How to clean and maintain your dishwasher

Check water temperature

The fill water for your dishwasher should be around 120 degrees. At that temperature, the detergent will dissolve properly and the hot water will melt grease off dishes easily.

Follow these steps to check the temperature of water going into your dishwasher:

1. Run the hot water from your kitchen sink faucet for 1 minute.

2. Fill a glass with hot water.

3. Measure the water temperature in the glass using a cooking thermometer.

If the temperature is less than 120 degrees, carefully increase the temperature setting on your water heater. Make small, incremental increases and don't set your water heater temperature above 120 degrees. That should protect you from burns in the bath or shower.

Have Sears perform professional dishwasher maintenance

The best way to keep your dishwasher cleaning properly is to schedule professional dishwasher maintenance by a Sears Technician every year. This step will also help avoid unexpected breakdowns and your dishwasher will last longer when it’s professionally maintained.

During professional dishwasher maintenance, the Sears Tech will:

• Check the electronic control board and sensors. The electronic control board is the "brains" or motherboard of the dishwasher; it starts and stops all the dishwasher's functions — filling, washing, drying and draining. It receives a signal from the control panel when you select a button and displays the cycle status, time and other information on the control panel. The control board also receives signals from temperature sensors, water level sensors and water quality sensors to help control the dishwashing cycle. Electronic control board and sensors not operating properly can lead heating failures, damage to the dishwasher or dishes from overheated water/air, dishes that don’t get clean, water leaks that could damage kitchen cabinets or flooring or excess water/energy use.

• Examine and clean pumps. The technician will check the wash and drain pumps for proper operation and leaks. Failure of either pump prevents dishes from getting clean during the wash cycle. Leaks from a pump can cause expensive damage to kitchen cabinets and flooring.

• Test the detergent and rinse aid dispenser. Because dishes won’t get clean if the dispenser doesn’t open when it’s meant to, the technician will check for proper detergent and rinse aid dispenser operation.

• Check the control panel. You may not know when an infrequently used button on your dishwasher control panel isn’t working properly. A faulty control panel button can eventually cause the dishwasher to stop operating. The service technician will check all control panel buttons for proper operation during dishwasher cleaning and maintenance.

• Test the heating element. The heating element is mounted on the bottom of the dishwasher tub and heats the water during the wash and rinse portions of the cycle. Raising the water temperature improves cleaning, and in some situations, sanitation. Dishes won’t get clean and/or dry properly if the heating element fails. During this check, the technician inspects the condition and operation of the heating element.

• Check and clean dishwasher door gaskets. Door gaskets, also called door seals, prevent water from leaking out of the dishwasher, possibly damaging kitchen flooring and cabinets. Your Sears technician will check for loose, damaged or dirty door gaskets.

To keep all of your appliances in top shape and save money, bundle Sears Cleaning & Maintenance so the technician can service all of your kitchen and laundry appliances in one convenient visit.

Trust Sears to help you keep all of your appliances in top shape and working smoothly