Like most kitchen/household appliances, you must take care of your dishwasher and use it in the correct way in order for it to function properly and to maintain the lifespan of the appliance. 

 

A dishwasher should last at least 10 years at a property, but misuse can decrease this life span drastically. If you misuse an appliance you may be charged for repair or contribution toward the reduced lifespan. 

 

One of the most common issues that we receive regarding dishwashers is that they have stopped draining. This can happen for several reasons; the main reason being blocked drains and filters. This often occurs when you do not rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher leading to a build-up of food debris in the drains which clog them. It is the tenant's responsibility to frequently unclog/clean the drains and filters if you have caused them to clog up or you may face a false call out charge for a workman to call out to and look at the issue. Cleaning the drain/filter is easy, as described below. 

 

1.                  Remove the bottom rack and locate the filter (you may have to twist the filter to unlock it) 

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2.                  Remove the filter and use hot water and soap to soak the filter. You can do this in your kitchen sink (Always take caution while working with hot water as to not injure yourself. You can wear rubber gloves to protect your skin etc.)

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3.                  Using a sponge/brush, scrub away at any trapped debris and dirt in the filter 

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4.                  Rinse the filter once you’ve scrubbed all of the debris out 

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5.                  Using a sponge and soapy water, wipe down the opening where the filter was removed to get rid of any        remaining dirt/food that may fall back into the filter.

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This process should ideally be carried out once a month to ensure that you never get to the point where your dishwasher stops working/draining. 

 

Below are some more helpful tips to keep in mind while using your dishwasher to ensure proper care and maintenance of the appliance: 

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1.                  Ensure that you scrape/rinse plates before putting them into the dishwasher to avoid build-up.

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2.                  Place dishes with the dirty side facing down to allow proper rinsing of the dishes 

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3.                  Avoid overcrowding your dishes. Not only does this lead to improper cleaning of the dishes as the water cannot reach all of the dishes, but it can also lead to trapped spray arms and leaks which can cause their own problems 

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4.                  Do not forget to use dish washing tablets/detergent. It may sound obvious, but you wouldn't believe the number of times people report that their dishes are not getting clean, only to realise that they have not been using washing tablets!

 

5.                  Do not block the sprayer arms. This is important to keep in mind when loading the top and bottom racks, as blocking these can lead to under performance of the appliance. 

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6.                  Ensure all items that you put in the dishwasher are dishwasher-safe items. Some items you cannot put in the dishwasher include non-stick cookware, delicate glassware (this can crack and shatter inside of the dishwasher which could be a potential danger), wooden or silver dishes, kitchen knives, burnt pots and pans, cast iron pans.