How to Improve Dishwasher Performance Before Calling for Dishwasher Repair

Discovering that you still have dirty or stained dishes when you open the dishwasher after completing a full wash cycle is very irritating. But rather than immediately resorting to dishwasher repair, there are many ways by which you can clean and maintain your appliance. Food scraps, clogged spray arms, cold water temperature, and excess detergent deposits could all have an impact on the performance of your dishwasher. To avoid the occurrence of such things and have your appliance working at optimal performance levels, consider following the next seven maintenance tips from Appliance Repair Specialists Inc. 

7 Ways to Improve Your Dishwasher’s Cleaning Performance

1. Cleaning the Dishwasher Filter

A clogged dishwasher filter is capable of interfering with the proper circulation of water in the unit. Food scraps could accumulate in the filter, ending up on your plates again.

Access your dishwasher filter by following the guidelines in your appliance’s manual. Wash the filter with warm running water. Use a soft brush when removing tough deposits in order not to damage the filter. It is advisable to clean it at least once a month.

2. Inspect the Spray Arms

The spray arms are supposed to help distribute water into various sections within the washing machine. They have very tiny holes which can be clogged by food particles and even mineral deposits, making certain sections lack sufficient water.

If your particular type of washing machine allows it, you should remove the spray arms and clean them properly. Inspect all holes for any clogs and carefully remove any debris that might be found using something such as a toothpick.

3. Ensure That The Water is Warm

It is important to have hot water because it helps break down grease as well as activate dishwasher detergent. Cold water can leave your dishes greasy and even with food residue.

You should allow your tap water to warm up before you start the dishwasher. A good heater temperature of 120°F is ideal for operating dishwashers.

4. Use the Proper Detergent

The use of inappropriate, old, or inefficient detergent could also influence the effectiveness of cleaning. Using too little detergent might result in food and grease residues remaining on plates. Excessive usage of detergent can cause residues as well.

Use the detergent that is recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer and pay attention to proper dosage. If there is hard water at your place, then the rinse aid could be helpful.

5. Clean the Dishwasher Interior

Like any other appliance, the dishwasher needs to be cleaned periodically. Various minerals, greasy substances, and food particles can get deposited in the dishwasher and create problems.

For cleaning the interior of the dishwasher, an empty wash cycle with detergent or cleaning products should be undertaken.

6. Test the Water Inlet Valve

There should be a sufficient supply of water in the dishwasher to ensure proper washing of the dishes. Otherwise, there will not be sufficient spray pressure. Should you observe abnormally low water level, improper cleaning, or some odd noises during the filling process, the cause may lie in the clogging or wear of the water inlet valve. Due to possible connections with the electricity and water supply systems, a professional inspection is advised in this case.

7. Avoid Pre-Rinsing

Pre-rinsing is not always necessary since you are not required to clean your dishes before loading them into the machine. You just need to remove visible food remains and put the dishes inside in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Your dishwasher and its detergents are made to clean normally dirty dishes. In addition, pre-rinsing may consume additional water without improving the results at all.

Time for a Professional

If after cleaning the filter, spray arms, and the interior of the dishwasher itself your dishes remain dirty, then maybe there is something faulty within the dishwasher itself, which can be one of the parts like the circulation pump, motor, heating element, water inlet valve, etc.

You may seek professional assistance from Appliance Repair Specialists Inc. Professional dishwasher repair will help identify the cause and fix the issue.