Tag Archives: dishwasher repair

Signs It’s Time to Clean Your Dishwasher

Sometimes some homeowners go for a long time without cleaning their dishwashers, which is wrong because it not only makes the appliance work too hard than it should but also brings many other problems. 

How do you tell that you have ignored your appliance for too long and it’s time to show it some love? Here are things you should look out for as given by dishwasher repair professionals. 

Your dishes come out dirty and cloudy.

It’s annoying to wait for a washing cycle to finish and then find that your dishes are still dirty or have a white, cloudy film. 

Dirty and cloudy dishes can be a sign that you need to clean your dishwasher more or use dishwasher soap made for hard water.

Residue on dishes or other items can also be a sign that your dishwasher needs some attention. In some cases, it can also be a sign of other problems. To be safe, check on your dishwasher and clean it at least once a month.

In addition to checking the filter and racks once a week for buildup, you should take the racks and filter or screen out and clean them with warm water and dish soap.

You also should look for a film or rough coating on the inside of the dishwasher. Here check to see if the holes in the spray arms are clogged, and give the arms a push by hand when the machine is off to see if they spin easily.

The dishes come out with a weird smell.

If you don’t keep an eye on your dishwasher filter and clean it regularly, it’s easy for it to get full of food bits. These food pieces give off an awful smell that makes your house uncomfortable to live in. The food pieces can also cause bigger, more expensive problems. 

To prevent these problems, check and clean the filter after every use and sanitize your dishwasher at least once a week.

You also should consider filling a bowl with white vinegar, putting it on the top or bottom rack, and running a normal clean cycle with hot water. 

When done, use a simple mixture of water, dish soap, and white vinegar to clean the door locks and the inside of the dishwasher. 

The dishwasher doesn’t drain as well as it should

If you’ve ever seen a pool of water at the bottom of your dishwasher or water spilling into your sink, this may not only be a sign of a clog that needs clearing but also that your dishwasher might need to be replaced altogether.

Bring in the experts if you’ve cleaned out the filter basket, and there is still standing water, or your dishwasher continues to be slow-draining.

A step-by-step guide to cleaning your dishwasher

To prevent the issues that come with poor care, you should regularly clean your dishwasher. To help you out, here are the steps you should follow:

Remove all the dishes and pans.

Empty out your dishwasher of lingering plates, pans, cups, or utensils. You want to avoid getting in the way of deep cleaning, especially if you haven’t cleaned your dishwasher in a while.

Remove and soak the removable parts.

If you’re overwhelmed by cleaning your dishwasher, remove the removable parts first. Cleaning the utensil holders and dishwasher racks is a great place to start. 

Give them a good rinse with a paper towel or damp cloth first. If these parts look extra dirty, you can soak them in your sink with warm water and 2 cups of white vinegar while you take care of the rest.

Get rid of food debris.

You should put on those cleaning gloves if you haven’t already. Get a paper towel and start picking up any food still stuck. You should remove all the debris before you take the next action. 

Run a hot cycle

Again, distilled white vinegar comes to the rescue. Pour 1 cup of pure white vinegar into a bowl that can go in the dishwasher. Put it on the top rack of your empty dishwasher with the right side up. Run your dishwasher on the hottest setting and leave the door open when it’s done.

Clean the drains

Most of the time, the drain will be on the bottom of your dishwasher. It can also cause clogs, water back-ups, and food bits to stick around. 

To clean it, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of warm pure white vinegar and pour the mixture down the drain. After about 15 minutes, slowly pour hot water over the mixture to clear it.

Clean the filter

Every dishwasher is different. Some modern appliances have screens that clean themselves. Check your manual to see if yours has a filter that cleans itself. If not, your dishwasher’s manual will tell you how to remove the filter for cleaning.

Once the filer is off, clean it out with a wet paper towel or microfiber. You should then clean it with warm water, soap, and a toothbrush. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that you scrub and get even into the small areas.

Pay attention to the inside door.

Clean that toothbrush, swirl it around in hot water, and then use it to wipe and scrub around the inside of the door.

Allow your dishwasher to air dry.

If your dishwasher still feels wet after the run, let it dry completely before closing it. Put back the parts that you had taken off. 

