Dishwashers are becoming a common sight in the Australian kitchen, and to good reason. They’re vastly cheaper than age-old hand-washing, and their convenient, energy-efficient features save you and your family significant time, money and effort.
But like any appliance, dishwashers aren’t perfect. Without a little maintenance to keep them running smoothly, you might end up with a few funky smells. Or worse… a musty, watery mess and a big service fee.
So we’ve pulled together a troubleshooting FAQ of common dishwasher problems and their solutions to help save you the money and hassle of costly repairs down the track.
Dishwasher smells are generally caused by a build-up of small food particles and grease over time. They can clog the filters, spray arm, drain hose and other little nooks around your dishwasher.
These food particles begin to smell and let off odours, which can then transfer onto your dishes. Bacteria builds up and your dishwasher becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew.
If your dishwasher smells really musty or damp, you may have a problem with a kinked hose or clogged drain. Pull the dishwasher slowly out from its cavity, if possible, and inspect the hose and surrounding area for water.
You can follow a couple of simple steps to help get rid of food debris and stinky dishwasher smells. A weekly clean will give you the best results and keep your dishwasher running smoothly and effectively.
Plastics don’t dry as easily due to their density, so they’ll retain a lot of residual moisture. They also have a habit of moving around during a wash cycle, which is why you’ll sometimes find them upside-down and filled with water.
Solution: When stacking plastic dishes, try to position them between dishes so that they can't move around. You can also use a Rinse-Aid, such as FINISH, to help water run off dishes more easily.
You may need to manually switch on the drying option, or there may be an additional drying option to give your dishes an extra blast.
Solution: Check your product manual to make sure you’re making full use of the programs. Many dishwashers do use a condensation drying system
If you’ve an older dishwasher with a heating element drying system, your heating element may be malfunctioning or burned out. You’ll notice a burning or mechanical smell. Your dishes also tend to be less clean on warm or hot washes.
Check whether your dishwasher has an exposed heating element by checking around the base filter for a black ring. Some recent models from Whirlpool Corp (KitchenAid, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag) still have these, along with many older dishwasher models.
Solution: There are DIY solutions online to fix broken heating elements, but these are to be taken at your own risk and will void the manufacturer’s warranty.
We recommend finding the Serial Number Panel on the dishwasher (located either on the inner lip or the back of the dishwasher), noting down the model number and serial number, and calling the manufacturer directly for service.
You can use eco-friendly solutions to deodorise your whole dishwasher and eliminate lasting odours. Of course, you could also pull the racks out and do it all by hand – but most of us don’t have the patience for that!
The acidic properties of white vinegar help to break down food clogs and deposits all around the dishwasher.
Running a Baking Soda rinse wash every so often keeps your dishwasher smelling fresher and looking brighter.
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