A dishwasher provides great convenience for your family, allowing you to relax while you do the dishes. There can be a lot of problems that need to be addressed if your dishes are not as clean as they should be, the wash cycle is taking longer than it should, or leaking water, or not draining. We all know that when your dishwasher is malfunctioning or running slowly, the convenience factor is lost. Do not continue to use a faulty dishwasher; Sam Appliances Repair’s experts will help you quickly identify the problem and solve it. If your dishwasher still works well but takes longer to wash dishes, you may need to perform some simple maintenance to keep everything in good working order.

Common issues & their causes

Dishwasher leaks: Using the wrong or wrong amount or type of soap may cause leaks in the dishwasher. Worn gaskets or a leaky pump or motor assembly are some possibilities.

Glasses are cloudy: This is usually due to hard water or insufficient rinsing before washing; a water softener may be needed to solve the problem.

Water stays in the washer: Blockages, a faulty drain impeller, or a broken drain solenoid can cause water to remain in the washer.

Dishwasher won’t fill with water: This could be caused by a faulty valve, a faulty overflow switch, or a faulty water inlet solenoid.

The dishes are not clean: A faulty pump or impeller, a faulty heating element, or clogged nozzles on the sleeves are to blame.

Dishwasher runs too long: When the dishwasher can’t time the cycle properly, it’s typically due to a faulty thermostat or timer.

How to clean a dishwasher

What do you think may benefit from some tender loving care? Your dishwasher, to be precise! Every month dishwasher should be cleaned by a special chemical. In this instruction, you’ll learn how to clean a dishwasher using vinegar and baking soda. You’ll be astounded by the difference — your dishwasher will appear brand new and function more effectively than ever before.

1. Gather your supplies
First of all, gather your cleaning supplies. You will need warm water, rubber gloves, baking soda, toothpick, toothbrush, microfiber cloth, and distilled white vinegar.

2. The filter, utensils holders, and dishwasher shelves must be removed
Remove the racks, dish holders, and filter to get to the small cracks and crevices (some filters simply unscrew, but others will require tools to unscrew). Take them out and soak them in a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and warm water. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes.

3. Clear out all debris
Check for debris that could be hidden inside now that you have a line of sight. Wipe down the sprinklers and sides, especially the top and bottom corners. Inspect the dishwasher’s filter and dispenser, as well as any tiny holes and slots through which water enters. If you find food particles or other dirt trapped in these small gaps, use a toothbrush and/or toothpick to remove them.

4. Using vinegar, run the dishwasher on hot water
1 cup white vinegar placed in a dishwasher-safe container at the bottom of an empty dishwasher. Turn on the hot water cycle in the dishwasher. The vinegar will break down any leftover food, grease, soap scum, residue, or other dirt.

5. Use baking soda on the second short wash cycle
Remove the bowl and 1 cup of baking soda from the bottom of the dishwasher after completing the first cycle. Run it through a fast loop. The baking soda will clean the dishwasher and remove stains. What is the end result? A sparkling dishwasher with a very clean scent.

6. Clean the outer door of the dishwasher
Use a cleaner designed specifically for the surface of your dishwasher: for example, if it’s stainless steel, look for a specialty cleaner for stainless steel (all-purpose cleaners can leave streaks or even scratch the steel, so be careful).

Keeping the dishwasher clean

Now that you know how to clean your dishwasher, there are tons of benefits. You will notice that the machine smells and looks nicer and is also more efficient. When all residue is removed, soap and water can be sprayed at full intensity through the device, leaving you with flawless dishes. If your dishes start coming out of the dishwasher with dirt stuck to them, this indicates that your dishwasher needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

Deep clean the inside of your dishwasher every six months to keep it running smoothly. Apart from that six-month deep clean, if your dishwasher has a self-cleaning sanitize cycle, you should run it on a monthly basis. The sanitize cycle runs hotter and longer than a regular dishwashing cycle and is able to kill 99.9% of bacteria and food particles that a wash cycle leaves behind.

You can stock up on Afresh if your dishwasher doesn’t have a sanitizing cycle. Afresh is a foaming tablet that fights residue and detergent buildup in dishwashers and is designed for full-cycle use.

Check the temperature settings in the dishwasher

You can do one more thing to keep your dishwasher in top condition: Preheat your dishwasher to 120-150°F. If the water temperature is below 120°, it is not hot enough to successfully wash dishes. Fill a cup with the hottest tap water and place it in the sink closest to the dishwasher to check the temperature. Place a thermometer inside and check the temperature. You will need to adjust the water heater if it is below 120° or above 150°.

Get the best dishwasher repair in Santa Clarita & San Fernando Valley area

We can help if your dishwasher won’t drain, your glassware is cloudy or white, your dishwasher won’t fill with water, your dishes aren’t clean enough, or your dishwasher is leaking or overflowing. Your oven will be repaired or serviced as soon as possible at the service center. We will get your oven up and running in no time. Whatever your requirements, you can rely on our competent services. All brands and types of dishwashers can be repaired by Sam Appliance Repair’s highly trained technicians.

The makes and models we service and repair

We service a lot of makes and models of dishwashers and offer dishwasher repair services. If you have a dishwasher from a manufacturer such as Fisher & Paykel, Jenn-Air, Frigidaire, Bosch, Electrolux, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, or others, we will do our best to solve the problem and complete the repair of your dishwasher as quickly as possible.

Contact us and get the best dishwasher repair service in Los Angeles!