6 Tips to Help Keep your Dishwasher

A dishwasher can be your best friend. It makes doing dishes so much more convenient. Washing dishes by hand not only turns your hands to prunes, but it takes valuable time away from your family. However, many of us abuse our dishwashers, which can lead to costly repairs. Here are a few tips to help keep your dishwasher running effectively and efficiently for years to come.

1. Clean your plates before you load them into your dishwasher. We don’t want to wash our dishes before we “wash” our dishes, but putting a plate covered with food into the dishwasher slows performance and causes nasty clogs.

2. Know what can’t go in your dishwasher. Putting the wrong thing in your dishwasher can damage both the item and the appliance. Common items include vintage plates, wooden utensils, and bottles with the labels still on.

3. Load your dishwasher strategically. There IS a right way and wrong way to load a dishwasher. For best results, place large plates and pots on the bottom rack, facing towards the center. Cups, plastic tupperware, and small dinnerware should be put on the top rack.

4. Run hot water before starting the dishwasher. To keep your dishwasher from having to warm up, run your sink until the water feels hot to the touch. Then start your dishwasher cycle.

5. Make sure your water is ideal for washing dishes. Not all water is created equal. Hard water, or water with a high mineral content, is tough on dishes and doesn’t provide a spot-free clean.

6. Give your dishwasher a little love.  Routinely clean the seal and food trap. Also, to keep it smelling fresh, run an empty load with a cup of white vinegar once a month.