For a fresh-smelling dishwasher, repeat this process at least once a month or as needed.

Parting shot

These problems come from failing to clean your dishwasher as often as possible. To prevent the issues, make it a habit to clean your unit at least once a month. 

In most cases, you must clean the appliance by yourself, but if you encounter a problem, let a professional appliance repair Springfield look at it. 

When hiring a repair professional, ensure they are experienced and know what they are doing. 

Tricks to Make Your Appliances Last For a Long Time

Home appliances help wash clothes, cook meals, heat and cool homes, and make coffee.

As much as you depend on your appliances to help with daily tasks around the house, you need to give them a little TLC every now and then to ensure they keep functioning optimally.

How do you do this?

Here are tricks given by appliance repair professionals:

Don’t overload your washing machine

With just a few simple maintenance tips, your washing machine will keep your clothes clean for years. First, don’t load it up too much because that will make the motor work harder.

At the same time, please don’t use the washer with only a few items in it. This is because this can throw the machine off balance and put stress on its drive, increasing the chances of it getting damaged.

You should load your appliance with just the right amount of clothes.

While at it, ensure you use the right type and amount of detergent. Don’t use too much detergent because too many suds can make the washer work too hard, which increases its chances of getting damaged.

Keep the refrigerator coils clean.

Even though keeping a refrigerator neat is important to make sure it cools its contents evenly, if you want to make it last longer, all you have to do is clean its condenser coils.

The refrigerant is cooled and condensed by coils found under the fridge behind a plastic grate or on the back of the refrigerator.

When these coils are full of dust, hair, and other junk, they also can’t release heat. This makes the condenser work harder to cool the inside of the fridge.

To avoid this, clean the coils in your fridge at least once a year. The best way to do this is by using a soft brush attachment on your vacuum.

Clean the dishwasher filter.

Did you know your dishwasher has a filter at the bottom that should be cleaned about once every six months?

Yes, it has, and you need to clean it. If you don’t want your dishwasher to smell bad. Failing to clean the filter also means that your glasses will be cloudy, and you don’t want this, do you?

To access the filter, you need to slide the bottom rack out and then turn it counterclockwise to take it out. Wash it in the sink and put it back together.

To reduce the gunk that gets to the filter, make it a habit to rinse the dishes before putting them in and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

Delint your dryer

Even if cleaning a dryer vent of a year’s worth of lint isn’t your idea of a fun afternoon, you shouldn’t skip this once-a-year job.

If your dryer’s exhaust vent is clogged, the dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes. This puts stress on the motor and shortens the dryer’s life. Also, a buildup of dryer lint makes a fire more likely to start.

To keep the dryer in top shape, move the dryer away from the wall and remove the vent. Remove any lint that might have built up in the dryer vent and hose, and then put it back together.

Remove spills from your oven.

The range/oven is the workhorse of your kitchen. It gets a lot of use and gets beat up by spills, heavy cookware, and high heat. The best thing you can do for your kitchen’s heart is to keep it clean.

Whenever spills happen, clean them right away because they may be hard to get off the cooktop once they have burned. If your oven can clean itself, use it every few months to keep burned food from sticking to the walls.

Dedust the dehumidifier

Like other appliances that heat or cool air, ensuring good airflow around your dehumidifier means not blocking its intake or outlet.

If you use the filter often, you should change or clean it every few months.

Since dust, hair, and other things can get stuck in the coils, you should clean them once a year to ensure the dehumidifier works right.

You can do the cleaning yourself or let an experienced commercial appliance repair Alexandria professional do it.

What Are The Three Most Important Rules When Using A Dishwasher?

You should follow plenty of rules to ensure that you properly clean your dishes using the dishwasher and keep the unit in top shape. While this is the case, you should follow a couple of more important rules.

If you are wondering which these rules are, here they are as given by appliance repair professionals:

Sort dishes properly

You need to sort the dishes properly to ensure that all of them are properly and there is enough room for the water to circulate.

If you are new to this, here is a guide you should follow:

Place large items on the bottom rack, such as pots, pans, and casserole dishes. When doing this, you allow the larger dishes to be closer to the water source and ensure that they get cleaned properly.

