The dishwasher is designed to clean, but did you know the appliance itself needs to be cleaned periodically? Between stuck on food accumulating on the interior and loose food gathering in the filter, your dishwasher may fail to work properly.
Fortunately, cleaning your dishwasher can be a nearly effortless task. In fact, the dishwasher may be one of the easiest appliances to keep clean in your entire house but we often get asked if you should run a dishwasher empty?
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.
Signs Your Dishwasher Needs Cleaning
There are several warning signs to look out for to determine if your dishwasher needs to be run on empty.
Unpleasant odor
Is your dishwasher giving off a foul smell? Smelly dishwashers can ruin the feel of a beautiful and clean kitchen. Unpleasant odors can be caused by a variety of reasons, including clogged filters, food residue and build-up, too hot of water, and using too much detergent.
Food build-up in the filter
Your dishwasher filter goes through the wringer, so keeping foreign and solid objects out is imperative. Perhaps the most visible sign of a clogged dishwasher filter is the dishes not getting clean or only some of the dishes getting clean. If your washed dishes still have food particles, check your filter for debris and clean the fine screen filter. Refer to your owner’s manual to see if your dishwasher has a removable, cleanable filter.
Rusting inside the machine
Rust is not only unsightly, but it also may be dangerous to your health. If your dishes come out with noticeable quantities of rust, make sure you rinse them well before eating off of them. Along the same lines, a significant danger of rust lies within the dishwasher itself. It may clog dishwasher components, which leads to a faulty appliance. Keeping up on maintenance and keeping the dishwasher clean with lessening the likelihood of rust developing.
Food in the sprayer arm
To have dishes that are clean as a whistle, your dishwasher’s sprayer arm should be free of food particles and other debris. To clean, remove the arm and place it into a water and vinegar solution. Allow it to soak until the debris becomes loosened. Then shake out debris and flush with clean water.
How to Clean Your Dishwasher
Ready to clean your dishwasher? First, start with an empty dishwasher. Pour 1 gallon of white distilled vinegar in the bottom of the unit, and let it sit for three to four days. Some newer dishwashers that are low water will not require an entire gallon. Once it’s time, run a cycle on the hottest and longest cycle with no dishes or detergent. This will clean out old food particles to keep your dishwasher smelling fresh. This will remove the accumulation of food in the pump and motor and will wash away grease and remove musty odors. We recommend cleaning your dishwasher once a quarter.
Now that the dishwasher motor and filter are clean, you’ll want to clean the spray arms, tub, and racks with Finish dishwasher cleaner. If the spray arms are still clogged with food deposits, repeat this step until the arms are clear. This important step will strip the dishwasher of the build-up and reduce hard water issues. Keep in mind that this may take multiple cycles of Finish dishwasher cleaner.
Tip: Homeowners should also run an empty load after hooking up a new dishwasher. This will ensure that all the parts and pipes are correctly connected.
Other Dishwasher Parts You Should Clean:
- Under the door
To clean the bottom of your dishwasher’s door, use paper towels and a vinegar solution to clean.
- The silverware basket
Soak the silverware basket in a sink full of warm water and dish soap. Make sure to completely rinse the basket before putting back in the dishwasher.
- The gasket
The dishwasher gasket can be cleaned using a brush and a mixture of vinegar and warm water.
- The detergent dispenser
To clean the detergent dispenser, use vinegar solution and a brush.
Contact iFiX Today for Your Dishwasher Repair
Let us know if these tips helped and if you run a dishwasher empty. Inspections, regular maintenance, and education of overall operations will keep your dishwasher and its filter running smoothly. Since the dishwasher is a complex machine, we recommend contacting a professional for repairs. Call our locally-owned and operated dishwasher appliance repair service at 801.731.4349 for all your dishwasher needs.
