7 Things You Never Knew You Could Put in the Dishwasher

Sure, a dishwasher is traditionally used for washing dishes. But what if we told you it’s a great place to wash plenty of other household items too?! High heat, water, and suds do all the work to get your items sparking clean. Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas presents 7 things you never thought to put in the dishwasher:

·      Grill Grates:

You’ve scrubbed and scrubbed, and they just won’t get clean. Try putting them in the dishwasher on an overnight cycle (or any longer cycle) and high heat and see the grease melt away.

·      Shin guards and Mouth guards:

Place these on the top rack to prevent the plastic from warping.

·      Glass Light Covers:

Over time, dust builds up on light fixture covers. Why not throw them in the dishwasher for crystal clear results?

·      Shoes:

Plastic shoes – think rain boots or flip flops – are easy to clean in the dishwasher. Place them on the top rack to prevent issues. Also – don’t forget to remove any shoe liners before washing.

·      Plastic Hairbrushes:

If your brush or comb is plastic, then remove the hair form the bristles, and take it for a spin in the dishwasher. It will be clean and sanitized in no time!

·      Potatoes:

Rather than spending time scrubbing a big batch of potatoes, just put them all on the top rack – without soap – and rinse them all at one time.

·      Baseball caps:

While the washing machine can ruin a baseball cap, washing it in the dishwasher is a safe bet. Just be sure to buy a baseball cap keeper first and avoid washing it with actual dishes, as food particles can get stuck in the fabric.

And as with all things, before trying any of these dishwasher cleaning tips, be sure to check your dishwasher’s user manual.

Looking for more dishwasher tips? Appliance Rescue Service is happy to help! Our expertly trained staff can answer any questions you have about Dallas dishwasher repair, dishwasher maintenance, and more.

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Additional Reading

Dishwasher Deep Dive

3 Reasons Your Ice Maker May Be Under-Producing

It’s August in Texas and that means it’s hot! Chances are, you are going through a lot of ice in your home. But have you ever grabbed a glass of ice and thought your ice maker was underproducing?

Ice maker production varies based on the model of refrigerator you have, so check your owner’s manual for details on what the optimum production should be. If you still feel like your ice maker isn’t producing enough ice, then chances are the ice maker issue is related to one of 3 things: the freezer temperature, amount of water funneling into the ice maker, or the water value itself.

Freezer Temperature

The number one way to maximize ice production is to have the temperature in the freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Using an appliance thermometer, check your freezer’s temperature and get it as close to 0 degrees as possible. If you are registering temperatures higher that 5 degrees, then it’s time to check the door seals, check for a faulty thermostat, or call Appliance Rescue for ice maker repair in Dallas.

Water Line

A clogged water line can certainly wreck havoc on your ice maker and cause it to underproduce. Turn off the water, disconnect your water line per owner’s manual instructions, place the line in a bucket of water, then turn the water back on. If the water flows freely through the line, then the water line is not the issue.

Water Valve

The water inlet valve can easily get clogged with frozen water or ice cubes, or may even malfunction due to an electrical shortage. If you suspect a water inlet valve malfunction, it’s best to call a professional to properly diagnose and troubleshoot the issue.

If you need ice maker repair in Dallas, call the experts at Appliance rescue Service. Our team strives to be the best appliance repair company in Dallas!

How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher

You run your dishwasher every day (or nearly every day), so it should be sparkling clean, right?!

Wrong.

From talking with countless customers about their home appliance repairs, at Appliance Rescue, we have come to realize that this is a common misconception. In order to keep dishes spotless and extend the life of your dishwasher, deep clean your dishwasher with these simple tips:

Step 1: Clean the Filters

As a good rule of thumb, remove and clean your filters every time you re-add rinse aid. Remove the filter(s) and soak them for approx. 10 minutes in warm, soapy water. Scrub off any remaining particles of gunk that are stuck in the filter. Keeping the filters clean adds efficiency and longevity to your dishwasher.

Step 2: Run a Vinegar Cycle

Vinegar is one of the simplest and time-proven cleaning agents there is. With its acidic nature, vinegar can be used to clean nearly anything! Splash a cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher before running a cycle to boost cleaning performance and cut through grit and grime stuck inside the washer.

