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5 Dishwasher Dos & Don'ts This BBQ Season: 2025

4 min readUpdated Feb. 27, 2025Terry MehilosDishwasher
5 Dishwasher Do's and Don'ts This BBQ Season Title image

Welcome to Sears Home Services, your trusted guide for all household appliance needs. As we embrace the BBQ season, it's imperative to keep your dishwasher in top shape to tackle the influx of dirty dishes. This guide will provide you with 5 crucial dishwasher do's and don'ts to guarantee flawless operation throughout the BBQ season.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Keep your dishwasher in top shape to handle the influx of dishes during the BBQ season.
  • By properly maintaining your dishwasher, you can prolong its lifespan, fend off drainage issues and clogs, and guarantee superior cleaning results.
  • Follow the do’s and don’ts described below to help keep your dishwasher in top shape.

The Crucial Role of Proper Dishwasher Maintenance

Proper care for your dishwasher is a non-negotiable requirement to ensure its optimal performance and durability. By adhering to these 5 dishwasher do's and don'ts this BBQ season, you can prolong its lifespan, fend off drainage issues and clogs, and guarantee superior cleaning results.

Regular tasks like cleaning the filter, removing debris from the spray arms, and checking for leaks can prevent minor hiccups from turning into significant issues, saving you from expensive repairs or premature replacement.

Common issues like clogs and drainage problems can hinder your dishwasher's performance. Avoid these by scraping off large food particles before loading your dishes and avoiding overloading. Excessive use of detergent can also lead to residue build-up, resulting in clogs.

Regularly cleaning the interior of your dishwasher, including the spray arms and detergent dispenser, can help maintain its cleaning efficiency, ensuring your dishes come out sparkling after every wash.

The Top 5 Dishwasher Do's and Don'ts This BBQ Season

For maximum dishwasher efficiency, adhere to these crucial tips:

  1. Remove excess food before loading: This prevents food particles from blocking the filters, ensuring a thorough clean. You don’t have to prewash the dishes, just scrape off the big stuff before loading to prevent clogging the dishwasher filter.
  2. Load dishes efficiently: Organize plates, bowls, and utensils so that water and detergent can reach all surfaces. Avoid overcrowding to ensure proper water circulation. Our How to load a dishwasher video provides expert loading tips.
  3. Use suitable detergent and rinse aid: Opt for a dishwasher-specific detergent and avoid regular dish soap as it will cause excess suds and damage your appliance. Always use rinse aid to prevent spots and streaks on your dishes.
  4. Don’t wash BBQ grates: Unless recommended by the grill manufacturer, you shouldn’t try to wash grill grates in the dishwasher. Cast iron grates will likely rust. Even if the grill manufacturer does allow it, the dishwasher likely won’t clean the grate very well. Also, grease from dirty grates can clog the dishwasher drain hose and residue from grates can clog the dishwasher filter.
  5. Have your dishwasher professionally maintained: Yearly professional maintenance of your dishwasher will help prevent problems and unexpected breakdowns.

These 5 dishwasher do's and don'ts this BBQ season will ensure your dishwasher operates at peak efficiency, delivering clean, spotless dishes all summer long. And, you won’t ruin any dishes that are dishwasher safe.

Image of loading the dishwasher properly

Common Dishwasher Mistakes to Avoid

To keep your dishwasher running smoothly during the BBQ season, avoid these common mistakes:

  • Don't overload the dishwasher: Overloading can obstruct proper water circulation and detergent distribution, resulting in poorly cleaned dishes. Refer to the manufacturer's guidelines when loading your dishwasher.
  • Avoid dishwasher-unsafe items: Not everything is dishwasher safe. Items like delicate glassware, wooden items, cast iron pans, and certain plastics can get damaged due to high heat and intense water pressure.
  • Don't neglect regular maintenance: Regular care extends your dishwasher's life and performance. Set reminders to clean the filter monthly, inspect the spray arms for blockages, and clean the door gasket periodically to prevent leaks.

Caring for Your Dishwasher Filters

Maintaining your dishwasher filters properly is crucial for the appliance's optimal performance and durability. Here's how:

  • Clean dishwasher filters regularly: Filters trap food particles and impurities during the cleaning cycle. They can get clogged over time, impacting the dishwasher's efficiency. To clean them, remove and rinse under warm water, using a soft brush for stubborn debris. Ensure all components are clean before reinstalling.
  • Frequency of filter cleaning: Clean the filters at least once a month. If you notice a decline in cleaning performance or a bad smell, clean them more often.
  • Replace filters when necessary: If you see signs of wear like cracks or holes in the filter mesh, replace the filters promptly. Consult the user manual or contact a professional appliance technician for guidance.

By properly maintaining your dishwasher filters, you ensure consistently high cleaning performance.

If you want Sears Home Services to clean and maintain your dishwasher for you, schedule service and we’ll send a technician to you home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why focus on dishwasher use during BBQ season?
Heavier dish loads (plates, grilling utensils) test a dishwasher’s capacity. Sears Home Services notes more frequent cycles can reveal neglected maintenance.
Which dos are crucial?
Scrape off large food bits, load dishes properly, and use the right cycle. Sears Home Services also recommends checking water temperature and rinse aid levels.
Any don’ts I should remember?
Don’t overload or block spray arms, don’t skip filter cleaning. Sears Home Services warns that ignoring these can lead to dull or partially washed dishes.
Is hot water needed for stuck-on BBQ sauce?
Yes, high-temp or heavy cycles help dissolve grease. Sears Home Services can verify the heating element if you’re seeing poor cleaning results.

Maintain Dishwasher Resources

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Find out how much water a dishwasher uses and how you can make sure that your dishes get clean even though the dishwasher only uses a little water.

3 Steps to Clean the Filter on a 2024 Kenmore Dishwasher
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Learn the 3 steps to clean the filter on a 2025 Kenmore dishwasher. Keep your dishwasher running smoothly with our easy guide.

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When it feels like your dishwasher takes hours just to complete one measly cycle, you’re not alone.

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Get the top 6 expert tips for cleaning your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher in 2025. Keep your dishwasher sparkling clean with these easy steps!

Glossary Terms

A dishwasher sump is located at the bottom of the dishwasher, serving as a collection point for water during the wash cycle. It houses the main pump and filter, facilitating the recirculation and drainage of water, essential for the cleaning process.

A dishwasher turbidity sensor is an advanced feature that measures the level of food particles and debris in the water, allowing the dishwasher to adjust the wash cycle length and water usage for optimal cleaning efficiency.

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. It contrasts with soft water, which has lower concentrations of these minerals.

A drop-in range is a type of kitchen stove that is designed to be fitted into a pre-existing space in kitchen cabinetry, mounted on a platform, flanked by cabinetry, and often featuring a custom panel at the bottom.

Common Repair Dishwasher Symptoms

The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher has no heat are a defective electronic control board, clogged water valve or a broken detergent dispenser.

The most common reasons your Electrolux dishwasher is not heating are a defective electronic control board, faulty pump and motor assembly or a damaged user interface control.

The most common reasons your Kenmore dishwasher is not washing are a faulty pump and motor assembly, defective electronic control board or a clogged spray arm.

The most common reasons your Kenmore Elite dishwasher is not washing are a faulty pump and motor assembly, defective electronic control board or a clogged spray arm.

The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher display is not working are a defective electronic control board, damaged user interface control or a damaged power supply board.

The most common reasons your Electrolux dishwasher display is not working are a defective electronic control board, damaged user interface control or a damaged power supply board.