Don’t get surprised if your dishwasher stops cleaning suddenly. After all, what more can you expect with the food waste, vegetable peels, and other such scrap going in your drain? All this will result in a clogged dishwasher.
It can be a big problem for one who has no time for doing dishes by hand. That is why; they say that never take your dishwasher for granted.
Otherwise, you will get a clogged dishwasher with soapy water and stinking food particles at the bottom.
If you do not want your dishwasher to clog, then the best thing is to clean it regularly. By maintaining your dishwasher regularly, you will not have to face the problem of clogged or dirty drainage.
But, if you already have a clogged dishwasher, it is now time to look for the solutions to clean a clogged dishwasher.
Before we move to the solutions, you should know the reasons behind a clogged dishwasher. Once you find the reasons, it will be easier for you to learn how to clean a clogged dishwasher.
Reasons behind the clogged dishwasher:
Problem in the garbage disposal or drainpipe –
While the dishwasher cleans the dishes, water drains through a drain hose. Often, the drain hose gets clogged, which results in the backing up of water at the bottom.
But if the drain hose is clean, the problem can be in the garbage disposal or the drainpipe. The food residue or gunk clogs them, causing problems in the dishwasher.
Problem in the sewage line –
Sometimes, the problem is not in the dishwasher, but it is in the sewage line. There can be several reasons behind the clogging of sewage lines. It is possible to fix them only with the help of a professional.
Problem in the filter basket –
Every dishwasher consists of a filter basket for accumulating the food residue coming off the dishes. If you do not clean the filter basket regularly, food waste will deposit inside it.
It will cause trouble in passing the water, resulting in a clogged dishwasher.
Related: Can Silpat go in the dishwasher?
How to fix blocked dishwashers?
You already know different reasons behind the clogging of a dishwasher. So, it is time to learn how to fix a clogged dishwasher.
1.Clean the dishwasher’s drain filter-
While cleaning off the dishes, the food particles deposit in the drain filter. These food particles block the way of water that goes into the drain. It is essential to clean your dishwasher’s filter now and then so that this problem doesn’t occur frequently.
If you know how to remove the dishwasher’s filter, it is good. Else, we suggest you go through the manual to know about it or call the professionals to clean it for you.
After removing the filter, clean all the residue and debris collected on the filter using a brush with soft bristles. If you have cleaned the filter, fix it back and check if the dishwasher is now clean or not.
2.Make use of the homemade mixture-
If you feel that the problem is in the dishwasher drain, try the homemade DIY solution. Firstly take vinegar and baking soda and mix with hot water. Now, pour this mixture into the dishwasher drain so that the clogged drain can get clear.
After putting the mixture into the drainpipe, wait for around 15 to 20 minutes. Take hot boiling water and pour that too in the drainpipe. It will help to unclog the blocked dishwasher.
But, if you find that the dishwasher is still clogged, look for other resorts.
3.Regularly run the garbage disposal-
In many houses, the dishwasher drain pipe connects directly to the kitchen sink. So, dirty water from the dishwasher passes through the garbage disposal.
When your dishwasher gets clogged, do check the garbage disposal. If you find it full, immediately run it so that you can unclog the clogged dishwasher.
It is better to clean garbage disposal regularly if you do not want to face any clogging problem in your dishwasher again.
4.Fix the air gap for unclogging the dishwasher-
In some kitchens, the dishwasher drain pipe is attached directly to the sink instead of garbage disposal. In such cases, the air gap; a small cylindrical substance is installed on the faucet’s right side.
It helps prevent the sink water from clogging the dishwasher. But, if there is debris inside the air gap, it will block the dishwasher, creating trouble in draining.
To fix it, unclog debris from the air gap by removing its cap. Once done, run the dishwasher and check if it is draining or not.
Final Words:
We hope now you know how to clean clogged dishwashers using the tips written above. If any such problem occurs with your dishwasher, you will no longer have to worry about the maintenance charges.
But make sure that you have all the tools to fix the dishwasher clogging issue. Firstly, check the dishwasher’s clogging problem from your end. If you cannot clean it, call the professionals to unclog the dishwasher.
You can call plumbing experts or technicians from the dishwasher agency to help you clean the blocked dishwasher drain.
Also, Check the list of best dishwasher.
