Paul Dolan for HomeServe
4 dishwasher DIYs homeowners should be doing
Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or have owned your home for years, it may come as a surprise to you that you need to wash your dishwasher. You read that right: wash your dishwasher. As HomeServe knows all too well, homeownership is just an endless cycle of paying bills and cleaning things that clean other things — and your dishwasher is by no means an exception to the last part.
If you’re saying to yourself right now, “I’ve never once even thought of cleaning my dishwasher,” don’t worry. This article boils dishwasher maintenance down to four tasks you should do at various intervals. Each one is eminently doable for most homeowners. Plus, they’ll help keep your dinnerware, flatware, and stemware spotless, and your dishwasher smelling fresh, operating efficiently, and running longer before you need to replace it.
Here are four dishwasher DIYs homeowners should be doing.
1. Clean Your Dishwasher Filters
First, clean your dishwasher filters. These filters catch all the gunk and nasty food particles that come off your dishes during a wash cycle so that they don’t clog the drain or wind up right back on your bowls, plates, and glasses. If you don’t routinely clean these filters, debris will build up, causing unsanitary conditions and foul odors, not to mention reducing efficiency and shortening the lifespan of your appliance.
The specific location, configuration, and removal process for your filters will vary by manufacturer and model — so check your manual — but they’ll generally be found at the base of the inside of your dishwasher, underneath the bottom rack.
Follow these steps to ensure your dishwasher keeps on washing dishes:
1. Remove the bottom rack.
2. Find your fine mesh filter.
3. Remove your fine mesh filter per manufacturer instructions.
4. Scrub out all that gunk using a clean sponge or brush and warm water with a little bit of dish soap.
5. Now remove your coarse mesh filter.
6. Scrub the coarse mesh filter clean, too.
7. Replace the coarse mesh filter.
8. Replace the fine mesh filter.
9. Replace the bottom rack.
You should do this as often as once a week if you have a large household with daily dishwasher use — but once a quarter will probably put you ahead of most.
2. Clean and Unclog Your Dishwasher Spray Arms
Next, clean and unclog your dishwasher spray arms. Dishwashers most commonly have two spray arms — one at the base of the dishwasher that sprays upward, and one affixed to the underside of the upper rack that sprays downward. These cleaning mechanisms rotate in a fanlike motion during a wash cycle, spewing high-pressure hot water onto dishes in order to break up tough grease and grime.
Over time, the spray holes can become clogged with food debris, detergent residue, and mineral buildup, reducing effectiveness and efficiency — making your appliance work harder and shortening its lifespan. But you can lend your dishwasher a hand by regularly cleaning and unclogging its spray arms.
Here’s how:
1. Remove the bottom rack.
2. Remove the upper and lower spray arms, typically by unscrewing them, pulling, or disconnecting them from a center fastener.
3. For heavy buildup, soak the arms in equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water for at least a half-hour, but for as long as two hours.
4. Scrub on and around the holes with a toothbrush to clear away buildup.
5. Use a toothpick to gently dislodge stubborn, stuck-on stuff from the holes.
7. Rinse the arms off.
8. Wipe them down.
9. Put them back in place.
Do this three to four times a year to keep your arms in good shape.
3. Sanitize Your Dishwasher’s Interior
Next, clean and sanitize the interior of your dishwasher. Dish soap residue, food particles, and other gunk build up over time in your dishwasher compartment, causing clogs, foul odors, and spotty, cloudy, yucky dishes.
Follow these steps for a comprehensive clean:
1. Empty the dishwasher.
2. Remove the bottom rack and utensil holder.
3. Clear out larger debris with your hands.
4. Wipe down the entire interior with a sponge.
5. Use a toothbrush or toothpick to dislodge clogs from your dishwasher spray arm.
6. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into a dishwasher-safe dish.
7. Place it on the top rack.
8. Run a full cycle with the dishwasher empty.
9. When that’s done, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda into the bottom of the dishwasher.
10. Run a second cycle.
11. Let the dishwasher air out.
No need to overdo this one — every couple of months should be sufficient in terms of frequency.
4. Prevent Mold, Mildew, and Moisture Damage
And finally, homeowners, here’s the easiest DIY you’ve ever done. Wanna prevent mold, mildew, must, and moisture damage in your dishwasher?
Here’s how:
Step 1: Open your dishwasher door. That’s it. One step. Well, you need to leave it like this for a few hours, and preferably overnight — but that’s passive. It’s not really a step.
Your dishwasher uses a tight seal to keep the water in when it’s running. That same seal will keep soap-scummy water residue trapped when it’s not running, leading to unpleasant odors and hard-to-eliminate mold if left unchecked. Opening the door to let the inside of your appliance air dry after each use will help prevent the dreaded dank dishwasher.
Worried about causing a tripping hazard for your kids or your other half? Cracking the door open an inch or so should do the trick.
These steps will make this one of the easiest DIYs you’ve ever done.
This story was produced by HomeServe Editorial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
