Read on to find out some useful tips to boost the performance of your dishwasher.

Dump the Gunk

A dishwasher’s cleaning ability can be compromised if you deposit too much food residue into the system. It might seem obvious, but scrape leftover food off the plates before putting them into the dishwasher. You should not, however, have to pre-rinse dishes.

Hot Hot Hot!

Hot water cleans best, so make sure your dishwasher is getting the hottest water possible. Check the temperature of the hot water at the kitchen faucet using a meat or candy thermometer—it should be 120 degrees. Adjust the setting on your water heater if necessary. Also, running the hot water at the kitchen sink before starting the dishwasher will ensure that the tub fills with truly hot water.

Easy to Be Hard

Hard water can leave an ugly residue on glasses and plates. If your dishes are coming out spotty, check to see if you have hard water by using an inexpensive test kit from a local home center. If you find that your water is hard, install a water softener to prevent stains and mineral buildup.

Balanced Load

Carefully follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for loading the dishwasher. Crowding or overloading the dishwasher can block the spray arm and prevent water from reaching all surfaces.

Soapy Suds

Use a high-quality dishwashing detergent and a rinse agent for the cleanest clean. Always pour the detergent into the built-in measuring cup inside the dishwasher to make sure that you use the appropriate amount. Never use dish soap designed for handwashing in the dishwasher.

Pay Attention to Cycle Selections

Check your owner’s manual, and always select the appropriate cycle for the dishes that you are cleaning. Most dishwashers have a regular cycle for normal cleaning, a heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning or pots and pans, and a light cycle for china or fragile items.

Wash the Washer

Dishwashers need to be cleaned occasionally to remove stuck-on food particles, residual detergent, and mineral buildup from interior mechanisms. To clean, run your dishwasher on a normal cycle using two cups of white vinegar instead of detergent. To go the extra mile, wipe down the interior walls and racks with a solution of vinegar and baking soda, making sure to rinse well once you’ve gone over all the surfaces.

Check for Clogs

Occasionally, clogs may develop in the spray arm and the drain. Every so often, check the holes in the spray arm to make sure that they are not clogged with food residue or hard water minerals. Use a toothpick or needle to dislodge any particles. Also, check the trap and the drain to make sure food scraps or other objects are not blocking the area.

Stay Flexible

Gaskets and seals can dry out over time and develop cracks, which eventually cause the dishwasher to leak. You should check all the gaskets and seals—especially the main door gasket—on a regular basis to make sure that the rubber is still pliable, and replace if necessary.

Here are 10 effective tips for making your dishwasher run its best.

1. Remove all food scraps off your plate

Your dishwasher is programmed to clean your dishes well. However, large food particles can get stuck and clog the drain filter. For optimal washing results, ensure large food bits are scraped off with a spoon before loading your plates in the dishwasher.

2. Load your dishes the right way

Crockery should always be placed upside down so that water slips off the surface for complete drying. Ensure that plates do not overlap and create blind spots where the jets of water are unable to reach. Last but not least, check that the spray arms can rotate freely without being obstructed by your dishes.

3. Eliminate residue build-up

Over time, grime can accumulate in your dishwasher’s filter as the latter’s job is to prevent large food particles from clogging up the dishwasher’s drain. If you use your dishwasher regularly, remove the filter once a month and wash thoroughly with soapy hot water to get rid of unwanted gunk.

4. Run hot water first

To clean your dishes effectively, your dishwasher needs hot water. Make sure to turn on the hot water tap first and allow hot water to run for a few minutes before switching on your dishwasher. By doing this, the dishwasher will not wait for the cold water to filter out and this will shorten the time it takes to clean your dishes.

5. Use vinegar

After every few months, it is important to give your dishwasher a thorough cleaning using vinegar. To do this, first, make sure your appliance is empty before spraying white vinegar into its base. Close its door and run a shorter cycle.

Vinegar helps to remove food particles and makes your dishwasher smell fresh.

6. Choose the correct programs and options

Just like washing machines, dishwashers have a variety of programs and options suitable for different washing needs. Depending on how soiled your dishes are, you can configure your dishwasher to have a shorter running time, dry dishes better, and provide a perfect clean for infant milk bottles and utensils. Always check the manual for detailed instructions.

