Winter Home Check-Up

Good Question Gayle,

Dishwashers can be a frustrating but useful kitchen appliance. I have never been satisfied with any dishwasher I have ever owned personally. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions that might help with cleaning the dishes on the bottom rack of your dishwasher.

If you do not already do so, make sure there is no food debris on the dishes before loading them in your dishwasher. Food left behind on dishes will only make it more difficult to get them clean. Food debris will also clog up the dishwasher drain. If this happens you usually end up just washing your dishes in dirty water. Check the bottom drain and drain tubing at the dishwasher and make sure there is no blockage. This could leave debris on your dishes on the bottom rack. Also check the bottom sprayer mechanism to make sure this is not blocked with debris. If the holes are blocked with debris the sprayer will not turn which will not spay water on your dishes.

Also before starting your dishwasher make sure you run the hot water at your kitchen faucet until it is hot. Starting up the dishwasher before doing this will just fill it with cold water. The hotter the water the better chance you have of getting the dishes clean.

I would also suggest you run white vinegar through your dishwasher on a regular basis. Regular white vinegar is an excellent and safe house hold cleaner. This will help loosen up food and soap debris in the dishwasher sprayers and drain.

If you continue to have problems, looks like you might want to call a service technician to see what the problem could be. Good Luck!

Rob Rehm