How to Maintain Your Dishwasher: The Complete Guide
A dishwasher is one of the hardest-working appliances in your kitchen. With proper maintenance, a quality machine should last 10–15 years. Neglect it, and you'll face poor cleaning results, unpleasant odours, and costly repairs well before that. Here's everything you need to know to keep your dishwasher running perfectly.
Daily Habits
Scrape, Don't Rinse
Modern dishwashers are designed to handle food particles — you don't need to pre-rinse dishes. However, scrape off large food scraps before loading. Bone fragments, fruit pits and toothpicks can damage the spray arms and filter.
Load Correctly
Overloading is one of the most common causes of poor washing results. Ensure water can reach all surfaces. Cups and glasses face down. Pots and large bowls on the bottom rack, tilted for drainage. Don't nest items together.
Use the Right Detergent and Dosage
Use a quality dishwasher detergent — tablets (Finish Quantum, Fairy Platinum) offer the best convenience and consistent results. Follow the dosage instructions. Using too little leaves dishes dirty; too much can leave residue and cause excessive sudsing.
Weekly Maintenance
Clean the Filter
Most modern dishwashers have a removable filter system at the bottom of the cabinet. Remove it weekly (or more often if you wash heavily soiled items), rinse under running water, and use a soft brush to remove any trapped particles. A blocked filter is the most common cause of poor washing results.
How to remove the filter: Twist the cylindrical top filter anticlockwise to remove it, then lift out the flat mesh filter below it. Rinse both under warm water.
Wipe the Door Seal
The rubber seal around the door can collect food debris and develop mould. Wipe with a damp cloth each week. For mould, use a dilute solution of white vinegar or a mild bleach solution on a cloth — don't spray directly into the dishwasher.
Monthly Maintenance
Clean the Spray Arms
The spray arms have small holes that can become blocked with mineral deposits or food particles. Remove the spray arms (usually by unscrewing or unclipping them) and check each hole. Use a toothpick or thin wire to clear any blocked holes. Rinse thoroughly before reinstalling.
Run a Cleaning Cycle
Once a month, run an empty dishwasher on the hottest cycle with a dishwasher cleaner (Finish Dishwasher Cleaner, Dettol Dishwasher Cleaner) or simply with a cup of white vinegar placed upright on the top rack. This removes grease build-up, mineral deposits and bacteria from the interior, spray arms and drain.
Dealing with Hard Water
Sydney's water has moderate hardness, which can cause white scale deposits on the interior, glassware and spray arms. Solutions include:
- Rinse aid: Keeps glassware spot-free and helps water sheet off surfaces. Fill the rinse aid dispenser monthly.
- Dishwasher salt: If your machine has a water softener unit (most European brands do), keep the salt reservoir topped up. This regenerates the ion-exchange resin that removes calcium and magnesium from the water before it's used.
- Descaling cycle: Run a descaling product (Finish Power Up Booster Tablets or Durgol) every 3 months if you notice white deposits.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Dishes Not Coming Out Clean
Check the filter first (most likely cause), then check that the spray arms are spinning freely and not blocked, verify detergent dosage, and check the water temperature (should be at least 55°C at the machine).
Unpleasant Odours
Clean the filter, run a cleaning cycle, and check the door seal for mould. Leave the door slightly ajar between uses to allow the interior to dry out.
Water Not Draining Fully
Check that the drain hose isn't kinked, clean the filter, and check the drain pump filter (a separate fine mesh filter near the drain pump in some models).
Cloudy Glassware (Etching)
Unlike limescale (removable), etching is permanent microscopic damage to the glass surface from excessive heat, alkalinity or water softness. It's caused by using too much detergent, too-soft water (from an over-set water softener) or washing delicate crystal on too hot a cycle. Prevention: use the correct detergent dose, reduce water softener setting if glasses are etching, and use the delicate cycle for fine glassware.
When to Call a Technician
- Water leaking from the door or underneath the machine
- Error codes displayed on the panel that don't clear
- Unusual grinding or loud buzzing noises from the pump
- Machine not filling with water
Need a New Dishwasher?
We stock dishwashers from Bosch, Miele, AEG, Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, Smeg and more. Free delivery and installation advice across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park, call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au. Open 7 days, 10am–8pm.