How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Dishwasher: Maintenance Tips and Tricks

The dishwasher in your home probably isn’t something you think about very often. Beyond loading up your dishes after dinner and closing the door, it’s not something you rely on constantly, and it typically just works with the press of a button.

However, when it stops working, you notice it pretty quickly, and it’s an annoying obstacle to overcome. You have to wait on repair services, spend more time washing everything by hand, and generally, that thing that you didn’t think about much is suddenly a massive headache. 

Luckily, there are ways to put that moment off for quite a while and notice when you need to start planning for a replacement or repairs. 

Today, we’re going to go over dishwasher maintenance tips and tricks that’ll make your dishwasher last longer and maintain its peak performance, as well as a couple of tips for figuring out when you might need to start looking at repairs. 

Let’s get started!

​1: Clean Your Dishwasher Regularly

This is probably the easiest and most common-sense step you can take to extend your dishwasher’s lifespan.

Simply clean it. 

Now, we understand that the dishwasher wouldn’t be very convenient if you had to spend a ton of time cleaning it out after every use. If you were going to do that, you might as well wash your dishes by hand. However, it’s still important for you to do some minor cleaning that only takes a minute or two. 

After each use, give it a quick wipe down and make sure to remove any debris that might not have drained out during the washing cycle. This will help prevent residues from building up that aren’t very sanitary anyway, and it will ensure there is no debris that can affect the inner workings of the appliance or cause clogs. 

Again, you don’t need to go through it and put as much time and effort in as you would cleaning the dishes by hand. It’s just a minute or two to make sure the machine is clean and able to function properly the next time you use it. 
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This small step will add years to your appliance’s lifespan and keep it from knocking old food particles around on your supposedly clean dishes in the future. 

2: Use the Right Cleaning Products

Dishwashers are easy. You just load your dishes up, pour in the necessary detergent, and close it up. However, while there’s not much room for you to make a mechanical error, you can mess up your dishwasher by using the wrong detergent. 

You should always look for detergent designed to be used in a dishwasher, and you shouldn’t try to use any “hacks” you find online or weird products that aren’t meant to be used in dishwashers. 

If you use the wrong cleaning chemicals, you can use something that doesn’t go through the appliance’s internal systems well and create clogs, leave residue behind that isn’t good for you or the machine, or slowly destroy the mechanical parts of your washer if the detergent doesn’t react well with the compounds those parts are made of. 

Use dishwasher-safe fluids, and try not to get the cheapest stuff available. You want a high-quality, well-made product with a long track record for providing results safely.

If you try saving on cleaning products, you’ll definitely have to spend a pretty buck on dishwasher repair, which is pricier than just going for quality cleaning products.

3: Load the Dishwasher Properly

This might seem like a silly thing to explain, but it’s actually crucial. It’s tempting to just toss things in haphazardly and start the dishwasher up when you just ate a big meal, and all you want to do is relax with your family. However, that can cause some serious damage to your dishwasher. 

Once you start the machine up, there’s a lot of movement going on in the dishwasher. If you have dishes that aren’t properly placed in their racks, they can fall and break, releasing small pieces of debris into the machine that work their way around and damage internal components, cause clogs, and create all kinds of problems. Not only are you out of a dish when that happens, but the damage adds up, and you can eventually be out of a dishwasher. 

Slow down, take a little more time, and load the dishwasher properly to ensure everything is safe before you turn it on. ​

4: Check the Gasket

Like the majority of dishwasher maintenance tips and tricks, we have gone over so far, this takes two seconds, but most homeowners forget to do it. Always check your gasket before using the dishwasher. This is the rubber lining that creates a seal.

That keeps the dishwasher from leaking and makes sure that it functions properly. If it’s loose, part of it is off, or there are tears in it, you need to have it replaced properly. Luckily, you can do this on your own, or you can get a professional dishwasher repair serviceman to do it pretty cheaply.

It’s a lot easier to repair the gasket than it is to deal with the more serious problems that occur when you let the dishwasher operate with a busted gasket. 

5: Check Your Heating Coils

Finally, your dishwasher heats water via a series of heating coils. Those need to be kept clean and free of debris at all times for them to function properly. If there is residue or debris buildup on them, they can overheat, not perform properly, or flat out break. 

When you’re cleaning your dishwasher, take a look at the heating coils. If they’re dirty, wait for them to cool down, and give them a simple wipe down to knock off any debris or residue that has built up. Heating coils are one of the most common problems for dishwashers. So, keeping yours in good shape is a good way to extend your dishwasher’s lifespan.

When and Where to Get Help with Dishwasher Maintenance?

These dishwasher maintenance tips and tricks are great ways to extend the life of your dishwasher, but eventually, you will want to replace it or get it repaired. Usually, repairs are more appropriate. 

If you notice unusual noises from the dishwasher, excessive wear on the gasket, leaks, or the water isn’t hot when you open the dishwasher, and cleaning doesn’t help, it’s time to call a repair service. 

Luckily, we’re here to help! Whether your heating coils have gone out, your dishwasher is leaking, or you’re having problems with another appliance, we can repair it.

Contact us today, and leave all the appliance repairs and maintenance to us!