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Tricks To Getting the Most From Your Dishwasher

The dishwasher is one of the hardest-working appliances in the kitchen. You need to do several things to get the most out of the appliance. These things, as given by dishwasher repair professionals, include: 

Use aluminum foil to make your silverware shine.

This may be the easiest tip for a dishwasher: Before running the dishwasher, crumple up a ball of aluminum foil and put it in the silverware caddy. 

This trick works because the baking soda-like parts of the dishwashing detergent react with the aluminum foil in a scientific way called oxidation. Together, the steps remove rust from your dishes, leaving you with sparkling kitchenware. 

The method is also a brilliant way to get more use out of a piece of foil that isn’t too dirty before you throw it away.

Regularly maintain your dishwasher.

Like a car, you must regularly maintain your dishwasher to keep it in top shape. And the good thing is that you don’t need to be fancy about it. 

 Turn on the hot water tap at the sink before you run the dishwasher. After each use, clean the filter. While at it, wipe down the seals with a damp towel. Don’t forget to clean the spray arm, and once a week, clean the dishwasher with vinegar.

It’s also wise to hire a dishwasher expert at least once a year to inspect the appliance and fix any issues it might be having. Please note that your appliance doesn’t have to be damaged to hire a contractor—hire them even if your unit is in perfect shape. 

Don’t do these things.

You can get the most out of your dishwasher by doing a few things to keep it in good shape and remembering a few things you shouldn’t do. 

If you hear your unit shaking, don’t turn it on. Some homeowners ignore the minor issues that develop with their appliances, which is wrong as the small problems worsen over time. 

When you experience even a small problem, such as the appliance shaking, turn off the appliance and ask an expert to look into it before you can start using it. 

Other things you shouldn’t do include: 

  • Don’t get in the way of the sprayer. 
  • Refrain from pre-washing your dishes. Scrape the extra food from the dishes, but don’t pre-wash them. 
  • Don’t put glasses on top of the tines. 
  • Don’t place plastic items on the bottom rack.

Clean your dishwasher often.

Since your dishwasher’s role is to clean the dishes, it doesn’t need cleaning. Well, wrong. Like any other appliance in your kitchen, your dishwasher needs cleaning to keep it looking great and have a long life. 

A telltale sign that it’s time to clean your dishwasher is if your dishes are dirty, cloudy, smells funny, or don’t drain properly. 

For peace of mind, clean your dishwasher once a month, check and clean the filter after each use, and sanitize it at least once a week.

Use dishwasher soap the right way.

The soap you use on your appliance makes a huge difference in your experience with your dishwasher. 

For a great experience, ensure you use the right detergent. 

Newer machines work best with liquid detergent because their water doesn’t get as hot and doesn’t dissolve powder or pods as well as it does in older machines.

 And don’t use too much detergent because that can cause too much sudsing, damage your unit, or make your dishes less clean.

Check your spray arms regularly.

If your dishes don’t get clean after every cycle, it could be a problem with your spray arms. Look to see if they are working and if they need to be cleaned.

Load the dishwasher properly.

Many people have different opinions on how to load their dishwashers. And this is a common bond of contention among people living in the same house.  

Regardless of how you load your appliance, here’s what appliance repair Northern VA experts say: Face knives down and forks and spoons up. You should also try not to put the same items next to each other and try not to overcrowd. 

How Many Years Should A Dishwasher Last?

When you get a new house, you want the appliances to last for as long as possible to minimize the amount of money you have to spend on appliance repair and replacement.

The dishwasher being an integral part of the kitchen, you must wonder, how many years should a dishwasher last? On average, dishwashers last between 9-10 years. Of course, several factors will influence the appliance’s lifespan such as:

Frequency of use: In an ordinary house, the dishwasher will cycle five times a week. If you have fewer people living in the house or you are rarely in the house, you will use the dishwasher less often, meaning the appliance will last for a much longer time.

Quality: Like other products in the market, dishwashers are of distinct qualities that vary depending on different brands. As you might guess, high-quality appliances from reputable manufacturers will last for a much longer time than poor-quality units from an unknown company.

Maintenance: How well do you take good care of your appliance? You should expect a well-maintained unit to have a much longer lifespan than a poorly maintained one.

Price: Although expensive doesn’t mean better, in most cases expensive appliances have longer lifespans. This is because they are often of better quality. Besides this, expensive appliances save you a lot of money as they operate more efficiently.

Can you expand the dishwasher lifespan?

