Dishwasher Usage Guide

General tips for getting the best from your dishwasher and avoiding common faults, from Braintree Appliance Repairs.

Getting the best from your dishwasher

1. Scrape off large food scraps before loading, but you don't need to pre-rinse plates — modern dishwashers are designed to clean lightly soiled dishes, and pre-rinsing wastes water.
2. Load plates and bowls facing the spray arms, and don't let large items block the detergent dispenser or spray arms from rotating freely.
3. Top up rinse aid and check the salt level regularly if you have an integrated softener — low salt is one of the most common causes of cloudy glasses and poor drying.
4. Clean the filter at the bottom of the machine every few weeks — a blocked filter is one of the most common reasons for poor cleaning results and bad odours.
5. Run a hot empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner every month or so to clear grease and limescale from the spray arms and heating element.
6. Don't overload the machine — dishes need space for water to circulate, and overloading is a common cause of dishes coming out still dirty.

If a fault persists after checking the above, it's usually down to a worn part rather than something you can fix at home — see Dishwasher Repairs.