What to do if plastic is melted in the dishwasher

As a homeowner, it's important to keep all of your appliances in good working order. One common problem that many homeowners experience is plastic melting in the dishwasher. This can be a frustrating and time-consuming problem to fix, but with the right information and approach, you can get your dishwasher back to working properly in no time.

Causes of Plastic Melting in Dishwashers

There are several common causes of plastic melting in dishwashers. These include:

• High water temperatures: Dishwashers use hot water to clean dishes, but if the water is too hot, it can cause plastic items to melt.

• Incorrect detergent usage: Some detergents can be too harsh for certain types of plastic, causing them to melt.

• Overloading the dishwasher: If you try to fit too many items into the dishwasher, it can cause the plastic items to rub against each other, resulting in melting.

• Using the wrong type of plastic: Not all plastics are heat-safe, so it's important to make sure you're using the right type of plastic in your dishwasher.

Prevention of Plastic Melting in Dishwashers

To prevent plastic melting in your dishwasher, there are several steps you can take:

• Lowering water temperature: Lowering the water temperature in your dishwasher can help prevent plastic melting.

• Following detergent usage instructions: Be sure to read and follow the instructions on your detergent to ensure that it's safe for the types of plastic you're using in your dishwasher.

• Properly loading the dishwasher: Make sure you're not overloading the dishwasher and that the items are not rubbing against each other.

• Using heat-safe plastics: Only use heat-safe plastics in your dishwasher to prevent melting.

Cleaning Up Melted Plastic in a Dishwasher

If you do find that plastic has melted in your dishwasher, there are steps you can take to clean it up:

• Removing melted plastic from the dishwasher interior: Use a putty knife or spatula to scrape off any melted plastic from the interior of the dishwasher.

• Cleaning melted plastic from dishwasher components: Use a toothbrush and soapy water to clean any melted plastic from the dishwasher's components.

• Preventing future plastic melting incidents: Take the steps outlined in Section III to prevent plastic melting from happening again in the future.

Plastic melting in the dishwasher can be a frustrating problem, but with the right information and approach, you can prevent it from happening and clean it up if it does. Be sure to lower the water temperature, follow detergent usage instructions, properly load the dishwasher, and use heat-safe plastics. If you do find that plastic has melted in your dishwasher, use a putty knife or spatula to remove it, clean the dishwasher components, and take steps to prevent it from happening again in the future. If you need professional help, do not hesitate to reach out to our team at Gold Star Appliance Repair. You can call us for a free consultation or book an appointment now, online, to have your appliance serviced or repaired!