When your dishwasher is running well, you are unlikely to think about this, but truly, your dishwasher is one of your most useful appliances. Sure, you could certainly get by with washing your dishes by hand each night, but this would take up a lot of your counter space, as well as a lot of your time! With a properly working dishwasher, on the other hand, you need only load the dishes, add detergent, and press “Start.” But you should also make sure you know how to maintain this useful appliance if you want it to remain as useful as it is supposed to be!
Leaving far too much food on the plates before loading them into the dishwasher is one of the biggest mistakes people make with their dishwasher. Your plates and silverware will still come out clean if you have a newer dishwasher, which might lead you to believe that this is no big deal. But your dishwasher will cease to be as effective over time, as this extra food on the dishes will end up wearing down your dishwasher. What’s more, the little tubes in the dishwasher will get blocked up, and you will either have to get in there yourself to clean them out, or you will need to call someone to come do it for you!
Choosing a dishwasher detergent that is non-abrasive is another important element of dishwasher maintenance. While you may not want to shell out the extra money for the “good” detergent, the small uptick in price is worth it over the long run!
People also have a tendency to overtax their dishwasher (and to keep their dishes from getting as clean as they should as well) by loading the dishwasher with way too many dishes at one time. Make sure you load the dishes so they fit in there well; it is better to run two loads than to ruin your dishwasher.
Finally, you should always keep an eye on all working parts to make sure that they are still working! It is pretty easy to keep your dishwasher in good shape; simply follow these simple pieces of advice, and you will save yourself money and avoid headaches in the long run.
