DIY & Home Improvement

SHRED

(28,136 posts) Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:03 AM Dec 2011

Increase your automatic dishwasher's life

A home appliance repair guy passed this along and I have been doing it ever since.

He said way too much soap is used in automatic dishwashers.
This in turn causes premature corrosion of the washer. Instead of filling the trap-door area with soap he said to place about a small tablespoon size amount on the inside of the door. Close the door and start the wash.

This works and you lessen the corrosion big time

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7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Increase your automatic dishwasher's life (Original Post) SHRED Dec 2011 OP

running the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar once a month or so also helps niyad Dec 2011 #1

And if you live in a hard-water zone... TygrBright Dec 2011 #3

Same thing with washing machines Geoff R. Casavant Dec 2011 #2

Only if you buy the good soap cutlassmama Dec 2011 #4

Another tip jeff47 Dec 2011 #5

Detergent is abrasive, so your advice sounds good Kolesar Dec 2011 #6

I'd add that most dishwasher drain pumps will die Robb Dec 2011 #7

niyad

(114,186 posts)

1. running the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar once a month or so also helps

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:16 AM

Dec 2011

this is INSTEAD of detergent

TygrBright

(20,783 posts)

3. And if you live in a hard-water zone...

Reply to niyad (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:35 AM

Dec 2011

...(ours clinks as it comes out of the faucet and hits the stainless steel sink...) you can put your glassware and your teakettle and anything else that tends to get hard-water buildup in that load.

helpfully,
Bright

Geoff R. Casavant

(2,381 posts)

2. Same thing with washing machines

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:28 AM

Dec 2011

The amount of soap recommended by the soap manufacturers is always far too much. Use about 1/3 the recommended amount and your clothes will be just as clean.

cutlassmama

(3,153 posts)

4. Only if you buy the good soap

Reply to Geoff R. Casavant (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 02:36 AM

Dec 2011

The cheap stuff is watered down too much. If you buy the expensive (thick) stuff you only need 1/3.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

5. Another tip

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:30 PM

Dec 2011

Run your sink's hot water until it's hot. That way the water going into the dishwasher will also be hot, and far more effective.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)

6. Detergent is abrasive, so your advice sounds good

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:33 PM

Dec 2011

The salesman I bought a dishwasher from said "use half as much as the tray" fits, unless the house has hard water.

I am getting my first dishwasher in a decade next week.

Robb

(39,665 posts)

7. I'd add that most dishwasher drain pumps will die

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Mon Dec 19, 2011, 05:28 PM

Dec 2011

...long before corrosion sets in anywhere.

They are, fortunately, relatively inexpensive, and an easy thing to replace for even a day tinkerer.

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