For medium-sized items, such as plates, bowls, and cups, place them on the middle rack. as you place them, take care not to stack them too closely together, as doing so will prevent the water from reaching all surfaces.

The small items, such as utensils, cutting boards, and small bowls, belong on the top rack. You can place these items in the utensil basket or on the top rack, depending on the size and shape of the dishwasher.

Avoid placing sharp or pointed items, such as knives, on the same rack as delicate items, such as wine glasses, as you will break them. The best way to do it is to place them separately to prevent damage.

Besides these tips, it’s also wise to consult the owner’s manual for specific instructions on loading your dishwasher. This is because some dishwashers have specific loading instructions or features that you should be aware of.

Don’t overcrowd the dishwasher.

Overcrowding the dishwasher prevents the dishes from getting clean and also damages the dishwasher itself. To be safe, leave enough space between the dishes to allow the water and detergent to reach all surfaces.

This calls for you to avoid stacking dishes too closely or placing them at odd angles.

You also should avoid filling the dishwasher to the point where it is overflowing or packed too tightly. This is because this can prevent the dishes from getting clean. It can also damage the dishwasher, and you are forced to repair it, which isn’t cheap.

As you arrange the dishes, always use the correct rack for each item: Be sure to place larger items on the bottom rack and smaller items on the top rack. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that all items are cleaned properly and that there is enough room for the water to circulate.

You also should be cautious of the detergent dispense and ensure you don’t block it. Leave the detergent dispenser clear to dispense the correct amount of detergent during the wash cycle.

Use the right detergent.

The detergent you use determines how well your dishes get and impacts the dishwasher’s durability. Of course, when you use the wrong detergent, you significantly increase the chances of damaging your unit.

To stay on the safe side, use a detergent specifically designed for use in your dishwasher.

You should avoid hand dishwashing detergents as they are not formulated for dishwashers and can create suds that can damage your appliance. Also, avoid detergents with bleach as the bleach can damage dishwasher parts and may be harmful to inhale.

Detergents with added enzymes are also a no go zone. While the enzymes can be effective at breaking down food particles, they can also be harsh on your dishwasher’s seals and gaskets, damaging the appliance.

While non-phosphate detergents are environmentally friendly, they may not be as effective at cleaning dishes as detergents that contain phosphate, so stay away from them.

As mentioned, find the detergents designed for your dishwasher and go for them. For a great experience, dishwasher repair Alexandria experts recommend using the correct amount of detergent as specified by the manufacturer.

Dishwasher Detergent Hacks: 5 Alternatives When You Don’t Have Dishwasher Detergent

For the best outcome, you should always use dishwasher detergent to clean your dishwasher correctly. But what if you can’t afford it or have the right detergent? Well, according to dishwasher repair professionals, there are several alternatives you can go with. These alternatives include:

Use a combination of baking soda and white vinegar

Here you must mix equal parts baking soda and white vinegar and use this mixture as a substitute for dishwasher detergent. The baking soda will clean and deodorize, while the vinegar removes stuck-on food and grease.

Remove any large pieces of food or debris to clean your dishwasher using this mixture. You should then sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the bottom of the dishwasher, followed by a cup of white vinegar, into a dishwasher-safe container and place it on the top rack of the unit.

You should close the dishwasher and run it on a hot water cycle.

Once the cycle is complete, wipe the inside of the dishwasher with a soft cloth to remove any residue.

Use liquid dish soap.

If you don’t have dishwasher detergent, you can use a small amount of liquid dish soap instead of the detergent. As much as the dish soap is great, take care not to use too much of it as you can cause suds to overflow from the dishwasher, and you don’t want this, do you?

To clean your dishwasher using liquid dish soap, remove any large debris or food particles from the dishwasher. You should then fill a bowl with a mixture of hot water and liquid dish soap, dip a clean cloth or sponge into the soapy water, and use it to scrub the dishwasher’s interior, including the door seal, racks, and spray arm.

You should rinse the cloth or sponge to remove any soapsuds or residue.

Once you are done, run an empty dishwasher cycle with hot water to rinse away any remaining soap and debris.

