comes to keeping your dishwasher clean is the trap. The trap is located under your dishwasher’s lower sprayer. It’s there catch all the bits of debris that didn’t make it out of the drain. Usually it can be completely removed, rinsed out, and replaced with relative ease. Clean your dishwasher’s trap regularly so nothing horrible grows down there.
Consider your water.
Hard water can cause a lot of trouble. It can damage the inside of your hoses, pipes, and other dishwasher attachments. Plus, hard water tends to leave unsightly grime and debris on everything it touches. If you’re noticing an unreasonable amount of cloudy mineral residue on your dishes after a wash, it might be time to look into a water softener for your home.
Give it a special bath at least once a month.
Vinegar has been used as a basic cleaning supplement for thousands of years for a reason: it works. Once a month or so, run your dishwasher empty and throw in a cup of white vinegar before the cycle goes. It’ll get out food particles that have built up in hidden places and give the inside of your washer a nice shine.
Pay attention to what you put in it.
The average dishwasher can handle just about anything, but there are still things you should avoid throwing in there. Wooden utensils, cast iron, fine china, and copper cookware are all big no-nos when it comes to your dishwasher. Not only can the jets and hot water damage these materials, things like these can also flake or break off into pieces that can lead to clogs in the filter.
Is your dishwasher perfectly clean but still not quite working properly? Do you need a replacement altogether? Whatever you need, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help. Our punctual plumbers are experts in plumbing repair, drain cleaning and beyond. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a service.