Yes, you can definitely do that. Here are tips on how to do it:

Keep the appliance clean

Going for a long time without cleaning the dishwasher causes different parts to become grimy, which reduces the appliance’s cleaning power and efficiency.

Built-up residue can also cause the dishwasher to clog up and even breakdown.

To avoid this, make it a habit to routinely wipe down the door seals and food spills using warm water, mild soap, and a soft piece of cloth.

Every few months, open up the appliance and clean the food trap and filter.

Don’t overload the machine

You might have the impression you are saving money and time when you cram many dishes in the dishwasher, but this isn’t the case. Overloading the machine will restrict the water spray patterns, preventing proper cleaning.

Since the dishes won’t get clean enough, you have to rewash them. Running the machine unnecessarily reduces the appliance’s lifespan.

The mechanical parts also wear out more frequently, forcing you to keep on hiring a repair technician to repair and replace them.

To avoid all this from happening, load your dishwasher with just enough dishes. Remember, you are better off having two full cycles than many partial cycles.

Only use the dishwasher to clean the dishes

When you scour the internet, you will come across videos of people cleaning different things with their dishwashers. Don’t do this.

Don’t clean your car parts with the dishwasher as the parts are greasy and the dishwasher and detergent aren’t designed to handle that amount of grease.

When you frequently clean the car parts in your dishwasher, it’s a matter of time before you clog the filter and ruin the pump.

You also shouldn’t wash candlestick holders with the dishwasher as the hot wax embeds into the different crevices and you end up destroying the machine components.

A good rule of thumb is to never clean anything that isn’t dishes.

Rustproof the racks

The racks are covered in a plastic coating that prevents rust from coming about. When rust develops on the racks, it gets to the pump and since the pump is the heart of the dishwasher, the rust flakes can get to the pump and clog it.

To prevent this from happening, regularly inspect the racks, and if the plastic coating has worn off, repair it immediately.

Follow the owner’s manual

Every dishwasher comes with a playbook (also known as the owner’s manual) which contains valuable information on how to use and maintain the machine. To avoid issues, follow the manual’s wisdom.

Fix problems as soon as they come up

Even with the best care, it’s common for the dishwasher to develop problems. When this happens, hire dishwasher repair Springfield professionals to fix it as soon as possible.

Dishwasher Repair: How Do I Get My Dishwasher To Clean Better?

dishwasher repair

A dishwasher is like an extra set of hands that makes your work easier, and your day a whole lot better.

If you have had your appliance for a long time, you must have noticed its efficiency dwindling, and you must be asking, how do I get my dishwasher to clean better?

Well, you are on the lucky side as dishwasher repair professionals report there are plenty of ways you can do it. Here are some of these ways:

Scrape off the leftovers

As much as you don’t want to touch the dishes when they get dirty, you should note that the efficiency of the appliance is significantly compromised when you deposit too much food residues into the system.

For your appliance to clean the dishes better, scrape off all the extra food from the plates before you put them in the dishwasher.

Some people go to the extent of pre-rinsing the dishes, but you shouldn’t. When you pre-rinse the dishes you not only give yourself extra work, you also reduce the efficiency of the appliance as the detergents don’t have enough space to adhere to in order to clean the dishes effectively.

Use hot water

Just like when cleaning the dishes by hand, hot water cleans the best, so ensure the water getting into the dishwasher is hot enough. Before you start running the appliance, check the temperature of the water at the kitchen faucet using a meat or candy thermometer.

For effective cleaning, the temperature should be 120 degrees. Adjust the setting accordingly.

Keep the dishwasher clean.

You should keep the dishwasher clean all the time. Regular cleaning eliminates stuck-on-food particles, mineral buildup, and residual detergents. To clean the dishwasher, run it on a normal cycle using two cups of white vinegar.

You should then wipe down the interior wall and racks with a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Once you are done, rinse thoroughly.

Soften the water

Do you live in areas with hard water? You should note that hard water tends to leave ugly residues on the glasses and plates. No amount of cleaning will leave the dishes sparkling unless you soften the water.

To soften the water, buy and install a water softener, and you will prevent stains and minerals from building up.

Load the dishes appropriately.

Sometimes the dishes will fail to clean properly if they aren’t correctly loaded in the dishwasher. For optimum results, follow the manufacturer recommendations for loading the appliance. As a rule of thumb, never overload the appliance as you will block the spray arm and prevent the water from reaching all the surfaces.

Use the right amount of soap.