Use lemon juice

For years, lemon juice has been known as a natural cleaning agent that you can use to remove soap scum and mineral deposits from the inside of a dishwasher. The juice is also a natural deodorizer, so using it to clean the dishwasher can help to freshen up the appliance.

You should add a few tablespoons of lemon juice to the dishwasher detergent compartment or mix it with water and use it as a pre-rinse before loading the dishwasher.

Remember to always rinse the dishwasher thoroughly after using lemon juice. This is to avoid leaving behind any acidic residue that could damage the appliance or affect the taste of future loads of dishes.

Use borax

Like lemon juice, borax is a known natural cleaning agent to remove stuck-on food and grease from dishes. To clean your dishes, add 1/2 cup of borax to the dishwasher’s detergent compartment, then run the dishwasher as you normally would.

If there are hard-to-remove stains in the dishwasher, mix equal parts borax and water and use this mixture as a substitute for dishwasher detergent.

You can also mix the borax with water to create a paste and use it to scrub away tough stains on dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.

If you use borax paste, rinse the dishes thoroughly to remove any residue before placing them in the dishwasher.

Remember that borax can be harmful if ingested, so keep it out of reach of children and pets. Also, be cautious when handling borax, as it can irritate the skin and eyes.

Use laundry detergent

Use a small amount of liquid laundry detergent in place of dishwasher detergent to thoroughly clean the dishes. Always use a small amount of detergent, as using too much can cause suds to overflow from the dishwasher.

Parting shot

These are some alternatives you can go with if you don’t have dishwasher detergent. As mentioned, always use small amounts of the alternatives, and don’t make it normal behavior, as you can end up damaging your appliance.

Appliance repair Alexandria professionals also recommend thoroughly rinsing the dishwasher and remove any leftovers that can compromise the appliance and future loads.

Mastering Dishwasher Maintenance: A Guide to Repair and Care

Mastering dishwasher maintenance is essential for running your machine smoothly and ensuring that your dishes are always sparkling clean. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent costly breakdowns and extend the life of your dishwasher.

In this guide, we will cover some key tips and tricks for maintaining and repairing your dishwasher. Here are these tips as given by appliance repair professionals:

Clean the dishwasher

By keeping your dishwasher clean, you can prevent clogs and other common issues that can cause your machine to break down. You also prevent clogs, remove any lingering odors, and ensure that your dishes are always sparkling clean.

Start with removing large debris or food particles from the bottom of the dishwasher. You can do this using sponge or a soft brush to gently scrub the bottom of the dishwasher, making sure to remove any visible debris.

You should then remove the filters from the dishwasher and clean them thoroughly. Most dishwashers have two filters: a fine filter that traps small particles and a coarse filter that traps larger debris. Use a soft brush or a toothbrush to clean the filters, and remove any food particles or debris that may be stuck.

After cleaning the filters, run a cycle with vinegar to remove any lingering odors. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this step. Add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a normal cycle without any dishes. The vinegar will help remove any odors and leave your dishwasher smelling fresh and clean.

Finally, clean the exterior of your dishwasher, including the door and the control panel. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the exterior, removing any dirt or fingerprints gently. Be sure to avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the finish of your dishwasher.

Repair the dishwasher

When it comes to repairs, there are some common issues that you can troubleshoot and fix yourself. For example, if your dishwasher is not filling with water, you may be able to resolve the issue by checking the water supply and ensuring that it is turned on and functioning correctly. If your dishwasher is not draining properly, you can try cleaning the filters and removing any debris blocking the drain.

You can fix some of the dishwasher problems by yourself, but when you encounter more severe issues, it may be best to call a professional for help.

Besides fixing your unit when a problem comes about, you should also regularly inspect the unit as a preventative measure. During the inspections, you should inspect all parts of the appliance and fix even the smallest problem that might be there.

Besides inspecting the unit and giving you peace of mind as you know that the unit is in top working shape, it also helps you pick the problems before they come about.

Again, you can do the inspections yourself, but for the best results, let an experienced professional help you.

When hiring a repair professional, you need to be strategic in going about it.

Begin with researching and comparing different repair services. Start by gathering a list of potential repair services in your area. You can ask friends or family members for recommendations, or search online for reviews and ratings. Be sure to compare prices, services offered, and customer satisfaction ratings to make an informed decision.

