Giving Your Dishwasher a Good Cleaning

At Thanksgiving and year-round, your dishwasher performs the difficult job of removing grease, food particles and other particulates from cups, plates and bowls. Although a brand new dishwasher seems to force all of those particles out of the appliance, there is always some residual debris that remains behind. Over time, you’ll notice the dishes coming out with spots and food stuck to their surfaces. In these cases, it’s time to give your dishwasher a good cleaning.

Look for the Main Coarse Filter

In most dishwashers, there’s a large filter on the appliance’s base surface. You simply need to remove the plastic cover on this filter and pull it out. Because it’s relatively large, it’s the easiest to spot by just opening the appliance’s door. Rinse the filter out under the faucet and even take a toothbrush to it for a more thorough cleaning. You’re always welcome to contact our Milwaukee dishwasher repair professionals for this service if you aren’t comfortable with the process.

A Fine Filter Exists Too

Many consumers don’t realize that there is usually another filter that exists within the dishwasher. This component is referred to as a fine filter, and it normally resides near the coarse filter. The fine filter catches those tiny particles that would otherwise pass right through the appliance and into your sewer system. Ideally, you don’t want any debris entering your plumbing pipes because clogs quickly occur with particle buildup.

Steam Vent Cleaning

Along the dishwasher’s interior door is a steam vent. This area allows humid air to escape from the dishwasher and releases pressure. Although it’s meant for steam, this vent can succumb to debris buildup. Remove the vent’s cover and rinse the screen thoroughly. It’s even possible for mold to grow here too so it’s important to clean it at least once a month.

Spray Arm Inspection by Milwaukee Dishwasher Repair Technicians

Your dishwasher relies on rotating arms that have embedded spray nozzles for precise dish cleaning. Over time, these tiny nozzles can become clogged from either food particles or natural water mineral buildup. Our Milwaukee dishwasher repair technician can remove these arms, clean them and return the assemblies back to perfect operation. You’ll notice that your dishes are uniformly clean after a spray arm cleaning procedure.

Running a Cleaning Cycle

After you’ve checked and cleaned all of the key filters and vents, it’s critical to run cleaning fluid through the dishwasher. In general, use a lime, rust and calcium deposit cleaning product on your appliance. Pour this cleaner into the dishwasher soap dispenser and run a normal cleaning cycle. Run another cycle afterward to rinse all of the cleaner away. Your dishwasher should operate perfectly afterward.

Ideally, a Milwaukee dishwasher repair professional should inspect your appliance at least once a year. Our experts know what to look out for at each appointment. We use a combination of cleaning and adjustment techniques to keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape. Without a professional inspecting your dishwasher each year, you run the risk of a major malfunction or even a flood. Preventive maintenance could keep the dishwasher running for 10 years or more.

Photo by Bart Everson from Flickr using Creative Commons license.

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