I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes those “temporary” fixes are the only thing standing between me and a kitchen flood at 2am. Not saying tape is a long-term hero, but if you’re in a pinch, it can buy you some time—just don’t forget about it and hope for the best. I once used a zip tie to hold a dishwasher latch together for a week until the part came in. Not ideal, but it worked and nobody had to wash dishes by hand. Sometimes it’s all about picking your battles...
Yeah, I totally get it. Sometimes you just need to MacGyver something together to make it through the week. I had a leaky hose under my sink and ended up wrapping it with like three layers of duct tape until I could get to the hardware store. Not pretty, but it saved my floor. As long as you don’t forget about those “temporary” fixes and actually replace them, I think you’re doing fine. Honestly, half of owning a house feels like creative problem-solving anyway...
Honestly, half of owning a house feels like creative problem-solving anyway...
Couldn’t agree more—sometimes it’s less about having the right tool and more about making something work until you can do it properly. That said, when it comes to dishwashers, I’ve found that “temporary” fixes can sometimes snowball if you’re not careful. Here’s what I usually check before calling in the pros:
- Power: Double-check the breaker and outlet. Sometimes the plug gets loose behind the machine.
- Water supply: Make sure the valve under the sink is fully open and there’s no kink in the line.
- Filter: Pull out the bottom rack and look for gunk clogging up the filter or spray arms. Even a little buildup can mess with performance.
- Door latch: If it’s not closing tight, most models won’t even try to run.
- Drain hose: Check for blockages or kinks—mine once had a bit of glass stuck in there.
I once used a zip tie to keep my dishwasher door sensor engaged until I could replace the latch. Not ideal, but it got us through Thanksgiving dinner cleanup...
Just don’t let those quick fixes turn into “permanent” solutions—learned that one the hard way after a duct-taped drain hose let go mid-cycle.
That’s a solid checklist—I never would’ve thought to check the drain hose for glass, but now I’m kind of paranoid about that. I’ve got a question though: if your dishwasher’s making weird grinding noises but still runs, is that usually a filter issue or something worse? I tried pulling out the filter and it looked fine, but I’m not sure what else could be stuck in there. Maybe it’s just normal, but it sounds like it’s chewing rocks sometimes…
Grinding noises that sound like your dishwasher’s auditioning for a rock band? Yeah, that’s usually not “normal.” Here’s what I’d check, bullet-style:
- Filter’s clean? Good start, but sometimes tiny bits sneak past and get stuck in the chopper blade or impeller. That’s where the real “chewing rocks” sound comes from.
- Pull out the bottom spray arm and see if anything’s wedged underneath. I once found a toothpick and half a pistachio shell in mine—no joke.
- Check the sump area (under the filter). Sometimes glass shards or popcorn kernels hide down there. Use a flashlight and maybe a spoon handle to poke around.
- If you’re feeling brave, you can unscrew the cover over the chopper blade (if your model has one). Just be careful—those blades are sharp and sometimes there’s gross gunk.
- Could be a worn-out pump or motor, but that’s less common unless your dishwasher’s ancient or it’s been making weird noises for months.
If it still sounds like it’s eating gravel after all that, might be time to call in backup... or just wear noise-cancelling headphones during the wash cycle.