You should then verify the technician’s credentials and experience. It’s important to hire a skilled and experienced technician to repair your dishwasher. Ask about the technician’s credentials, training, and expertise to ensure they can handle your repair.

Communicate the issue. Before the technician arrives, gather as much information as possible about the problem with your dishwasher. This may include error codes, the make and model of your dishwasher, and any symptoms you have observed. You can help the technician diagnose and fix the problem more quickly and efficiently by providing precise and detailed information.

Ask about the repair process and cost. Before the technician begins the repair, ask about the steps involved in the process and the estimated repair cost. This will help you understand the scope of the repair and prepare for any potential expenses.

Parting shot

Mastering dishwasher maintenance is essential for running your machine smoothly and ensuring that your dishes are always sparkling clean. Regular cleaning and maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent costly breakdowns and extend the life of your dishwasher.

When hiring a dishwasher repair Fairfax professional, hire the most experienced.

Should You Let Dishwasher Air Out?

When you are going on a holiday, or you will be out of the house for extended periods, you might have been tempted to leave the dishwasher open for moisture to evaporate and air to flow through the insides of the unit, but you aren’t sure whether this is a great decision.

Should you let the dishwasher air out? If you are wondering about this, you should know that it’s okay to do it. According to appliance repair professionals, airing out your dishwasher comes with plenty of benefits that include:

You allow heat and moisture to escape

Heat and moisture are usually a nightmare combination for most homeowners as they create unhealthy living conditions. When you let your unit air out, you get rid of this moisture, which leaves your unit in top working condition.

Besides leaving the door open when you are leaving the house for extended periods, it’s also recommended that you leave it open regularly to ensure that the dishes are fully dry before you remove them.

A good rule of thumb is to leave the door ajar for at least 30 minutes after each cycle.

You get rid of limescale.

Limescale is the yacky white coating you see on units exposed to water for some time.

The coating results from excess calcium in the water, and while it’s not a hazard to your health, it can lead to many problems for your appliance, such as blocking the unit and restricting water flow.

As you can tell, when your appliance has excessive limescale depositions, it doesn’t run as well as it should.

When you air out the unit, you slow down or prevent the depositions from coming about as you eliminate most of the moisture.

Besides airing out your unit, it’s also highly recommended that you regularly clean the insides of your dishwasher.

You get rid of harmful bacteria.

Bacteria thrive in wet environments, and when your appliance has plenty of moisture in it, it’s bound to promote the growth of these bacteria.

When you air out your appliance, you keep the insides dry, which is handy in keeping the bacteria to a minimum.

Like when keeping the limescale at bay, you also need to regularly clean your appliance to prevent the bacteria from multiplying. When cleaning, pay close attention to the rubber seals, as this is where most bacteria love hanging out the most.

You get rid of standing water.

Even when your dishwasher is running at optimum levels, some water remains behind, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.

When you leave the door ajar, you allow this water to evaporate, which leaves your unit dry and free from insect infestation.

You prevent mold growth.

The last thing you want is mold growing, where you clean the plates and forks you eat with.

Unfortunately, the moist and hot nature of the dishwasher makes it an excellent environment for mold to grow in. When mold grows in your unit, you have heightened incidences of asthma, allergies, and other complicated health issues.

When you air out your appliance, you make the insides of the dishwasher dry, which as you can guess, isn’t a great growing ground for mold.

Leaving the dishwasher door open also means that the dishwasher isn’t too hot on the inside, which impedes mold growth.

Remember to regularly clean the insides of the unit to keep the mold off.

Other dishwasher best practices

Besides airing out the dishwasher after a cycle or when you aren’t using it, also make it a habit to clean it regularly.

In most cases, cleaning the dishwasher involves running an empty cycle with hot water that eliminates most bacteria that can wreck havoc.

Dishwasher repair Springfield professionals also recommend that you move with haste and fix even the most minor issues as soon as it comes about. This prevents the problems from getting too big and complicated to fix.

Dishwasher Best Practises

Would you love to run your dishwasher at top performance? Here are tips that will guide you as given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Load your dishwasher upside down

This might sound obvious, but it’s not. Even when you have been using your dishwasher for a long time, you must have found yourself tossing cups and bowls right side up on more than one occasion, right?

