A dishwasher used every day needs basic care at least every six months, and a few simple jobs are worth doing monthly. Leave electrical or pump repairs to a technician: every manufacturer uses its own design and the components are tightly packed. Routine maintenance, however, is something anyone can do.
Tap water in many Ukrainian cities is hard, so limescale and blocked jets are common. A few regular steps restore cleaning performance and protect the heating element, hoses and pump.
What you will need
Important: Before any job other than running an empty cycle, unplug the machine and turn off the water supply tap. Do not spray products inside the wash cabinet, onto the racks or onto dishes.
Step 1
Clean the spray arms
The rotating spray arms have many small holes that gradually clog with food debris and limescale. Remove the arm by unscrewing the central nut or releasing the clip, then clear the holes with a small brush or a needle. Avoid toothpicks, as they can snap inside.
Wash the arm with a degreasing detergent under warm water, or blow the holes through with compressed air. While you are at it, take out and rinse the filter at the bottom of the cabinet.
Step 2
Keep the salt topped up
Dishwasher salt softens the water. Hard water leaves scale on the heating element and in the pipework and works poorly with detergent, so dishes come out less clean. The salt reservoir is at the bottom of the machine.
Top it up with the amount given in the manual as soon as the indicator lights. If your water is particularly hard, set the matching softening level in the machine settings.
Step 3
Run an empty cycle once a month
Run the hottest programme with no dishes, adding a dishwasher cleaner. Alternatively, alternate citric acid and vinegar: one this time, the other next time.
This cycle dissolves small deposits of scale and grease in hard-to-reach places and removes odours.
Step 4
Level the feet
A dishwasher that is not level closes poorly and may leak. Check with a spirit level and adjust the feet by turning them if needed.
If the thread on a foot has seized, apply WD-40 Multi-Use, wait a few minutes and try again. Wipe off any excess so the floor does not become slippery.
Step 5
Check hoses and connections once a year
Pull a built-in dishwasher out of its recess once a year. Check that the inlet hose is tight at the tap and that the drain hose has no sharp bends or kinks. The drain hose can be disconnected and flushed with hot water and vinegar.
Inspect the power cable and plug as well. If the plug pins have darkened from moisture, treat them with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner while unplugged and let them dry. A damaged cable must be replaced by a professional.
Tip: After every wash, leave the door ajar for 20 to 30 minutes. The cabinet dries out, no musty smell develops and the seals last longer.
What next
Clean the spray arms and filter every one to two months, run an empty cycle monthly and check the feet, hoses and connections once a year. If the door hinges squeak, a drop of WD-40 Multi-Use will sort it.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
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