7. Freshen up your dishwasher

Dishwasher fresheners lend a clean and fresh aroma to your dishwashers and dishes. Simply clip it on the upper basket and run your dishwasher as usual to remove any funky smells.

8. Check your water heater’s temperature

There’s a joke about where to put the thermometer, but we’ll pass this time around. Make sure your water heater is set between 120 and 125 degrees. Many units are shipped new set to a much lower heat. This is the ideal temperature for washing dishes; don’t be tempted to turn it higher or else it will cause water to flash dry and not roll off your dishes, taking the ends of the dirty bits with it.

9. Treat water from getting into your dishwasher

Hard water is richer in minerals than soft water. This causes it to not only leave white residue on your appliance but results in mineral deposits on the inside of your dishwasher. This can result in rusting of the internal surfaces of your dishwasher. Therefore, it is wise not to run hard water in your appliance.

If this is not possible, you can use dishwasher salt to soften hard water. When the salt indicator lights up, refill the dispenser compartment.

10. Do not overdose on powder or liquid detergent

If you are not using a dishwasher detergent tablet, check the dishwasher manual for the recommended dosage of powder or liquid detergent. This ensures that the right amount is used for different cycles, for the best wash results.

1. Rinse Fruits And Veggies

If you still hand-wash each individual fruit or vegetable from your weekly farmer’s market haul, you’re wasting your time. Throw them all in your dishwasher and run a cold (soap-free) rinse cycle, instead, and you’ll never need to turn on your sink.

Bonus tip: To protect more delicate items, such as tomatoes and peaches, place them on the top rack. Heavier produce like potatoes and cantaloupes can go on the bottom.

2. De-germ Your Computer Keyboard

Our computer keyboards are downright filthy. Thankfully, many experts say tossing them in your dishwasher can remove all that grime in a jiffy. But you should proceed with caution; avoid using soap and hot water, never select the heated drying cycle, and don’t put anything else in the dishwasher.

You should also allow your keyboard to air dry for up to three days once it has been through the wash. For a less risky cleaning, some manufacturers recommend gently wiping the surface with a damp cloth.

3. Keep Food Warm

Keeping cooked food warm until you’re ready to eat might as well be rocket science. If your oven is full, set the dishwasher to dry cycle with no water and leave the dish on the top rack. Your meal will stay nice and toasty, guaranteed.

4. Warm-up Dishes

Every restaurant-worthy feast needs warm plates and bowls. While some dishwashers have a convenient plate warming setting, you can always turn on the heat/dry cycle for the same effect.

5. Ripen Avocados

Need to ripen an avocado fast? Your dishwasher is here to help. Just throw the fruit on the top rack for one normal cycle; according to a restaurant employee, something about the heat and/or humidity can soften up these rock-hard fruits.

6. Sanitize Makeup Brushes

All the scouring and scrubbing in the world won’t make that gunk in your makeup brushes go away. Instead, try placing them in your dishwasher’s silverware basket and running a normal cycle. You can do the same thing for nail clippers, hairbrushes, and combs, too.

7. Reuse The Racks As Storage

Ahh, another dishwasher bites the dust. But before you toss it out, you can actually reuse almost all of its parts. The top rack, for example, can double as a creative storage for craft supplies or gardening tools. Just turn the rack on its side and hang it on a wall in your craft room or garage.

8. Organize Utensils And Writing Supplies

Speaking of salvaging broken dishwashers, that old silverware caddy can also have a second life as a place to stash pencils, markers, crayons, or other craft supplies.

9. De-grease Car Parts

No need to break your back making those pesky hubcaps and wheel covers spic and span; simply remove them from your car and place them in the dishwasher. With little to no elbow grease, they will shine like new—just try not to wash them with your dinner plates.

10. Dry your hand-washed dishes

Hand-washing dishes is time-consuming enough without drying them all, too. Let that huge stack of delicate bowls and plates air dry in the empty dishwasher (with the door cracked open), or run the dry cycle if you’re in a hurry.

11. Clean fake flowers

Your plastic flower arrangements can look beautiful on a mantel, but they are also major dust magnets. The simplest solution? Just throw the whole bouquet on the top rack of the dishwasher, and they will get back to brighten up your space in no time.