Appliance Rescue Tipline: Help! Something Melted in my Dishwasher!

As an appliance repair company in Dallas, we’ve heard this phrase before! And we don’t blame you.

We know you put all the plastic items perfectly organized on the top rack, but somehow during the cycle, that pesky plastic utensil slipped through the cracks and landed on your heating element in the bottom of your dishwasher.

Photo Credit

So now, you’re left with the pungent smell of burning plastic and no clue how to get it off without dishwasher damage. Follow these easy steps from Appliance Rescue to remove melted items from your dishwasher:

Step 1: Disconnect the Dishwasher

Locate the power cord (normally under the sink beside the dishwasher) and disconnect the unit from all power sources.

Step 2: Finish Unloading Dishes/Cool Dishwasher

Take all dishes out of the dishwasher for easier assess to the burning issue at the bottom of your dishwasher. While unloading, the dishwasher will cool. Do not attempt to remove the melted item before the dishwasher is completely cooled off.

Step 3: Remove Melted Item

The best way to do this is to grab some ice from the freezer, put it in a Ziploc bag, and place the ice on the melted object. The ice will help the plastic harden, which helps make it easier to remove. Gently pry the plastic item away from the heating coil, carefully avoiding any damage to the coil or pulling hard enough to disrupt the brackets holding it in place.

Step 4: Remove Plastic Residue

Grab some acetone-based nail polish remover and put some on a clean cloth. Apply the cloth of nail polish remover to the melted plastic residue for at least 5 minutes, then begin scrubbing until all plastic is removed.

Step 5: Clean the Heating Element

Put a little dish soap and warm water on a sponge and gently clean the heating element to remove any remaining plastic or nail polish remover. Rinse and repeat until you are satisfied.

If you are still concerned about ruining the heating element, you can always call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas! Our team will take care of your appliance repairs in no time, with fast, courteous service that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Booking an Appointment Has Never Been Easier

We live in a world where time is precious. Everything is fast moving, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day. When an appliance repair issue happens to your appliance, where can you find time to call a repairman to get the issue resolved?

Appliance Rescue Service – serving Dallas and the surrounding Texas cities – understands your pain. That’s why booking a repair appointment is easier than ever, with 3 easy avenues to contact us:

Book Online:

It’s a busy day at work and you do not have time to pick up a phone and visit with someone about your Dallas appliance issue. No problem. Just visit appliance-rescue-service.com, and right there on the landing page you will see a button that says “book online.” Just provide all of the pertinent information and press “submit.”

Call Us:

If you feel like you have a complex issue and need to explain the details, our Dallas appliance repairmen are ready and willing to listen to your needs. Just pick up the phone and call 214.599.0055.

Text Us:

Maybe you don’t have time to pick up the phone and call us about your upcoming appliance repair needs, but don’t worry. Not only can you book an appointment via online or phone, you can also text it in! Just text a brief account of what your needs are to 214.599.0055, and one of our staff members at Appliance Rescue Service will respond quickly to get the ball rolling on a diagnostic visit.

When you reach out to Appliance Rescue Service, expect a technician to be at your door quickly to assess the issue and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision on how to move forward. Call, text, or book online today – or any day! Proudly serving Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Garland, McKinney, and the surrounding North Texas cities.