Have you noticed a sharp decline in your dishwasher’s cleaning ability? Perhaps water is pooling at the bottom, or maybe it’s not functioning at all! All of these issues can be caused by a clog preventing optimal water flow. Clogs can occur anywhere within the dishwasher but are most common in the filter assembly, the spray arms, and the drainage system. In our guide, we walk you through the five steps you need to take to clear any clogs and get your dishwasher functioning optimally. Let’s dive in!
Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary tools and products. We recommend:
This might seem obvious, but before you start, turn off your dishwasher to avoid any risk of electric shock. Make sure the dishwasher is empty of all dishes, and remove the dish racks to improve access to the filter and spray arms.
Probably the most common location of clogs in a dishwasher is the filter. It’s designed to trap food debris that is stuck to your dishes, but if not cleaned frequently enough it can become clogged. If the filter gets too clogged, it can even cause drainage issues and prevent your dishwasher from cleaning properly. You may start to notice food debris building up around the outside of the filter when a cleaning cycle finishes, and there may also be water pooled at the bottom of the dishwasher at the end of the cycle.
To clean your filter:
Another common site of dishwasher clogs is the spray arms. The spray arms shoot jets of water at your dishes, helping to remove grime and food particles. Sometimes, it’s possible for food particles to get stuck within the spray arms and block the holes, preventing proper cleaning. This is particularly common if you don’t rinse your dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, and is also more likely to occur with highly fibrous food particles, like lentils or quinoa.
To clean the spray arms:
Once you’ve cleaned the filter and spray arms, the next step is to unclog the drain hose. In most cases this will require moving your dishwasher, so make sure you either have help to move it or use a furniture dolly to avoid injury. Disconnecting the drain hose can lead to leaking of residual water, so have old towels or a bucket on hand to catch any leaks.
Here’s how to clear the drain hose:
Once you’ve cleared all visible clogs, you can finish the cleaning process with a deep cleaning cycle. You can purchase a bottle of dishwasher cleaner from the supermarket, or if you prefer natural products you can use vinegar instead. Here’s what to do:
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