Helping Your Dishwasher Work More Effectively and Reducing Repair Needs
When you have a dishwasher, you want to know that it is cleaning your dishes properly. There's no point in loading and running a dishwasher that is too full or has food scraps in it that are only going to leave a film all over the dishes. If you want to help your washer work more effectively, there are a number of strategies to follow as you load your dishwasher and get the dishes prepared to go in the washer. While you don't need to wash your dishes completely before placing them in the dishwasher, it's important to keep out as many food particles as possible to keep your machine running well.
Scrape Food Into the Trash
While you may be tempted to just pile all of your dirty dishes into the dishwasher, scraping excess food off first into the trash is going to make a big difference in the overall efficiency of your machine. You don't have to scrub your dishes, but get the loose food off so it doesn't end up at the bottom of your washer.
Use Hot Water From the Start
To ensure that your dishes are washed using hot water, run the hot water in your sink until you feel the hot water coming out. This will mean that your first washing cycle will use hot instead of cold water.
Clean Your Dishwasher Periodically
To get your dishes clean, you need to have a clean dishwasher. About once a month, make sure that the food trap at the bottom of your dishwasher is cleaned out. Take the time to run your dishwasher for a cycle using only vinegar. Wipe down the inside of the door of your dishwasher to keep it clean.
Don't Pack Your Dishwasher Too Tightly
Dishes can only get clean if they are able to get sprayed by the interior components of the dishwasher. When you pack your dishes too tightly, they aren't going to get as clean as you want them to.
You can also test your water to see how hard it is. If you have water that is too hard, you'll need to use a water softener to eliminate mineral buildup on your dishes. In addition, if you use a dishwasher soap that already has a rinse aid in it, you don't want to use additional rinse aid on your dishes. If you want an extra boost to clean your dishes, use a little white vinegar instead.
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