You should always load everything upside down for your dishes to be clean. This way, the water gets into the insides of your glasses and bowls, removing any pieces of gunk sticking around, and as a consequence, you have sparkling clean dishes.

You should always remember to load all of your dishes upside down. The only things that are an exception are spoons and forks.

Place the bowls on the bottom rack, facing the center

Besides being cautious of the direction you place the bowls facing, you should also be cautious of the position you place them in.

You might have the impression that it doesn’t matter where you place your dishes as the water will reach them, but you should be cautious where you place them as placing them anyhow can easily lead to them missing the water spray, which isn’t the right way to go about it.

The best way to do it is to place the bowls in the bottom rack, facing the center. This way, you are sure that there is no way the water spray will miss them.

While at it, ensure that there is as little overlap between the bowls as possible. This is to ensure that your dishes receive the full force of the water stream, without leaving any smudgy spots.

Load the dishwasher from the back to the front

How you load your dishwasher is vital to how well it functions. As a rule of thumb, load your unit from the back to the front.

By doing this, you maximize the space in your appliance and, at the same time, reduce the risk of breaking anything during the loading process. The back-to-front procedure also makes it easy to unload the dishwasher once all the dishes are clean.

Keep similar silverware together.

You should put similar silverware such as spatula, whisk, and other awkwardly shaped items together. This way, you free up extra space down the unit, making the unloading and putting away the items easy.

While you should put silverware together, take care that some silverware, such as spoons, don’t nest together.

Don’t rinse food from your dishes.

To make the work easy from the dishwasher, some homeowners rinse the food from the dishes. This is wrong. As much as you will have almost clean dishes by the time you are putting them in the dishwasher, you often don’t get the results you deserve.

This is because the soap particles don’t have an adequate surface to adhere to, so the dishes don’t get as clean as they should. Instead of pre-rinsing the dishes, scrap off any leftover food and then place the dishes in the dishwasher.

When you leave some food on the dishes, you give the soap something to cling to, which is handy in giving you the spotless dishes you deserve.

Be cautious about the soap you use

You can use any soap to clean the dishes, right? As long as the soap can clean the dishes, you are good to go, right? Well, this isn’t the case. You need to be cautious of the one you go for.

As much as using plenty of soap with plenty of bubbles might seem like a great idea, it isn’t, as the excess soap often causes a buildup of moisture that takes a long time to air out.

Appliance repair Springfield professionals recommend you use the soap recommendations at the back of your appliance. If you aren’t sure about the right soap to go for, get the input of an expert.

Tips to Getting The Best Results From Your Dishwasher?

If you have a dishwasher, you want to get the most from it, right? Are you asking, how do I get the best results from my dishwasher? There are plenty of ways to go about it, with the common ones as given by dishwasher repair professionals being:

Use hot water

To have an easy time cleaning the dishes, use hot water as it has been shown to clean better. It’s always wise to check the hot water temperature at the kitchen faucet using a candy or meat thermometer. For best results, the temperature should be 120 degrees.

If the water is colder than this, adjust the settings on your water heater.

To ensure you have hot water throughout the dishwasher, run hot water in the kitchen sink before you start your dishwasher. This way, you ensure that, the tub fills with all hot water, which ensures that you thoroughly clean your dishes.

Scrape the food off the dishes

You might have heard that you should remove as much food from the dishes as possible to give your dishwasher an easy time. Removing some of the food from the dishes before washing them is wise, but you should avoid overdoing it.

As a rule of thumb, don’t rinse the dishes as you will not only be wasting water, but also worsening the detergent’s performance.

The right way to go about it is to scrape the large food particles from the dishes and then put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Run a balanced load

You should run a balanced load to prevent your dishwasher from making noises as it’s working. This calls for you to ensure that your dishes are balanced in all areas.

To ensure this happens, follow the recommendations given by your manufacturer on the proper loading of the dishwasher. As a rule of thumb, don’t crowd or overload the dishwasher, as you not only risk your appliance not running smoothly, but also risk blocking the spray arm and preventing the water from reaching all the surfaces.

