Some appliances would be hard for us to live without. Dishwashers are high on that list. They save us time and make it easy to keep everything hygienically clean. But to get the best out of one, you need to know how to look after it. Here are some tips to help you to keep your dishwasher functioning properly.
Clean your dishwasher regularly
A recent survey shows that many people never clean their dishwasher. People, understandably, assume that all that hot water and detergent keeps everything hygienically clean. Yet a study carried out by researchers from 3 countries, that was published in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, showed fungi and bacteria growing inside most of the dishwashers they tested. So, if you are not already doing so, clean your dishwasher every month or so. It is particularly important to pay attention to the door seal. That is where the researchers discovered the majority of the germs and bacteria.
When you do so, take the time to remove the spray arms and rinse them under the tap. Surprisingly, it is not uncommon for little bits of food to get stuck in them, which leads to everything being sprayed with diluted mold and bacteria. This is more of a problem if you only use yours a few times a week.
Also, pay attention to the door rubber. In studies, that is the area that ended up harboring the most germs, fungi, and bacteria.
Don’t let the salt run out
The vast majority of us are guilty of putting our dishes through a cycle when the salt or rinse aid has run out. When you do this, you do not get good results and it can cause other issues. Salt stops limescale from forming on your appliance parts as well as giving you better cleaning results. Once limescale forms on things like the heating element, it will not be long before you need to replace the part.
Don’t overload your dishwasher
You want the water and detergent to be able to reach every item, so it is important not to overload your dishwasher. If you do overload it, you heighten the chances of one of the arms being damaged by something that is sticking up too far. As well as this, your dishwasher will not perform to the best of its ability, which seems futile, especially if you subsequently have to put items through it more than once to get clean. This guide will help you to load it in the right way.
Run it regularly
Similarly to cars, our kitchen appliances are designed to be used regularly, including your dishwasher. Using it only once a week allows bacteria to build up far faster. This is the case even if you rinse everything before putting it in.
More tips
The above will help you to keep your dishwasher clean. If you are looking for tips that will help you to get cleaner dishes, just click here.