If you want to keep your dishwasher working at optimal condition for as long as possible there are a couple of things you can easily do which will add years on to its life span. Sounds too good to be true?  Well, I bet you by the end of this blog, you will be thinking a lot differently. Just by putting aside 15 minutes of your life every couple of months, you could add years to your dishwasher's life span.  

What do I need to do?

There are a couple of things you can do to maximise your dishwasher productivity and life span and they take little time and skill. Just think about all the money you will be saving! It is a known fact that dishwashers last longer and run more efficiently when they are properly maintained and just setting aside 15 to 20 minutes every couple of months can make a huge deal of difference. The average dishwasher lifespan is 10 years and with these tips, you could increase that lifespan by a good couple of years.

I have created a list of three killer tips that will maximise the durability and efficiency of your dishwasher and just by following these you will have a way better and long-lasting dishwasher than all your friends and family!

Tip 1 - Use white vinegar to clear food buildup 

Believe it or not, white vinegar is known to be a great agent in cleaning household items and you can use this agent to clean out your dishwasher. This tip only takes a few minutes and will leave the inside of your dishwasher looking sparkling clean. Simply, place a dishwasher safe container on the top rack of your empty dishwasher and pour around 200ml to 250ml of white vinegar into the container. Next, run your dishwasher on a hot water cycle and let the vinegar disinfect your dishwasher and break down all residue stuck inside. Once complete, your dishwasher will be looking brand new and clean as it ever has been. We told you these tips were easy!

Tip 2 - Ensure you are loading your dishwasher properly 

Many people do not realise that there is an art to loading a dishwasher and it is not as simple as chucking in all your dirty plates and hitting go. The way you load your plates into the dishwasher can affect its ability to clean. If you want to optimise your loading technique in order to optimise the durability of your machine then take the following into consideration: firstly ensure that you know what cycle is for what cleaning method. For example, for most machines, heavy cycles are known to be for cleaning large pots and pans, whereas lighter cycles are for more fragile items such as glasses and mugs. It is always best to check the user manual as this will give you the best idea of what cycle to go with as every washing machine is different. Secondly, check that you don’t overload the dishwasher by filling it up to the brim. If all your pots, pans and dishes are touching all corners of your dishwasher then it is overloaded. Try to be strategic and plan where you are going to place each item and if it is too full do not be afraid to clean some easier items by hand or add to a second load at a different time. 

Tip 3 - Regularly clean the filter of your dishwasher

Have an unpleasant smell coming from your dishwasher? It could be due to not cleaning your dishwasher’s filter leading to the accumulation of debris in your filter. All it takes is a couple of minutes to clean out your dishwasher’s filter and is fairly simple. First, you want to locate your user manual to discover what type of filter your dishwasher has. If you have a manual filter you will have to remove it and clean the filter. The filter is located at the bottom of your appliance and tends to be under the lower spray arm. Once discovered remove the filter and the flat one as well and gently hand wash with warm water and soap. 

Conclusion

What did we tell you? It wasn’t that far fetched after all and if you incorporate these easy and simple tips into your lifestyle, you will see an increase in the efficiency and durability of your dishwasher and you may even extend its durability past the average 10-year life span of a dishwasher.