Use the right cleaning cycle.

Most modern dishwashers come with different cycle settings meant to clean different dishes. These cycles include: regular cycle for normal cleaning, the heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning, and the light cycle for china and fragile items.

You should use the right cycle to get the most from your dishwasher. If you aren’t sure about the right cycle for your dishes, consult the owner’s manual or an experienced professional.

Go easy on the soap

Using a lot of soap will get you cleaner dishes, right? Well, no. As much as you would want spotless dishes, using too much soap than necessary doesn’t give you the best results.

Besides still having soap on your dishes after running a cycle, using too much soap can ruin your dishwasher.

When choosing a washing cycle, refer to the instruction manual for directions on the best soap to clean the dishes and the right amounts to use.

Keep your machine clean.

Since your washing machine is responsible for cleaning, you don’t need to clean it, right? Well, no. Like other appliances, you need to clean your washing machine.

By doing so, you not only always have clean dishes, but also have a properly functioning dishwasher that is beautiful to look at.

To clean your dishwasher, run the appliance on a normal cycle using two cups of white vinegar. As a rule of thumb, don’t use a detergent to do the cleaning. This way, you remove any materials in the appliance and eliminate awful smells.

If you want to go the extra mile, wipe down the interior walls and racks of the appliance with a solution of vinegar and baking soda. Remember to rinse the surfaces properly after going over them.

Regularly inspect the dishwasher.

The same way you should regularly clean the dishwasher is the same way you should regularly inspect it and fix any issues it might be having. You can do the inspection yourself or hire a commercial appliance repair Springfield professional to help.

When hiring professionals, ensure they are experienced and know what they are doing. Don’t hire a novice that will be a liability to have.

4 Things to Avoid For An Optimally Functioning Dishwasher

According to dishwasher repair professionals, the primary reason you are having a problem with your dishwasher, or you fail to get ideal results from your unit, is because you are doing the wrong things. This means that to properly clean your dishes and keep your appliance in top shape, you must avoid doing the wrong things. Which are these things you should avoid doing? Here they are:

Don’t wash fine glasses in the dishwasher.

You shouldn’t do this because the delicate glasses can easily break from the rattling, and the dishwasher detergents can etch the glass, causing it to turn cloudy.

Instead of washing the glasses using the dishwasher, use your hands. Even when doing it, be ultra cautious that you don’t break them.

Don’t prewash the dishes.

Many people have the notion that they have to prewash their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to thoroughly clean. While this might help if your dishes have been sitting out for a long time and your dishwasher isn’t powerful enough to remove the food pieces, you don’t need to prewash the dishes.

If you put the dishes in the dishwasher immediately after eating, prewashing is a waste of time, water, and energy, so don’t do it. The reason for this is because most modern dishwashers and detergents can easily handle crusty dishes and break down most solids, so you don’t need to help them do their work.

Some dishwashers have been found not to clean the dishes as well as they are supposed to when you prewash the dishes.

Some dishwashers have even damaged the dishes when you prewash them. When you put too clean dishes in the dishwasher, there is no food film on the surfaces for the detergents to adhere to. This forces the detergents to adhere to the surfaces of the dishes, which leads to them damaging their finish.

To make the work easy for the dishwasher, you can scrape off the dishes, but you shouldn’t wash them.

Don’t use too much dishwasher detergent than necessary

Detergents are packed with chemicals meant to attack dirt and grease. While these chemicals are great, they can sometimes wear down your metallic appliqués, ceramic glazes and etch your glassware, especially when you use too much of them.

To be safe, only use the recommended amount of detergent. If you aren’t sure about the right amount to use, check the manual. You can also contact the manufacturer representatives and ask about this.

When cleaning lighter loads and dishes that aren’t heavily soiled, don’t fill the dishwasher’s detergent cup to the brim.

Your choice of dishwasher detergent is vital. Remember that powdered detergents tend to leave the dishes cleaner than their liquid or tablet counterparts do, so you are better off going with them.

It’s not uncommon for the glassware to come out of the dishwasher spotty. When this happens, try using a rinse agent with your dishwasher detergent.

