5 Bonus Pre-Cleaning Dishwasher Tips

• Run your garbage disposal to clear it out before starting a load of dishes. Dishwashers usually drain into the same pipe as your sink, so that drain must be clear.

• Before starting a load of dishes, run hot water through your sink faucet until it feels hot to the touch. Your dishwasher will perform better if the wash cycle starts with hot water.

• Set your water heater high enough to ensure that the water can clean your dishes effectively. Your water heater should be set to around 120°F (50°C.) Cooler water won’t clean effectively, and hotter water could scald someone accidentally!

• Running only full loads of dishes helps to conserve water and energy, but don’t overfill your dishwasher. Dishwashers work by spraying water over the dishes, so the water needs to be able to get to the dishes in order to clean them.

• You can rinse dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, but don’t over-rinse your dishes. Dishwasher detergent requires a certain amount of gunk and grime to work right. Otherwise, the detergent can foam up during the cycle, which isn’t good for your dishwasher.

 

 

Inspect The Drain

Before you start cleaning you dishwasher, it’s a good idea to quickly check the area around the drain. Remove the bottom rack for easier access, then feel the area around the drain.

Remove any foreign material you find to prevent it from blocking the drain. (You’d be surprised at what you can find down there—bones, crab shells, glass shards, bits of plastic, etc.)

This is also a good opportunity to inspect the holes in the spray arm. If they look grimy, dip an old scrub any food particles out the the spray holes. Replace the bottom rack when you’re done.

 

Remove bits of food daily

The root of most odor problems is usually leftover food that has turned your dishwasher into a second garbage disposal. Get in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of foods after each dishwashing cycle.

Pull out the bottom rack and look for any leftover food that may have fallen into the well. Remove it with your fingers or a paper towel to prevent odors and future buildup.

We generally don't recommend that you pre-wash items, but do wipe excess food from plates, silverware, bowls and other items before loading them into the dishwasher.
If you don't plan to run a cycle immediately, rinse them quickly at the sink or run a Rinse Only cycle to prevent unwanted smells.

Also, always remove any labels or stickers from jars you may be reusing before putting the item into the dishwasher to prevent them from clogging the filter.

 

Wipe away door grime when you see it

To clean the door:
Wipe away any residue and spots that may have splashed or settled onto the interior surface of the door, door edges, handle and dishwasher controls with a damp microfiber cloth or sponge.

To clean the door gasket:

• Wipe clean with a towel removing any food debris. Food debris can get stuck within the gasket, preventing a tight seal and causing a leak.

 

Clean the dishwasher filter weekly

If your dishwasher filter isn't clean, nothing else will be. The filter is found below the bottom spray arm — you'll need to pull out the bottom rack to get to it. If you're not sure how to remove it, check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for details.

To eliminate pesky spots on future loads:

• Unlock and remove the filter and rinse it under hot running water.

• Using a Excelsior cleaning kit, scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame to remove any grease or particles stuck in the crevices. Then, rinse it clean.

• Lock the filter back into place.

Do not operate your dishwasher without the filter properly locked in place, as you can cause severe damage to your machine and possibly void the warranty.

 

Deep clean your dishwasher monthly

Once per month, it's important to get down and dirty to remove any trapped particles, mineral buildup and detergent residue hiding in your machine's internal parts. Dishwasher cleaners, like Exelsior are an easy fix as they contain surfactants that dissolve and clean away trapped food bits and greasy residue.

Check the instructions before using any commercial dishwasher cleaner. Most require an empty dishwasher, but some can be used in the same cycle with dishes and detergent for even more convenient cleaning.