THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN YOUR DISHWASHER

Home appliances make everyday living that much easier, but we often overlook the cleaning and maintenance of these incredible products, which results in underperformance and, eventually, complete breakdown. Dishwashers, in particular, require a few simple cleaning techniques every so often to ensure optimum performance.

How you know your dishwasher needs a clean Whether you’re a first-time dishwasher owner, or have been enjoying this appliance for years, here’s what you should look out for:

• The dishwasher has an unpleasant odour when opened.
• There is grimy build up around the interior of the dishwasher.
• There are spots and film on the glassware and crockery after a run.
• The filter is backed up with gunk.
• You haven’t cleaned out your dishwasher in a few months.

Tips for cleaning the dishwasher

When it comes to daily hygiene, two of our CornerWash models ( DDW247 & DDW356) are designed with a tub clean function/program (inner clean) to ensure optimum cleanliness throughout. However, when deciding to clean out the dishwasher yourself, the following cleaning items and steps will come in handy:

• White vinegar
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Cloth

Step 1
The first thing you’ll need to do is take out all the racks and utensil holders before unscrewing the dishwasher filter. Clean these items using a mixture of warm water and vinegar, allowing them to soak for half an hour or so. This will break down the grime.

Step 2
Using your cloth, wipe the interior of the dishwasher, removing any excess food debris that may be lodged in places. This will include wiping the spray arms and walls, and cleaning out any crevices with a toothbrush.

Step 3
Place one cup of white vinegar in a bowl and then place this at the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Run the dishwasher on a hot water cycle to allow the vinegar and water to break down and clear out any grease and soap scum.

Step 4
Once the vinegar cycle has completed, then it’s time to sprinkle baking soda along the bottom of the dishwasher. Run the dishwasher on the shortest cycle, allowing the baking soda to remove any hardwearing stains and lingering odors.

Step 5
Give the exterior of the dishwasher a good wipe down using any appropriate cleaning product. Make sure you don’t use any abrasive material as this will cause scratches, particularly on stainless steel products.

Tips for running your dishwasher

Not that you have a squeaky clean dishwasher, you’re going to want to practice good habits to minimize the food build up so that you don’t have to clean it too often. Here are some useful tips to keep your dishwasher running at its optimum.

• Don’t overfill your dishwasher as the dishes won’t come out clean.
• Make sure you remove any food debris before placing the dishes in the dishwasher. You can give them a simple rinse if needed, but you don’t have to overdo it.
• Load and sort dishes according to manufacturer instructions, allowing water to circulate and reach all items.
• Ensure the dishwasher sprayer arms can rotate and spray water freely. This means not letting them get blocked by large items and things such as panhandles.
• Make sure you’re using a good quality detergent so that you don’t have a buildup of excess foam.
• Make sure you use the right amount of detergent when running a load.

How you know it’s time for a new dishwasher

With correct use and regular cleaning of your dishwasher, you’re likely to enjoy many happy years together. However, there might come a time when you feel it’s time to invest in a new dishwasher. Here are a few clues this might be the case:

1. Dishwasher’s age Top-end dishwashers will last much longer, but if you have a middle to lower-end model, then it is likely to last about a decade or so.
2. Rust on the inside When a dishwasher starts rusting on the inside, it means there is a leak or other serious problem. You don’t want rust specks getting on your dishes.
3. Water not draining or leaking If the dishwasher drain is clean and the water is still not draining, or there is water leaking out of the dishwasher, this could indicate bigger problems that require replacement.
4. Strange noises Obviously there is some noise when a dishwasher runs, but if it’s anything out of the ordinary, then it’s probably time to upgrade.

Key considerations when investing in a new dishwasher are your space requirements, as well as the energy rating. Defy’s incredible range of dishwashers are renowned for their advanced cleaning and eco-friendly features, especially the Defy CornerWash Dishwasher. This means long term savings while preserving the environmen