Post actualizado el día octubre 25, 2026 by DeiviSanzPlay
The dishwasher is one of the appliances that works hardest at home and, even so, it’s the one that receives the least maintenance. Most people only remember it when it starts leaving dishes dirty or smells musty. And by then it’s too late. Taking care of every component of the dishwasher isn’t a task for geeks: it’s the difference between it lasting 12 years or having to call the technician after 4.
The spray arms: the heart that almost nobody looks at
If there’s one part that determines whether your dishwasher washes well or badly, that’s the spray arm. The holes get clogged with food residue, limescale and soap. When that happens, the water doesn’t reach all the racks with pressure and you start seeing glasses with white residue.
The solution is simpler than it seems: take out the spray arm (on most models it unscrews by hand), and with a toothpick or a thin wire unclog each hole. Do it every two months if you live in a hard-water area. It’s the dishwasher care tip that has the most impact and the one that’s practiced the least.
Watch out for one thing: don’t use thick pins or drill through the hole. If you enlarge the hole, you change the water pressure and ruin the manufacturer’s hydraulic design. A toothpick is enough.
Filters: the mistake of cleaning them only when they smell
The filter is the dishwasher’s trash can. That’s where the grease, the crumbs and everything that hasn’t gone down the drain end up. If you don’t clean it frequently, the pump works under strain and the motor suffers. Translated: an expensive breakdown.
My recommendation is clear: remove the filter once a week, rinse it with hot water and scrub it with a soft brush. Every month, leave it soaking for 15 minutes with water and a splash of white vinegar. That dissolves the layer of grease that water alone doesn’t remove.
Many modern dishwashers have a fine mesh filter and a coarse one. Clean them separately. If the mesh one is deformed, replace it: it costs four euros and prevents particles from reaching the pump.
The door seal: the silent leak that will cost you 200 euros
The door gasket is the cheapest part to replace and the one that causes the most damage if it fails. A cracked seal lets steam and water escape. At first it’s a drop, then a puddle on the kitchen floor and, over time, damp in the cabinet underneath.
Run your finger along the entire seal once a month. If you notice hard areas, cuts or areas that are coming loose, act. Clean with a damp cloth and dry well. Don’t use abrasive cleaners: they dry out the rubber and split it sooner.
A trick that works: after each wash, leave the door ajar for 10 minutes. That ventilates the interior and prevents moisture from staying in the seal. It’s the best dishwasher care you can do without spending a penny.
Dirt sensors: let them work, don’t block them
Current dishwashers have turbidity sensors that measure how much dirt is in the water and adjust the cycle. If you force the long program when the load is almost clean, you waste water and electricity unnecessarily. And if you put in dishes with large residue, the sensor gets confused and lengthens the cycle pointlessly.
The key is to scrape the dishes before loading them, but without rinsing them under the tap. Large residue blocks the sensor and minimal residue helps it detect real dirt. It’s a balance that most people don’t know about.
Additional filtration for hard water: an investment that pays for itself
If you live in an area with very hard water (more than 25ºF of hardness), the dishwasher accumulates limescale in the heating elements, spray arms and pump. There, salt and rinse aid aren’t enough. An additional filtration system or an inlet water softener protects the internal parts and improves washing.
It isn’t cheap, but compare: a scaled heating element breaks sooner and the repair can cost between 80 and 150 euros. The filter costs less and prevents the problem at the root. In hard water, dishwasher care means treating the water, not just cleaning parts.
Software updates on smart models
Connected dishwashers receive updates that fix cycle errors and improve consumption. If you have one of these, check the manufacturer’s app every few months. It’s not silly: there are updates that fix faults in detergent dosing or drying duration.
That said, don’t update right before a big meal. Some models restart the system and lose the custom settings. Do it on a quiet day and check that everything works again.
Mistakes you must avoid no matter what
- Using too much detergent: it creates foam that blocks sensors and leaves residue. Less is more.
- Loading pots and pans with large residue: they clog the filter and the pump.
- Not using salt if the water is hard: limescale builds up and kills the heating element.
- Always washing at 70 degrees: it accelerates the wear of seals and plastics. Save the intensive cycle for pots and pans.
- Ignoring strange noises: a new humming is usually a clogged spray arm or a pump under strain.
If you follow these dishwasher care tips, you don’t just extend its useful life: you also wash better, spend less and avoid nasty surprises. And if something starts to fail, act soon. In a dishwasher, a small ignored problem becomes a big bill in a matter of weeks.
