Dishwasher maintenance
A dishwasher is a machine that uses heated water under pressure and mixes with detergent to clean dishes, silverware and cooking utensils.
You can select among different wash cycles and drying cycles to match the type of dishes being washed and the level of soil they have.
Understanding how the dishwasher works can help you figure out what kind of regular maintenance you should perform on the machine to keep it running at the highest possible level, giving you clean dishes each time.
Starting the dishwashing cycle
After you load the dishes and other items you want to wash, add the dishwasher detergent. Some people prefer to add a rinsing agent along with the detergent to reduce the chances of glassware having leftover water spots on it.
Once you select the cycle you want to use and press the start button, the dishwasher takes over the process of washing the dishes.
Pre-wash cycle
To start, the dishwasher runs hot water into the base of the machine. The dishwasher may use a heating element in the bottom of the machine to heat the water to the desired temperature if the hot water it pulls in is not at the desired temperature.
The water in the bottom of the dishwasher should reach 2-3 inches in depth before the dishwasher begins the actual washing cycle. The dishwasher uses sensors to measure the depth and temperature of the water, determining when to begin the wash cycle.
Starting the wash
To start the washing process, the dishwasher uses a pump in the bottom of the machine to pull in the water sitting in the basin. The pump forces the water through the pipes, spray jets and spray arms inside the dishwasher.
As the water moves through these small jets and holes in the spray arms, the pressure forces the arms to spin, moving the water throughout the entire interior of the dishwasher and reaching all the dishes on both the top and bottom racks.
This use of water pressure to move the dishwasher’s arms is similar to how a lawn sprinkler spins because of the pressure of the water moving through the arms and out of the tiny holes in the arms.
Mixing in detergent
At the same time, the dishwasher automatically opens the container with the detergent inside of it. As the water moves through the jets, it strikes the detergent container, mixing it with the water at the bottom of the dishwasher. As the pump pulls this solution in and forces it through the jets, the detergent strikes the dishes.
Measuring cleanliness
After the water hits the dishes, it drops back into the basin in the bottom of the dishwasher, until the pump pulls it back in and forces it through the jets again.
Some advanced dishwashers use sensors to measure the soil in the water as it collects in the basin. Should the water become too soiled, the dishwasher will drain the soiled water and replace it with clean water.
Completing the dishwashing cycle
The dishwasher continues spraying the dishes until one of two things happens:
Measuring the water: Some dishwashers are able to measure the cleanliness of the water dripping off the dishes. The machine uses these measurements to determine when the dishes are clean enough to end the washing cycle.
Using a run time: A basic dishwasher runs the cycle for a certain amount of time. The operator can set the time in some cycles. However, in the majority of cycles, the dishwasher runs for a predetermined amount of time, usually a couple of hours.
Draining and rinsing
After the cycle completes, the pump in the base of the dishwasher pulls the water in again, but it now forces the dirty water through a drain pipe and into your home’s sewer system.
After draining, depending on the cycle you chose at the beginning, the dishwasher will likely run a rinse cycle next, pulling clean water into the basin of the machine for the rinse.
Before rinsing, the dishwasher opens the container with the rinsing agent inside it, mixing the agent with the water. The pump then forces the clean rinse water through the spray arms and jets.
Drying the dishes
After draining the rinse water, the dishwasher may attempt to dry the dishes, depending on the cycle you chose at the beginning. For many types of dishwashers, you must select the drying cycle specifically, as this is an optional cycle.
During the drying cycle, the heating element in the bottom of the machine turns on, heating up the air inside the dishwasher. By heating the air, the water should evaporate off the dishes over a period of about an hour.
If you choose not to run the drying cycle, the dishes should eventually drip dry inside the dishwasher, although this could take a few hours or longer.
Maintaining the dishwasher
To allow it to perform properly, you should run occasional maintenance steps on the dishwasher.
Running it regularly: If the dishwasher sits unused for several days, hard deposits may adhere to the interior of the dishwasher rather than rinsing away. Running a special cleaning solution through the dishwasher can help with this.
Clean the interior: You can spray the interior of the dishwasher with a basic household cleaner or use an anti-bacterial wipe to remove any filmy material or soil. This cleaning process should eliminate odors, too.
Check the drain: The majority of food particles rinse through the drain hose. However, the drain of the dishwasher contains a filter to catch larger particles to prevent clogs. Every month, you should pull out the drain filter and clean it with a gentle cleaning brush.
Check the seals: Surrounding the edge of the dishwasher door’s interior, you will see a waterproof seal material. This prevents the dishwasher from leaking as it runs. Using a little bit of Dawn dish soap on a wet paper towel allows you to clean these seals, removing any grime or other soil that could affect the seal’s performance.
Kyle Schurman is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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