How to Maintain Your Dishwasher

Image of a Samsung kitchen roomset. Featuring white cabinets, worktops and walls. There is an open fully integrated dishwasher featuring pots and pans inside.

A dishwasher is a great addition in any kitchen. Whilst not considered an ‘essential’ appliance, once you’ve had a dishwasher, there is certainly no going back! Once you’ve invested in a dishwasher, you’ll want it to last as long as possible. Choosing a high quality, reputable brand is important. However whichever brand you choose, your dishwasher will only look great and perform well if you look after it.

The good news is, maintaining your dishwasher is relatively simple! Many modern dishwashers will alert you when they are low on salt or rinse aid. Some will even remind you when its time to do a deep clean! Below, we’ve broken it down into simple steps of how to take care of your dishwasher and how often you’ll need to do it.

Dishwasher salt

Dishwasher salt is a vital tool to maintain your dishwasher. The salt softens your water, which helps your detergent work more effectively. It also prevents bacteria and the build up of limescale inside the machine. This is especially important if you live in a hard water area. You can often tell when your dishwasher salt is running low because your glasses can start looking cloudy. However most modern dishwashers will indicate when they are low on salt. Some Wi-Fi connected appliances will even notify your mobile to top it up, handy! How much salt your dishwasher requires depends on a few factors including the water hardness in your area and how often you use your dishwasher. As a general rule, its best to check your dishwasher salt levels around once a month.

To add dishwasher salt:

Open the salt compartment which is usually found at the bottom of the appliance. Using a small plastic funnel, pour the salt into the compartment. Only top up the salt to the required level – if you’re unsure on this, check your manual. Any spilled salt should be removed from the bottom of your dishwasher as this can make your pots gritty.

Find out more about dishwasher salt in the Which? guide

Close up of dishwasher salt being added to an AEG dishwasher via a plastic funnel into the salt compartment.

Rinse aid

Rinse aid is another crucial way to maintain your dishwasher. The key to gleaming glasses and sparkling dishes is to keep your rinse aid topped up regularly. As with salt, your dishwasher will usually indicate that rinse aid is running low. Using rinse aid improves the drying performance of your dishwasher. It is also the reason your dishes will come out shining! If your dishwasher is low on rinse aid, you may notice water spots and slower drying times. To top it up, look for the rinse aid compartment which is usually found in the door of the appliance. Be careful not to overfill the dispenser and be sure to wipe up any overspill before you use the dishwasher again.

Clean your filters

For your dishwasher to work at its optimal performance, you need to keep the filters clean. If these get blocked up by leftover food or residue it can result in a less powerful clean. The filters are usually located at the bottom of your dishwasher. You may find it easier to remove the bottom rack so you can easily reach the filter. The best way to clean your filter is by running it under the tap to wash away most of the grease and grime. For any stubborn stuck on residue, you can use warm soapy water and a washing up brush to loosen the debris. Once the filter is fully clean, replace it in the machine and you’re good to go!

How often you clean your filters will depend on a few factors. How often you’re using your dishwasher and also the type of food you eat can impact this. Particularly greasy or stodgy foods can build up quickly, meaning you’ll need to clean the filters more often. If you eat porridge in the mornings, its a good idea to rinse out your bowl prior to putting it in the dishwasher. This means there will be less stubborn stuck on food by the time you run the cycle, keeping your dishwasher working more efficiently. Good Housekeeping suggest cleaning your filters after each use. However, if that sounds like a bit too much work, once a week should be fine.

Image of someone washing their dishwasher filter in the kitchen sink

Dishwasher cleaner

To keep your dishwasher in its best condition, we advise running a cleaning cycle once every 1-2 months. To do this, ensure your dishwasher is completely empty. Remove the label from a bottle of dishwasher cleaning solution (not the lid!) then place it upside down on the bottom rack. Run either a hot cycle or a dedicated care cycle which should be 65 °C or higher. Once the cycle has ended, simply remove the bottle and you’re all set to use your sparkling clean dishwasher again!

Image of sparkling clean pots and cutlery inside an open dishwasher.

Sprayer nozzles

Occasionally, it is worth removing the sprayer nozzles and giving them a good clean. It can affect the performance of your dishwasher if they become blocked, as the water won’t be distributed evenly. To clean the sprayer nozzles, remove the dishwasher racks so you can access the sprayer arm. Remove this from your machine and leave it to soak in the sink with warm soapy water for 20 minutes. After soaking the sprayer arm, use a toothpick (or similar) to dislodge any remaining debris from the nozzles. This will allow the water to flow through the sprayer arm more effectively, improving the performance of your dishwasher.

You shouldn’t need to do this very often. However if you’ve followed all the steps above and still notice your dishwasher isn’t performing well, its worth checking for any blockages.

Close up of the inside of a Samsung dishwasher. You can see the bright yellow sprayer arms at the base of the appliance.

How else can you maintain your dishwasher?

Along with regular cleaning and keeping the salt and rinse aid levels topped up, there are other ways you can look after your dishwasher.

  • Using the correct programme – Most modern dishwashers will have wash programmes to suit all different needs. For example, using the intense or high heat settings are great for really dirty pots and pans, not so great for glassware! Using the optimal settings will protect your crockery and your dishwasher.
  • Don’t overload – We get it, you’ve almost fit your entire load into the dishwasher. Just. One. More. Plate. As tempting as this is, try to avoid overloading at all times. This may not clean your dishes to a good standard and you might end up having to rewash them.
  • Scrape off food before loading your plates – Make sure you’ve scraped off any leftover food off your plate before loading. This will make sure you don’t have to clean out your dishwasher every week as opposed to every few months. Leaving leftover food or debris on your plate will contribute to blockages and affect performance.

Conclusion:

Now you know all the best ways to maintain your dishwasher, you can enjoy better results. Is it time to start thinking about replacing your current model? We have a fantastic selection of integrated and freestanding dishwashers to choose from.

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