Dishwasher Maintenance

Your dishwasher cleans dirty dishes starts getting dirty itself after many wash cycles. Taking the time to clean the filters and internals will prevent accumulation of nasty smells, staining, or clogs. Continue down this guide if you've never cleaned the dishwasher, or just moved into a new house without appliance service records.

Your dishwasher was designed to run with a dishwasher compatible soap, and will periodically need cleaning. Performing a routine dishwasher cleaning will help keep dishes clean.

• Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar solution on the bottom inside of the dishwasher before you run an empty cycle.
• Wipe down the interior of the dishwasher after the cycle and remove any food particles, grease, or other debris that accumulated.

The dishwasher filter should be cleaned regularly to ensure that it works efficiently. Depending on if you rinse, scrape, or place dirty dishes directly into the machine, you may have to clean your filter more often. The filter at the bottom of the machine normally twists clockwise out or is held in under a cover with a few screws.

Check the dishwasher spray arm for any blockages or damage. Running your dishwasher regularly will help from mineral buildup from clogging the arms, but removing and verifying the water holes aren't blocked is sometimes necessary.

Inspect the door gasket for any damage or wear and tear. Take a soapy cleaning solution to your door seal, or remove the seal completely soak before cleaning.

Inspect the dishwasher racks for any damage or rust. Clean any mineral buildup or food particles with a soapy solution.

Inspect the dishwasher connections for any leaks or damage. This includes any fittings attached to the main water supply, the water inlet valve, the intake valve and screen, and the drain hose. Tighten connections or replace leaking parts.

Inspect the dishwasher drain for any blockages or damage. Run a rinse and drain cycle on your machine to remove any standing water. If you notice your dishwasher isn't draining follow this guide.

The float valve is located near the front of the machine, and signals when it's time for the dishwasher to stop filling. Food can accumulate under this valve and is worth inspecting and cleaning. Most valves can be removed by pulling straight up.

Inspect the dishwasher heating element for any cracks, bubbling, or corrosion. You can test the heating element for continuity with a multimeter.

This list is for every five years with the same appliance, or for the first year after inheriting an old appliance.

• Use a vinegar solution and flush the tubes that connect the dishwasher to the wall as well as the drain tubing that connects to the sink.