St. Paul Appliance Rescue
Why are my dishes still dirty at the end of the cycle?
One of the biggest complaints of dishwashers is the lack of cleaning well. I recommend following these easy steps first before calling to have an appliance repair tech take a look at it.
1. Scrape all leftover food from the plates before loading them into the dishwasher. However, it is not necessary to rinse the dishes.
2. When loading your dishes, it's important not to obstruct the wash arm. Place tableware in the appropriate compartment and small items in enclosed baskets if your dishwasher has them.
3. For the best cleaning results, use the hottest water available. This is necessary for dried-on food removal and for the detergent to work effectively. You may need to adjust the temperature at the water heater to at least 120F but be careful if you have young children in the home.
4. If your water connection to the dishwasher is through the kitchen sink, run the water at the kitchen sink for a few minutes to purge the cold water out of the pipes.
5. If your home has hard water, you may want to fill both detergent cups. For soft water, if you use too little detergent, dishes will not be clean. If you use too much, glassware will etch. Remember to check the expiration date of your detergent as they become less effective over time.
6. Using rinse aid greatly improves the cleanliness of you dishes by sheeting water off to help eliminate spots. If you have hard water or notice calcium spots on your glasses , try a higher setting by opening the rinse aid dispenser and turning the dial to a higher number.
7. Check to make sure the wash arms are not cracked or the spray arm holes are not plugged with debris obstructing the flow of water.
8. Finally, listen to the rush of water splashing against the inner door during the wash cycle. If it sounds weaker than usual, you may have a faulty water valve that is not allowing enough water to enter the dishwasher. At this point you may need to have an appliance tech (i.e. myself) out for further diagnosis.
9. A helpful tip to remove spots and film from dishes: place 2 cups of white vinegar in a glass and set it in the bottom rack. In an empty cycle run it through a complete normal wash/air dry cycle without detergent. GLASS MAGIC® is a product made by Finish that works in the pre-wash cycle to help remove the minerals in your water, so your detergent can work at its best to get your dishes clean.
What can I do for regular maintenance of my refrigerator?
The cleaning of those hidden dirty condenser coils under a refrigerator are often forgotten about by customers. This can result in damage to the compressor by increasing the run time.
Regular cleaning enhances your refrigerator's performance and keeps your energy bills lower.
Most refrigerators have a front kick plate that is easily removed when both freezer and refrigerator doors are opened. A condenser cleaning brush can be purchased at any appliance store. Vacuums with a long thin extension assist well while brushing between coils.
- Clean the condenser coils yearly.
- For better efficiency, it's best to keep the freezer more than half full. Be careful not to obstruct the airflow coming in or out of the freezer.
- Make sure there is at least 3" of space surrounding walls to allow for air circulation.
- The proper temperature in the refrigerator compartment is between 37°F and 40° F. The freezer compartment should be between 0°F and 5°F.
- Leaks at the door gaskets will allow warm air to enter into the refrigerator or freezer compartments. Check to make sure the gaskets are sealing properly.
How can I care for my front-load washer?
Washer manufacturers recommend the use of only HE detergents in front-load and high-efficiency washers and most will even recommend a particular brand of HE detergent.
Be proactive to prevent mildew from becoming a problem in your front-load washer.
Follow these steps for cleaning the tub on your front-load washer
1. Remove any clothing from inside the tub
2. Mix a dilute solution of bleach and warm water
3. Wipe the entire door seal area with this solution then repeat with just warm water
4. Fill the bleach dispenser until it reaches the maximum fill level
5. Close the door select the "Normal" wash cycle
6. Select the hot water temperature or “white” cycle setting
7. Select the second rinse option if your washer has one
8. Select the highest spin speed available
9. Start the cycle and allow it to run through completion
10. After the cycle ends, open the door and allow the washer to air dry
You may also want to try a product made by Whirlpool called Affresh. This can be purchased at any appliance parts store.
Don’t forget to check the lint trap
Front-load washers have a large object filter at the pump which coins and other small items. To gain access to this filter, remove the toe panel below the door by removing the three screws along the bottom. Behind the panel is the filter, which is plastic and circular. Your washer may have a thin black tube that you can drain water into a bucket, otherwise, those towels will soak up the water. Slowly turn the knob counterclockwise and pull it out. Clean the trap and wipe out the inside and you are good to go.
Important dryer maintenance
The most important maintenance for any dryer is a clear exhaust. The shorter the venting length with minimal 90 degree turns, the better the performance of the dryer. Improperly maintained dryer vent systems can cause premature failure of some of the inner components of the dryer, as well as pose a fire safety risk.
For the best drying results, clean the lint filter before beginning each load. If you use dryer sheets, periodically take a soft bristle brush and gently clean the screen with hot soapy water. Over time the sheets leave a waxy film that clogs the screen and prevents proper air flow. You may not be able to see this residue but you can test this by simply running water over the screen to see if it flows through or beads on top of the screen.
Never use the white plastic exhaust duct on any dryer. This is the inexpensive venting that can be found at many hardware stores. They are not recommended because they create a fire hazard from the plastic materials propensity to attract lint. Over time this lint build-up will clog the vent and force lint to accumulate in the interior of the dryer near the burner assembly. Try to only use the flexible metal duct or rigid duct that can be purchased from a home improvement or appliance store.
Venting dryers indoors is strongly discouraged because of the combination of moisture and heat that can produce mold resulting in chronic illness and respiratory problems. Also, the drying time will be extended as the dryer pulls this warm moist air back inside instead of dry air.
