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A dishwasher can take one of the most tedious kitchen chores off your hands, but it still needs a little care of its own. Some everyday habits can leave dishes dirty, cause unpleasant smells, or put extra strain on the machine.
A few simple changes can help your dishwasher run better and may save you from an avoidable repair bill. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid.
Add Dish Soap
Running out of dishwasher detergent can make it tempting to grab the bottle of dish soap by the sink. Don’t.
Regular dish soap creates far more suds than a dishwasher can handle. Those suds can spill out of the machine and leave you with a soapy mess on the kitchen floor.
If you’re out of dishwasher detergent, it’s better to wait until you have the right product rather than trying to make do with hand-washing soap.
Related: How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Detergent: An All-Natural Recipe
Leaving Large Food Particles on Dishes
You don’t need to scrub every plate before putting it in the dishwasher, but large chunks of food should go into the trash or compost first.
Big pieces of food can collect in the filter and interfere with drainage. They can also contribute to unpleasant smells and leave bits of debris behind after a wash.
A quick scrape is usually all that’s needed. There’s no reason to rinse dishes until they’re spotless before loading them.
Not Cleaning the Filter
The dishwasher filter has a dirty job: It catches food particles and other debris during the wash cycle. Over time, that material builds up.
A neglected filter can contribute to bad smells, poor cleaning, and drainage problems. Check your owner’s manual to find out how often the filter should be removed and cleaned, since the process varies by model.
Related: How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter the Right Way
Ignoring Warning Signs
A dishwasher that suddenly leaves food on your plates, makes unusual noises, smells bad, or fails to drain is trying to tell you something.
Don’t keep running it and hope the problem disappears. A clogged filter or drain may be an easy fix, while an electrical or mechanical problem may need professional attention. Dealing with small problems early can keep them from turning into bigger repairs.
Skipping the Heated Dry Option
There’s nothing wrong with letting dishes air-dry, and some people prefer it as a way to use less energy. But if your dishwasher leaves a lot of moisture inside, the damp environment can contribute to odors and mold growth.
If your model has a heated-dry setting, use it when you need dishes and the interior to dry more thoroughly. For everyday loads, cracking the dishwasher door after the cycle can also help moisture escape, provided your appliance manufacturer allows it.
Running Cold Cycles
Some dishwashers have quick or lower-temperature cycles for lightly soiled dishes. Those settings can be useful, but they aren’t a good match for every load.
Greasy pans, dried-on food, and heavily soiled dishes usually need more heat and a longer wash to come clean. If you regularly use a short or cool cycle for difficult loads, you may end up running dishes through the machine twice.
Check the cycle options in your dishwasher’s manual and match the setting to the type of load you’re washing.
Failing to Run Hot Water Before the Wash Cycle
Before starting your dishwasher, turn on the kitchen faucet and let the water run until it becomes hot. This gives the machine hot water from the beginning of the wash instead of sending a cold burst through the first part of the cycle.
Hot water helps dishwasher detergent work properly and makes it easier to remove grease and stuck-on food. Once the water is hot, start the dishwasher and let it handle the rest.
It takes only a few seconds, but this small habit can help your dishwasher get off to a better start each time you run it.
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