What Can You Do To Extend The Life Of Your Dishwasher?

The key to ensuring your dishwasher lasts the distance is to give it the love it deserves. The following are some tips we have gathered from expert dishwasher repair technicians.

When it comes to which appliance gets the most use in the kitchen, it’s a close race between them. You may cook up a storm in one of your electric ovens or air fryer regularly, but sometimes the dishwasher is the true hero for busy households. Getting continually loaded up with dirty pots, pans and dishes, it vigorously cleans and gets ready for another day – it’s the appliance many of us can’t live without in this modern day and age.

However, it’s important to not neglect your dishwasher and give it the attention and love it deserves for being such an invaluable kitchen assistant. Maintaining your dishwasher regularly is essential to helping it last as long as it possibly should, around nine years on average, which may result in a little less landfill waste and save you from replacing an appliance sooner than you could.

The cost of a dishwasher can range from £400 to almost £4000, so you’d be wise to follow these tips to avoid any costly repairs.

Run cleaning cycles on the occasion

It is suggested that you run your dishwasher every now and then on empty, on the hottest cycle. By doing this, you can help remove grease and limescale that can cause problems later on.

There are a variety of different cleaning products that promise to clean out your dishwasher’s internal mechanic and leave it spik and span. In addition to those, you can also use plain white vinegar – simply place two cups of vinegar in the rack of an empty dishwasher and run the cycle.

In addition to being cheaper, vinegar can help remove discolourations, foul smells and nasties that have built up inside your pipes.

However, you should always check your dishwasher’s manual first, as some manufacturers don’t recommend using vinegar in their dishwashers or washing machines.

Be careful not to put things in the dishwasher that you shouldn’t

Even though the dishwasher can do a lot more than just clean standard tableware and pots and pans (ever try cleaning your refrigerator produce drawer in there? Genius! ), experts do have a few warnings you should take into consideration.

There are obviously some things that you absolutely shouldn’t put in your dishwasher as it’s important to prevent your dishwasher from anything that might clog it up – such as ash from an ashtray or anything that could be coated in solvents or have been exposed to flammable liquids. Ensure that you do not obstruct the spray arms, bend the dishwasher racks, and stack certain items correctly in your dishwasher to avoid issues like broken glass ending up in your filters if you put certain things in your dishwasher.

Make sure the filter is properly cleaned

It’s not the most glamorous job – but a dirty filter only gets worse over time – and it’s essential for keeping your dishwasher operating at optimal performance. The filter should be cleaned on a monthly basis to avoid future problems.

When food gets stuck in your dishwasher for too long, it will cause blockages, not to mention a bad smell. Keep your dishwasher’s filter clean to ensure it runs more efficiently and prevent food scraps from penetrating deeper into you appliance, which can cause mechanical and even health problems.

Looking for your dishwasher filter but don’t know where it is? Your dishwasher’s bottom spray arm is located under the bottom rack. Pull out the bottom drawer/rack and look around the base of one of the corners or near the bottom spray arm. To remove grease and grime, simply remove the basket and rinse it under hot water – so don’t let it slip by!

Easy-to-fix issues shouldn’t be ignored

In general, if you see a problem with an appliance, don’t ignore it or expect it to magically fix itself. Minor problems, such as standing water after a load or a broken spray arm, can easily be fixed before they become more serious.

Spare parts are available for most big-brand dishwashers for general maintenance (e.g., new baskets or trays if they break), but if you cannot fix the dishwasher issue yourself, you may need to call a dishwasher repair specialist to diagnose and fix the issue.

Keep the door ajar between each cycle

Allow your dishwasher to air out whenever possible by leaving the door ajar. This will preserve the seals’ shape and reduce odour and mould growth.

Use dishwasher salt

As dishwasher salt softens hard water (i.e. water with a high mineral content), it can help prevent mineral buildup that can clog dishwashers over time, making them more prone to breakdown or requiring frequent repairs.

In most dishwashers, there is an indicator light that tells you when it’s time to top up the salt. Be sure to refer to your dishwasher’s manual for instructions on how to do this, or how to deactivate the light if it’s unnecessary.

In most dishwashers, there is an indicator light that tells you when it’s time to top up the salt. Refer to your dishwasher’s manual for instructions on how to do this, or how to deactivate the light if you don’t need it.

Regularly run your dishwasher

You should run your dishwasher regularly – at least once a fortnight – to ensure maximum performance and longevity. This prevents your dishwasher’s seals from drying out and cracking, which can lead to problems with water passing through your dishwasher as it helps keep everything running smoothly.

Insect infestation is a common cause of dishwasher failures because insects love the electronics in dishwashers. By running the dishwasher regularly, the little critters won’t be able to move in. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.