Dishwashers are one of the most handy kitchen appliances there is - as they mean you don't have to spend hours over the sink doing the washing up by hand.
And although their main job is to make your dishes sparkling, a lot of people often forget that the machines themselves need a good clean from time to time as well.
Failing to do this might mean your dishwasher will stop working as well as it once used to, and it could also mean you'll have to replace it sooner.
So, in order to save time and money, the experts at Which? have explained how you can identify when your dishwasher should be given a clean and how to do it.
It's often the filter that needs cleaned out, and there are a couple of key signs that indicate when it's time to do this.
Food debris on dishes
If you find that your dishes are still covered in bits of food after they've supposedly been cleaned, it could mean that the filter is dirty.
The mechanism is designed to trap food waste, but if it isn’t cleaned out regularly, that same debris can get flung back on to your crockery and cutlery while the machine is running.
Bad smells
Your dishwasher shouldn't make your recoil in horror whenever you open it after a clean. So if this is the case, it might be a sign that the filter is clogged with decaying food.
Not only will this make your dishes smell bad, but it could also be creating harmful bacteria that you're then eating from.
Water not draining
If you've opened your dishwasher after a cycle to find a pool of water, it could be worth checking the filter.
If there's food blocking it, this could be preventing the water from draining away.
Build-up of food
The most foolproof way to identify a filter problem is just by taking a look at it. If you can see that there's food build-up, then it might be time to do something about it.
The same is true if you notice that there’s debris on the sprayer arm or scattered around the bottom of the machine.
How to clean the filter
It's simple enough to clean your dishwasher filter, and it could end up saving you time and money in the long run.
First, you need to find it in your machine. It's often located at the bottom below the spray arms, and can usually be removed by a simple twist and pull motion. Then, wipe the base of your machine down with a cloth to get rid of any food remnants.
You can clean the filter itself by running the outer casing under the hot tap, and using a gentle brush to get to the inside parts.
After it's been cleaned, simply put it back in the dishwasher in the same way you took it out.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here .
