Dishwasher Care

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-402 -- More Projects »

Place spoons and forks in opposite directions before placing into the dishwasher. If they are set into one another, food particles will not come off.

TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham shares tips on loading and cleaning a dishwasher.

Though dishwashers are designed to handle food particles, most can't handle burnt-on, caked-on food. Large chunks of food should be scraped off dishes before putting them in the machine. If such items have to be washed in the machine, place them on the bottom rack with the soiled side facing toward the sprayer.
Place cookie sheets and platters near the sides of the dishwasher. Do not place them in the middle of the rack because that will prevent water from reaching the rest of the dishes.
Put plastic items, glasses and mugs on the top rack because these tend to be fragile. They should not be positioned directly above the sprayer or close to the heating element.
Always place glassware on the prongs of the top rack to help keep them in place and protect them from breaking.
A few items that should not be put into the dishwasher are opaque or milky glasses, which may turn yellow, or decorated glasses. Also avoid putting sharp knives in the dishwasher, as they may dull, and do not wash pewter or gold items because they may become discolored.
Never use regular dish soap in the dishwasher or you will have a soapy disaster.
To clean the exterior of the dishwasher, sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge or nylon scrubber and rub off any caked-on grime.
To clean the interior, fill the detergent-dispenser cup with an orange powder drink such as Tang, or citric acid from the pharmacy, then run the machine with nothing in it. If the water ports become clogged, use a pipe cleaner to clear the holes. If there is a filter screen, scrub it with a stiff brush.
To handle unpleasant smells inside of the dishwasher, place a bowl of baking soda inside and leave it for 24 hours. If there is a sour odor coming from dishes that haven't been washed right away, sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda on the dishwasher bottom before running a load. This will also soften and loosen dried-on foods for easier removal.
It is possible to buy a replacement rack for a dishwasher, if you know the serial number.
A dishwasher with a stainless-steel interior costs more, but will probably be worth it in the long run. It should last approximately 20 to 25 years, while a plastic interior model will be washed-up in about half that time.

Also in this Episode

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-402
•	Preparing Salmon
•	Dishwasher Care
•	Car-Finish Maintenance
•	Tip of the Day

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