Step 3: Run a Baking Soda Cycle

Now that you’ve cleaned with vinegar, pack a one-two punch with baking soda! Baking soda neutralizes odor. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your machine, let it sit overnight, then run another empty cycle.

Step 4: Scrub the Crevices

Grab a small cleaning brush – such as a toothbrush – and scrub any remaining debris, particularly in the crevices and in the door seal. The door seal is an easily forgotten part of the dishwasher where grime likes to hide. And don't forget to wipe down the control panel and handle on the exterior!

Follow these steps to a cleaner dishwasher, and remember, if you ever have dishwasher issues and need dishwasher repair in Dallas, the experts at Appliance Rescue Service are just a phone call away. We provide the best customer service in town, proudly serving Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Richardson, Irving, Forney, Las Colinas, and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Additional Reading

Dishwasher Deep Dive

5 Signs Your Washing Machine Needs To Be Repaired

A washing machine is one workhorse of an appliance! In fact, the average American family does about 400 loads of laundry a year! Over time, wear and tear can set it, leading to less efficiency or more complex issues. But how do you know it’s time to have your machine professionally serviced?

Appliance Rescue Service recommends looking for these 5 signs that it might be time to call a professional before more damage is done:

Issue #1 – Standing Water in the Drum

If your clothes cycle is complete and water is still sitting in the bottom of your washing machine drum, then this is a sign of an issue. Remove all of the clothing and make sure there is not any clothes tangled up, blocking a drain or pump. Standing water is most likely due to a clogged hose or faulty water pump.

Issue #2 – Noisy Washing Machine

Extreme clunking or shaking is not normal for a washing machine. If you hear excessive clunking mid-cycle, open your washer and check to see if the clothing inside is evenly distributed or tangled around the center post. (This issue often happens with large, heavy blankets or sheets.) If that is not your issue, then the issue is likely due to a loose drum or motor mount.

Issue #3 – Drum Does not Turn

If you notice there is no movement from your washing machine drum, then you will need professional washing machine repair. This issue is likely due to a faulty lid switch or a cracked belt.

Issue #4 – No Water in Drum

When water does not fill the drum, the issue could be a plethora of things: clogged filter, broken water intake valve, electrical issue, kinked hose, etc. A professional at Appliance Rescue Service can properly diagnosis the issue, saving you hours of troubleshooting your washing machine.

Issue #5 – Control Panel Malfunction

Each machine is different and diagnosing an electrical malfunction at the control panel is tricky. If your dials and buttons are not working properly, then it’s a sign that a professional appliance repair service needs to be called.

If you are experiencing any of the above issues or suspect a need for washing machine repair in Dallas, call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service! Call us now, so that we can fix the problem before it escalates.

Understanding Your Convection Oven

Let’s say you remodeled your kitchen a few years back, did hours of research, and then settled on high-end, gorgeous appliances – including a convection oven. You knew convection as the best and you bought it, but do you know how to use it?

At Appliance Rescue, we’ve seen this scenario play out time and again. Our Dallas appliance repairmen will show up to repair a cooktop, dishwasher, etc. and frequently get the question, “do you know anything about convection ovens?”

As appliance experts in Dallas, we certainly do! Here are a few frequently asked questions to help you understand your convection oven:

What is Convection Anyway?

There are 2 key differences between a convection and conventional oven. First, convection ovens use both the top and bottom element to cook food. A conventional oven will use only a bottom cooking element 90% of the time, leading to uneven cooking. Secondly, convection ovens use fans to circulate air throughout the oven during cooking. This feature will wick away moisture on the food, creating food that is more tender and full of color.

Is “True Convection” a different feature or a marketing gimmick?

True convection – or European Convection as it can also be called – is really the best form of convection. A True Convection oven has an additional 3rd heating element in the back on the oven, helping food cook more evenly.

But isn’t it Hard to Convert Recipes to Convection?

The answer is no! Many homeowners avoid using their convection feature because they don’t want to figure out how to convert their tried-and-true recipes! We get it. But what you may not realize is that most convection ovens on the market today come with a built-in automatic converter. Meaning, you can set it to convert the time and/or temperature automatically.

Still not sure how to use your convection oven or need convection oven repair in Dallas? Call the appliance experts at Appliance Rescue Service!