How to best maintain and clean your dishwasher

General tips for cleaning the filter

The bottom filter of a dishwasher consists of a coarse filter and a fine filter (also called a microfilter). The coarse filter can look like this and the microfilter can look like this.

1. Start by loosening the coarse filter – this is typically done by turning or clicking it free. If you are in doubt about how to loosen the coarse filter, you should check the instructions manual for your dishwasher.
2. Once you have loosened the coarse filter, the microfilter will be easy to turn and pull up – it is important that you do not grab the microfilter too hard, as otherwise you risk damaging it.
3. The microfilter collects all microparticles, such as small “sand grains” and the like. Clean the microfilter under running water – as hot as possible. When running water passes directly through the microfilter, it is cleaned and ready to be reinserted in the dishwasher.
4. The coarse filter collects all food scraps, and you can now clean the filter by emptying the contents into the bin and subsequently cleaning the filter under hot water. Once you have cleaned the coarse strainer, it is ready to be reinserted in the dishwasher.

Cleaning the filter

Cleaning the spray arms

As with the filters, clogged spray arms can also result in food debris in the machine and on the dishes. The food scraps (as well as lime scale) can block the spray arms nozzles so that the water is not distributed in the dishwasher.

The lower spray arm can often be removed by hand, while the upper one is often screwed on. Examine the spray arms occasionally and if necessary, use a pointed object e.g. a toothpick, to remove food scraps and lime scale. Then rinse the spray arms with warm water.

Cleaning the spray arms

Remember to clean the door seals and the sides of the door

The door seals and the sides of the door are not cleaned by the spray arms and must therefore be cleaned manually with a damp cloth.

Descale the dishwasher at regular intervals.

You should descale your machine based on how often you wash. Proper descaling can help extend the life of your machine.

Avoid white chalky residue, slimy and dirty dishes

A dishwasher requires soap, salt, and rinse aid to function optimally. Most machines have a signal lamp that indicates when to add salt or rinse aid. The signal lamp will usually either be found in the upper panel, or next to the salt lid or rinse aid lid.

Salt

Add salt as needed. Lack of salt results in white chalky lime scale residue on the dishes, and too much salt will result in residue on dishes as well as leave a taste of salt. Before you increase or decrease the amount of salt, you should remember to inspect filters and rinsing arms.

Salt dosing is done automatically on almost all machines. However, the quantity can be regulated (see how in your instructions manual). You should start in the middle of the scale. If the result is not satisfactory, you can increase or decrease the amount. Be aware that it may take 2-3 wash cycles before your change in the amount of salt works. Also note that some dishwashers measure the amount of salt in the salt container, while others simply count the number of cycles.

When you unscrew the lid of the salt container, there will be water in the container. If it is a new dishwasher you have just bought, you must fill the salt container with water, if it is not already there. There must be water in the salt container so that the salt can be dissolved and thus dosed during wash.

Rinse aid

Rinse aid is applied at regular intervals and acts as the dishwashers softening agent, by removing the surface tension in the water so that the water slides more easily off the dishes during drying. Too little rinse aid will result in streaks on the dishes and poor drying results, while too much rinse aid will result in a greasy, foul-tasting, greyish-blue residue.

Almost all machines have automatic dosing of the rinse aid. However, the quantity can be regulated (see how in your instructions manual). Be aware that it may take 2-3 cycles before your change in the amount of rinse works during wash.

Soap

Soap should be added to suit the degree of soiling of the dishes. Too much soap results in white residue and foul-tasting dishes, while too little soap leaves dirty dishes, even after washing.

You do not have to rinse the dishes before wash, just scrape off the worst leftovers from plates and cutlery. If you choose to rinse the dishes anyway, then you should use less soap. It can be difficult to assess how much soap to use, but usually it is less than you think.

There are two types of soap – powder and tablets. Tablets are smart and quick to use, but they cannot be dosed. Therefore, they’re easily overdosed, which in the long run gives a bad wash result, as the water-saving dishwasher does not have enough water to rinse the soap out and therefore you get an accumulation of soap in the machine. Initially on the heating element, by filters and behind the door seals, but later also on the dishes. Many people mistakenly believe that it is due to lime scale or lack of salt, as the dishes are left with a white residue. You will often be able to taste it – if the white residue on the dish tastes bitter, then it is soap.

When using multi-tablets, many choose to use only half a tablet at a time. With multi-tablets, this may mean that the amount of soap is correct, while salt and rinse aid are dosed too low. If you experience this often, change tablet brand or buy powder instead.