Four savvy ways to avoid a pricey dishwasher breakdown and mountains of washing up

The Sun

13-05-2025

Mel Hunter
Published: Invalid Date,
IT'S bad news when your dishwasher packs up – for the repair cost as much as the kitchen sink drudgery.
Fixing a broken washer costs an average of £200, according to trades website checkatrade.com.
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So if you want to avoid a pricey breakdown and mountains of washing up, follow the advice of Gwilym Snook, dishwasher expert at electrical retailer ao.com.
He says:
BE PROACTIVE: A dishwasher is one of those home heroes we take for granted, until it breaks down mid-cycle with a load of crusty dinner plates.
But by being proactive with a bit of routine care, you can help to prolong its lifespan and keep it in tip-top shape.
To keep it going, keep an eye on how it is running and watch out for any warning noises or fault lights.
SCRAPE AWAY: Though there is absolutely no need to rinse the dishes completely, try to scrape off food remnants from your plates.
Big chunks of food can clog your dishwasher's filter and drain hoses, damaging your machine over time.
FILTER IT OUT: Clean your dishwasher's filter regularly.
For most, this will be that mesh filter at the bottom of the machine that traps food bits.
If this becomes blocked, it may cause your dishwasher to smell a bit, to drain poorly or to stop cleaning properly.
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Remove the filter once a week and rinse it under hot water — it will only take a minute!
You can also usually remove the spray arm, so rinse it in hot water too.
These can often get clogged over time, causing future problems.
HOT STUFF: Another way to avoid costly repairs is to run a hot cycle on the dishwasher once a month.
Use a dishwasher cleaning tablet, or for a cheaper alternative, place a cup of white vinegar on the top rack.
Run an empty hot wash, which will help to clear grease, limescale and soap scum, particularly in those hard-to-reach areas, which should help to prevent future problems.
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