Masking tape for the win—I’ve done that with my last dishwasher fix, but I used painter’s tape and a Sharpie. The only hiccup was when my cat decided to “help” and sent half the screws flying... Ended up crawling around on the floor for a good ten minutes. Honestly, between photos, tape, and a little luck, it’s amazing anything gets put back together right. Those tiny screws all look the same after a while.
Painter’s tape and a Sharpie—nice, that’s a classic combo. I’ve definitely been there with the screws too, though my dog is more of a “supervisor” than an active saboteur. Still, those little screws are a pain when they scatter.
Here’s what’s worked for me to keep things organized (especially when you’re dealing with a dishwasher that seems to have about a thousand identical fasteners):
- Magnetic parts tray. Seriously, worth every penny. Drop your screws in as you go and nothing rolls away, even if the cat gets curious.
- Numbered sticky notes for each step. I’ll slap one on the inside of the panel or next to the part I’m removing, jot down what goes where. It’s saved me from mixing up those almost-the-same-but-not-quite screws.
- Quick phone pics at each step. Not just the “before” shot—take one after every major move. You think you’ll remember how that wire was routed... but trust me, you won’t.
- If you’re really stuck with missing hardware, a trip to the hardware store with one of the remaining screws can usually get you a close enough match.
I hear you on luck being part of it—sometimes I swear stuff just disappears into another dimension mid-project. But with a little prep and some patience (and maybe locking up any “helpers”), it’s surprising how much you can tackle without calling in backup.
One thing I’d add: if your model has those weird Torx or specialty screws, it pays to invest in a cheap bit set ahead of time. Saves a ton of frustration when you realize your old Phillips isn’t going to cut it halfway through reassembly.
Anyway, nice work getting it back together even with feline interference. It always feels like winning the lottery when everything fits back and actually works again...
Not just the “before” shot—take one after every major move. You think you’ll remember how that wire was routed...
I get the appeal of magnetic trays, but honestly, I’ve seen too many folks lose tiny stainless screws because they’re not magnetic. For dishwashers, I usually go with small labeled zip bags for each step—no rolling, no sticking, and you can toss in washers or clips too. The phone pics tip is gold though, especially when you’re staring at a mess of wires later and second-guessing everything.
I get the zip bag method, but I’ve found it creates a lot of single-use plastic waste, which bugs me. I’ve started using old glass spice jars or repurposed containers for hardware—less trash, and they’re sturdy enough to not get lost under the fridge. The only downside is they take up a bit more space, but at least I’m not tossing more plastic.
I get what you mean about the plastic waste—those bags pile up fast. I’ve tried glass jars too, but sometimes I end up with a bunch of mismatched lids and it gets annoying. When you’re working on the dishwasher, do you label your containers or just remember what’s what? I always seem to forget which screw goes where after a few days...
