Dishwasher Repair: Tips On How To Properly Load The Dishwasher

By | January 4, 2019

Dishwasher repair professionals report that one of the reasons why dishwashers keep on failing is due to improper loading. For you to keep your unit functioning optimally you need to be cautious of how you load it. Here are tips on how to do it:

Start with the bottom

Many people start loading their appliances from the top. This is wrong. You should start from the bottom. Insert the plates into the slots in the bottom section of the dishwasher. Ensure that they are facing towards the center.

If the plates have to lean, lean them inwards and downwards. This is to ensure that they are properly sprayed by the jets that spray water outwards, from the center.

When arranging the plates, keep the surfaces separated and accessible to the water stream. When it comes to the cups, bowls, and glasses, place them at an angle so that they get enough water from below. Take caution that they don’t take up a lot of room.

The best way of going about it is stacking the bowls neatly on an incline. This ensures that the washing solution reaches inside the bowl.

Place plastics on the top rack

Since the heating element of most dishwashers is on the bottom, you should place plastic items in the bottom rack. This is to prevent them from melting or warping. When loading them, take caution that you don’t crowd them, making it hard for water and cleaning solution to reach them.

If you have large plastic items, consider handwashing them first before you place them in the dishwasher. This makes the work of the unit much easy.

Properly load the cutlery basket

The cutlery basket carries the knives, spoons, and forks. Do you have dangerous or ultra-sharp knives? Hand wash them. This is to prevent the dishwasher from getting dull. You should distribute the cutlery loosely, positioning the soiled surfaces of the spoons and forks apart so that the water can reach them.

Be cautious when loading long pieces of cutlery. This is because they tend to block the spray from the nozzles, tubes, and rotating devices. If you have the long pieces, lay them in the upper basket.

When it comes to the larger serving utensils, place them at the top section of the dishwasher. You should arrange them facing down, so that water doesn’t collect in them.

Use the plastic safety rack to hold wine glasses

Does your dishwasher have a plastic, mesh-like piece on the top rack? It’s designed to hold wine glasses, so make use of it. In addition to wine glasses, you can also use it to hold any fragile pieces you might be having.

After loading the dishwasher, inspect the spinning arms and rotating devices and ensure that they are spinning freely. There should be no tubes or sprayers obstructing them.

Also, check the detergent cups and ensure that they open fully. You should note that if there are any materials obstructing or blocking the surfaces, they make it harder for the dishwasher to properly clean the dishes.

Tips on how to get the most from your dishwasher

In addition to properly loading the dishwasher, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that your unit is functioning optimally.

One of the things you can do is to scrape off large food pieces from the dishes and into the trash or garbage disposal. You should get rid of things such as seeds, bones, corncobs, peelings, and any other thick materials that might be there. If the dishes are too dirty, consider pre-rinsing them.  

Everyone wants shiny dishes when they are coming from the dish washer. For you to make it easy for the unit to give you the results you are looking for, make use of a rinse agent or pre-wash fluid. The fluid helps you to reduce water spots, especially if you have hard water.

Commercial appliance repair Northern VA professionals recommend that you run the garbage disposal before you run the dishwasher. Most of the dishwashers drain into the same pipe as the sink; therefore, when you run the garbage disposal, you drain it thus making it easy for the dishwasher to work and give you clean dishes.

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