12 Ways To Improve The Performance Of Your Dishwasher

Having a dishwasher is awesome. If you've ever had to wash all the dishes by hand in a house without a dishwasher, you know it can be a lot of work. Even when you soak them beforehand and do some scrubbing, it is also still easier than making sure each dish is completely clean, sanitized, dry, and also neatly stacked. But let's be honest, dishwashers could also be kept in better condition. This is true for almost any machine. You can make any mechanical device work even better, and if you take good care of it, you can sometimes make it perform better than it naturally would. If your dishwasher has become less effective over time and you want to make it work better, there are some small changes you can make that will have a big impact. Issues like dishes with spots and leftover residue can be fixed. If you understand how a dishwasher works, you can make it work better with just a few basic tools and some vinegar.

12 Ways To Improve The Performance Of Your Dishwasher

1. Make sure your dishwasher is level. Dishwashers need to be flat so water can flow out properly. If it's not level, your dishes might not get cleaned evenly. You can adjust the feet of the dishwasher to level it. Turn them clockwise to lower the feet and counter-clockwise to raise them until it's level.
2. Your dishwasher is designed to clean your dishes effectively, but big pieces of food can cause problems by blocking the drain filter. To make sure your dishes come out sparkling clean, use a spoon to remove any large food particles before putting your plates in the machine.
3. Regularly clean the drain. The drain is where the water goes after cleaning your dishes. Sometimes, it can get clogged. So, check and clean it regularly to ensure it works well during each cycle.
4. Use vinegar to clean. If you have hard water, your dishwasher may accumulate mineral deposits inside. You can fix this by running an empty cycle with a bowl of white vinegar in the top rack and a little vinegar in the bottom.
5. If you're not using a dishwasher detergent tablet, consult your dishwasher manual to find the recommended amount of powder or liquid detergent. This way, you can be sure you're using the correct dosage for various cycles, which will lead to the best washing results.
6. Run your garbage disposal. If you connect your dishwasher to the sink's garbage disposal, run it daily with cold water to prevent clogs in your drain system, which will also help your dishwasher drain better.
7. Don't overcrowd the racks. Leave space between dishes to allow water to reach and clean them properly. Stacking dishes too closely can lead to less effective cleaning.
8. Clean the sprayer arms. These arms spray water onto your dishes.
   If minerals or food clog their nozzles, your dishwasher won't clean well. Use a brush and vinegar to clean them.
9. Load your dishwasher smartly. Understand how the sprayer arms work and position your dishes to ensure they clean them all effectively. Don't block water from reaching any dish.
10. Use a rinse aid or vinegar. Rinse aid prevents white spots on dishes (mineral scale). While rinse aid can be costly, white vinegar is an affordable alternative.
11. Clean your dishwasher monthly. Give your dishwasher a monthly cleaning with hot water and vinegar. Scrub the walls, drain cover, racks, and the inside of the door to remove scale and food residue.
12. Choose the right wash cycle. Select the appropriate cycle for your dishes. You may need to wash pots heavily, while you can clean glasses with a light cycle. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for you.

Read More- 5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Wash in a Washing Machine

Conclusion

Optimizing your dishwasher and also performing these minor maintenance tasks can significantly improve its performance. If you still face issues, consider professional appliance repairs.