Operating a Dishwasher Effectively | |
The more water your dishwasher can throw at your dirty dishes the cleaner they will be. To keep a dishwasher working at top efficiency, keep the pump strainers and spray arm holes free of small food particles and other deposits. The pump screens are usually located in the well at the base of the unit. Some units don't have screens, so if you don't see an obvious opening in the bottom of the dishwasher with a screen on it you may have one of these models. Remove any large food particles from the pump screen with your fingers and then scrub the screen filter clean with a stiff toothbrush or other small brush. The holes in the rotating spray arm in the center of the dishwasher can also get clogged. Remove the spray arm. The lower arms will most likely lift off their brackets, but they may be held in place with a nut. The overhead arms will probably snap in place or be secured with a nut. Check your owner's manual, in any case, these arms are easily removable. Use a straightened paper clip or piece of thin wire to unclog any holes that you cannot see through in the spray arms. Poke the wire through the hole and wiggle it back and forth to dislodge the dirt or food particles. When all the holes are open, turn the arm so the large center opening that fits on the shaft faces down. Then shake the hollow arm so all the small particles fall out of the opening. If you don't get most of these loose particles out of the arm, they will reclog it as soon as you run the dishwasher. Periodically clean the interior sides and inside of the door by washing it down with a paste of baking soda and water. Use a sponge to wipe off stains (if they're stubborn let the paste set for a while) and remove tough areas with a scrubbing pad. Keep the soap dispenser compartment clean and check that the door closes easily. If the door to this compartment sticks, shut the soap is not released and it cakes up in the compartment. Usually all that is needed to get the door working again is to clean the excess soap from the compartment. Remove the excess soap and clean the compartment and the area around the door. Keep the door panel and/or (all 4 sides of the unit if it's a portable) clean by washing with a mild soap and water solution. For spotted areas that are especially noticeable on black glass fronts, use a damp sponge dipped in borax. Rinse with water and dry with a soft rag. Daily use of your dishwasher keeps water in the bottom of the tub, which lubricates the rubber seals in the unit and pump. If you're going to be away for several months, pour an ounce of cooking oil into the puddle of standing water in the bottom to keep the water from evaporating. This helps prevent the rubber parts from drying out and shrinking during the long lay up. In addition to splashing water around, a dishwasher requires hot water to work efficiently. Check the water temperature at the nearest faucet to the dishwasher. Run the water into a glass and place a candy or meat thermometer in the glass. Allow the water to run until the temperature doesn't rise. If it's not at least 140 degrees, turn the temperature up on your water heater. Don't set it any higher or you will be wasting energy. Written by the editors of HouseNet. Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |