These five steps will make your dishwasher the Millenium Falcon of kitchen appliances.

Okay, maybe it won’t have the capacity to travel at the speed of light but you’ll certainly be pleased with the improvement in cleaning performance.

Check out the 5 things to do to your dishwasher to get it running like new again. This could quite literally save you hundreds of dollars!

🔴 STOP RINSING! NEVER PREWASH DISHES!

You are wasting water but more than that you are removing one of the key ingredients necessary to activate modern-day automatic dishwashing detergent: acid. Automatic dishwasher detergent is formulated to work with food.

🔵 SCRAPE THE CHUNKS

Do not use water, do not pre-wash the dishes. Simply scrape off all chunks of food into the garbage with a rubber scraper spatula.

NEUTRALISE THE EFFECTS OF HARD WATER WITH DISHWASHER SALT

Hard water has a richer mineral content than soft water and can be found in countries like India. Hard water not only causes white residue to be left behind on your dishes and silverware, but also results in mineral deposits on internal surfaces inside your dishwasher, which can lead to the rusting and eventual failure of various parts.

Dishwasher salt helps to soften hard water — simply refill the dispenser compartment when the salt indicator lights up.

🟤 CLEAN YOUR DISHWASHER’S FOOD TRAP

If you notice your dishwasher not cleaning bottom rack items well, your appliance might need some cleaning. Here’s what to focus on:

◾ Regularly check drains to ensure they are clear from debris.
◾ Periodically clean the sprayer arms and rubber seals to prevent residue buildup.
◾ Remove and clean filters every couple of months to ensure efficiency.

🟡 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.