Funny you mention the filter—last winter, I got called to look at a dishwasher that “just stopped cleaning.” The owner had tried every hack under the sun, even ran three cycles with vinegar and baking soda. When I pulled out the filter, it was basically a science project in there. Once we cleaned it out, the thing worked like new. It’s wild how often people overlook that step.
I’m with you on vinegar. It’s not a miracle cure, and too much can definitely mess up the rubber bits over time. I’ve seen seals get all warped and gummy from folks going heavy-handed with it. Those cleaning tablets are a safer bet for regular upkeep, but honestly, nothing beats just getting in there and checking the basics—filter, spray arms, drain area.
It’s almost always something simple that gets missed because everyone’s looking for some magic fix. A little hands-on maintenance goes a long way... and saves a lot of headaches down the line.
Totally agree about people overlooking the filter. I learned that the hard way a couple years ago—mine started leaving this weird film on all the glasses, and I went down the internet rabbit hole of “miracle” solutions. Tried lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, the works. Didn’t help at all. Finally popped out the filter (which I’d honestly forgotten was even there) and it was just caked with gunk and old food bits. Took five minutes to clean, and everything was spotless after that.
I do get why people default to vinegar, though—it’s cheap, easy, and feels like you’re doing something proactive. But yeah, too much of it isn’t great for the machine long-term. I’ve also noticed it can leave a smell if you go overboard. I switched to those eco-friendly cleaning tablets every couple months, but mostly just keep an eye on the filter and spray arms now. Sometimes I’ll run a hot cycle with nothing in there if things seem off.
One thing I wish more folks knew is how much water and energy a clogged dishwasher wastes. When it’s not rinsing right, you end up re-washing stuff or running extra cycles... not great for your bills or the environment. Quick monthly checkups make a big difference.
Funny how often it’s just the basics—nothing fancy needed. Makes me wonder how many appliances get tossed or replaced when all they need is a little hands-on attention.
I get where you’re coming from about just sticking to the basics, but I actually had a different experience with those eco-friendly cleaning tablets. Maybe it’s my hard water, but they never seemed to do much for the funky smell in my dishwasher. Honestly, a splash of vinegar every couple months (not every week) has worked fine for me—no issues yet. I do agree about not overdoing it, though. Filters are definitely key, but I still think a little extra help doesn’t hurt, especially if your water’s on the rough side.
Vinegar’s been my go-to too, especially since those tablets add up fast. My water’s not the greatest either, so I get the struggle. Once I forgot to clean the filter for months—never smelled anything worse. Now I just do vinegar and keep an eye on that filter... cheap and works fine for me.
I hear you on the vinegar—cheap and easy, but I’ve had mixed results. In a few of my rentals, tenants swore by it, but sometimes it just didn’t cut through the gunk, especially with hard water. I started making it a rule to pull out the filter every couple months, not just rinse it. You’d be surprised what gets stuck in there... bits of glass, even a toothpick once. Tablets are pricey, but I’ll use one every now and then just to be safe. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I’d rather not get that “dead fish” smell again.