No two detergents are the same so if you aren’t satisfied with the results you get from one detergent, experiment with different detergents until you find the one that works the best for you.

To protect the environment, go for environmentally friendly detergents that contain less phosphate than the standard detergents.

Don’t overload your dishwasher.

As much as you want to save energy and water by loading your dishwasher with more dishes than normal, you shouldn’t, as it not only leads to some of the dishes failing to clean as well as they should, it can also lead to the dishwasher getting damaged.

To avoid this, you should load your appliance with just the right number of dishes.

For the best outcome, don’t just load the dishwasher—you need to load it properly. This calls for you to place glassware, cups, and bowls on the top rack.

For the dinner plates, load them towards the back of the bottom rack with each dish’s “food side” facing towards the center. Place the plates so that you have only one item between each pair of tines.

Appliance repair Springfield recommend you load big and tall items such as cookie sheets at the extreme edges of the bottom rack.

6 Handy Tips To Keep Your Dishwasher in Top Shape

If you are like other homeowners, you want to get the most from your dishwasher. And the beauty is there are plenty of tips you can use to your advantage. Which are these tips? Here they are as given by appliance repair professionals:

Always start with a clean dishwasher

Before you place the dishes in the dishwasher, ensure that the dishwasher is clean. You should note that if you put the dishes in a dirty dishwasher, dirt and debris will get into the dishes, and you end up with even dirtier dishes than you started with.

Every few days, inspect your dishwasher and ensure no debris is hanging out in the bottom of the appliance. A great way to do this is to remove the screen and filter and rinse them. Thankfully they are easy to pop back in, and you can do it even if you have never done it before.

Besides this, make it a habit to place a cup of white vinegar in the top rack and run it in an empty dishwasher on a regular wash cycle. This will clean most of the gunk and deposits, leaving your appliance fresh and clean.

Soften your water

Hard water can sometimes be too hard on the dishwasher. Besides leaving hard-to-clean deposits, it can sometimes make it impossible to get sparkling dishes even after cleaning them for a long time.

Hard water leaves a white residue on glasses and silverware, which is off-putting.

To avoid this, soften the water before it gets into the dishwasher. If you can’t do this, regularly clean the dishwasher with vinegar to prevent deposits from forming. It also doesn’t hurt to use a special water softening rinse aid after cleaning.

Load it up right

How you load your dishwasher goes a long way toward determining the results you get. Of course, you come out with clean dishes if you load the unit properly. For you to properly load the dishwasher, you need to follow a set of rules that include:

Place the cups in the top rack and place them between tines. Never place the cups on top of the tines.

Plates and bowls go on the bottom rack, with the dirty side facing the water spray. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the dishes don’t all point in the same direction.

Place the pots, pans, and baking dishes angled down so the water spray can reach the insides.

If you will be cleaning larger items such as pans and baking sheets, ensure that you place them on the sides of the dishwasher. This way, you are sure they won’t block the spray arm or the detergent from the door.

Always stagger the utensils so that some are up and others down. Doing this ensures that the dishes don’t get nested together, and every inch of the utensils gets clean.

Use the right amount of detergent.

You might have the impression that using huge amounts of detergents will make your dishes much cleaner, but this isn’t the case. Using too much detergent costs you a lot of money, scratches your dishes, and makes the glasses cloudy.

Whether using powder, liquid, or pods, always use less detergent than is recommended in the package.

Run the sink first

Before pressing the start button on your dishwasher, run hot water in your kitchen sink first. Doing this ensures that the water is already hot when the cycle starts, and your dishes get cleaner.

Don’t shy away from cleaning other items.

The dishwasher is only meant to clean dishes, right? Well, this isn’t the case. Besides your standard cookware and serve ware, you can clean plenty of other household items susceptible to germs.

These include baseball caps, plastic toys, golf balls, plastic combs, cabinet handles, etc.

While you can clean other items with the dishwasher, dishwasher repair Springfield professionals recommend you don’t mix them with the dishes. As a rule of thumb, run a separate, gentle load.

There are plenty of items you can clean with your dishwasher, but there are equally many others that shouldn’t see the insides of your unit, as they will get damaged or even damage the appliance. Before you put anything inside the dishwasher, first confirm that its dishwasher safe.