Soap is necessary for clean dishes, but when you use too much of it, you end up with dirty dishes. For the cleanest clean, always pour the detergent into the built-in measuring cup inside the dishwasher. This way, you ensure that you are always using the appropriate amount.

Always ensure that you use the right soap for the work. As a rule of thumb never use dish soap designed for hand washing in the dishwasher.

Use the right cycle

Dishwashers come with different cycles aimed at different dishes. The regular cycle is for normal cleaning, the heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning, and the light cycle for fragile items.

For effective cleaning, be aware of the items you are cleaning and ensure you are using the right cycle.

Inspect the dishwasher for clogs

It’s normal for clogs to develop in the spray arm and the drain, and as you might have guessed, they prevent the dishwasher from functioning optimally. Now and again, check the holes in the spray arm and ensure they aren’t clogged with food residues or hard water minerals.

To dislodge the particles, use a toothpick or needle. While you are at it, check the trap and drain to ensure that food scraps or other objects aren’t blocking the area.

You can do the work if you have the skills but for ideal results, let an appliance repair Northern VA handle it for you. When hiring the contractor, ensure they are experienced and certified to work in your local area. In addition to unclogging the appliance, they also should inspect other areas and fix them if problematic.

Dishwasher Repair: Guide On How To Fix Dishwasher Problems

dishwasher repair

When many people notice problems with their dishwashers, they think they are doomed and have to invest in new appliances. Far from this. Eighty percent of dishwasher problems can be fixed without requiring you to hire a dishwasher repair professional. To help you out, here are tips on how to fix the common dishwasher problems:

Failure of the dishwasher to start

How long have you had your dishwasher? If you have had it long enough, you must have come across this problem. In 90% of the cases, the dishwasher will fail to start when you are having problems with the latch or door latch switches that supply power to the dishwasher controls.

When the door fails to close properly, the door latch switches aren’t activated thus the dishwasher controls don’t receive the power. As a consequence, the dishwasher doesn’t start. For you to fix this problem you need to confirm whether the door is closing properly and activating the switches. If it isn’t, fix it. If it is, take a look at the timer or electronic control.

Your dishwasher will also fail to start when the selector switch, motor start relay, or thermal fuse isn’t functioning optimally. If you have tried fixing all of these areas without success, it’s time to hire a dishwasher expert to give the appliance a look.

Noisy dishwasher

There is nothing that screams problem than a noisy dishwasher. While you might have the impression that fixing it is a challenge, it isn’t. In fact, you can fix it even if you have never done it before. In most cases, the dishwasher will make loud noises when you have a defective pump.

The pump sits at the bottom of the dishwasher and pressurizes the spray arms. It also drains water from the unit. Your appliance will make loud noises if the circulating parts of the dishwasher are malfunctioning.

Your appliance will also make noises when you are having issues with the wash arm bearing ring and spray arm seal. When these dishwasher parts wear out or get loose, they cause the spray arm to malfunction hence the loud noises.

For you to fix the unit you need to inspect the ring and seal. If necessary, replace them. While you are at it, also take a look at the spray arms and ensure they are turning freely without hitting the racks or dishes. Are the arms wobbly? The center portion or hub may be worn out. If this is the case, replace it.

Failure of the dishwasher to drain

You must have come across this problem. You clean the dishes then the water doesn’t drain, leaving the dishes wet. The most common cause of this problem is problems in the drain pump and motor.

Dishwashers have different ways of draining water. Some have single motor driven pump while others have separate drain pumps. The drain pipes often fail to drain due to obstructions. You should inspect them for obstructions and if present, remove them.

In some cases, the dishwasher will fail to drain due to problems with the check valve. The valve is designed to allow water to flow in one direction preventing dirty water from re-entering the dishwasher.

A tell-tale sign that the problem is due to a faulty check valve is water getting back into the dishwasher tub. You need to replace the valve to fix the problem.

Other reasons why your dishwasher might not be draining include: faulty belt, drain hose, and timer. If you have the skills you can fix this problem, but if you don’t consider yourself a handyman, hire a kitchen appliance repair professional to help you out.

Leaking dishwasher

While some dishwashers fail to drain, others leak thus they don’t give the dishes the clean look they deserve. This problem comes about due to a defective pump or seal. The role of the pump is to circulate water in the dishwasher; therefore, when it has a defect, the water is meant to leak.

For you to stop the leaking, find the faulty part of the dishwasher pipe and fix it. Commercial appliance repair Fairfax also report that the dishwasher will leak if there are problems with the door gasket, water inlet valve, spray arm, and dispensers. You should identify the source of the problem and fix it.