How to Keep Your Dishwasher Well Maintained

Our guide to dishwasher maintenance to extend the life of your appliance.

Dishwasher Maintenance

You use your dishwasher every day, so it’s important you keep it well maintained and in good shape so it has a long life, and performs well for as long as possible. It’s worth following these steps on a monthly basis if you can, so your dishwasher is always in tip-top shape.

01 – Clean the Filter

Your dishwasher should have a filter to stop your pipes from clogging up with food debris. After many washes it’ll become blocked up so it’ll need a rinse out so your dishwasher can continue to wash without spraying out dirty water.

02 – Scrub the Spray Arms

The spray arms are one of the most important parts of your dishwasher and it’s easy for these to get blocked up by limescale or food, this would block the water from getting to your dishes. First, give them a scrub with a scourer to remove all the surface level dirt. Then to get into the spray holes, you can use a toothpick to unclog them. This should be done every 6 months to ensure the dishwasher remains efficient for as long as possible.

03 – Clean Down the Rubber Seals

The rubber seals on the doors stop the dishwasher from leaking water while on a cycle, so it’s important that you keep them clean to stop dirt breaking them down and letting water out. Just wiping them down with warm water and making sure there is no mould or dirt on there is a great way to maintain the seals for a long life of washing your dishes.

04 – Run Your Dishwasher Regularly

Running your dishwasher regularly will make sure it’s always ready for action, so make sure to use it once a week at the very least. This keeps the motor seals working, and keeps everything fresh for use. If you’re looking for more advice on how to troubleshoot common dishwasher faults, check out our article here.

While repairing and reusing your appliances is always the goal, there comes a point when they need to be replaced. We’re happy to help at any stage.

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If you own a home appliance, from kitchen gadgets to home tech, our standard Appliance Care Plan helps keep your equipment running smoothly. If you notice any faults, don’t worry with the optional Repair & Care upgrade, we can have an engineer out to you quickly.

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Repair tool bag used by appliance engineers for home appliance care, containing essential tools for maintenance and repairs

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January 8, 2026