Just recently, while doing a walk thru on a home, a client of mine (you know who you are), told me about some awesome tips that she got from her repairman for helping her dishwasher run more smoothly...so naturally, I'm sharing them.  And, of course, because I'm a perfectionist, I'm adding a few tips of my own...you may have heard some of these before but I can pretty much guarantee that there's at least one new thing you will learn from here, even if it's just that you may be the reason for my next blog post ;-)  Happy Dishwashing!

  1. Pre-washing your Dishes.  I know…it sounds so silly to wash your dishes before you wash your dishes.  Realistically though, you just want to scrape off any food bits that are stuck on your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
  2. No overcrowding.  Sounds easy, right?  Until you have a house full of people you just cooked for and can’t stand the sight of dirty dishes in your sink…yup, it’s happened to me before.  Just remember, it’s easier to wash a few dishes by hand than to rerun a full load of dishes because you piled on that one extra bowl.
  3. The Power of Vinegar.  There’s two parts to this…one: Every so often (once every month or every other month), run your EMPTY dishwasher through a normal cycle with white vinegar.  If you’re into conserving EVERYTHING, and running an empty dishwasher sounds like a waste of water, then simply put a mug, half-filled with white vinegar, upright in the top rack before every (or every other) wash. Do not put it in the finishing rinse container or the basin of the dishwasher because it just gets emptied out during the rinse cycle.  The white vinegar helps clean out any food particles leftover from a cycle and maintains a clean, fresh smell in the dishwasher.
  4. Hot Water to the Rescue.  Before you start a cycle, turn on your faucet (yes, you read correctly) and run the water until it becomes hot to the touch.  This will ensure that your first dishwasher fill cycle will be hot.  This tip is super important during the winter time because it takes the water longer to heat up, travelling all that way from the water heater. Then, use the Hi-Temp Wash button and Heated Dry button with every wash (Note: The Hi-Temp Wash breaks down the detergent better)
  5. Sani-Rinse. No, you don’t need a prescription for this one.  Just don’t forget to activate the Sani-Rinse button especially if someone has been sick or if you have babies in the house. It is an extra hot rinse cycle to get rid of those extra germs.
  6. Beware of the Dishwasher Trap. So somewhere down there in the abyss of your dishwasher, under the lower sprayer, there’s usually a piece that is removable and there’s usually some surprises hidden like a treasure for you to find.  What could it be, you ask?  Leftover food particles from months of dishwashing or even pet hair that never made it out the drain.  You’re welcome to take these items and wrap them up like a present for whomever usually empties the dishwasher but I recommend taking out the tray (if it’s removable) and rinsing it in the sink or using a towel to clean it all up.
  7. Clean the Seals. I’m not talking about your Navy SEAL, I’m talking about the rubber gasket in the door and around the soap tray door.  Sometimes, there’s gunk that builds up around those areas…simply wipe those down using a damp towel.
  8. Only use Dry Detergent, not Gel. Recommend Cascade Complete powder detergent as best and Finish dry cubes as second best. (Note: The composition of gel detergent doesn't break down properly in hard water). Don't buy a huge box because detergent has an unofficial expiration date and will leave residue if the box is too old. Regardless, the Hi-Temp wash cycle will break it down the best.