DISHWASHER UPDATE

Springtime comes to the Valley (behind Methodist Church on Broadview, Lewiston)

The other day I saw Mike carrying the space heater from his office to storage. “Oh-oh,” I said to myself, and sure enough, the seasonable temps we had enjoyed suddenly dipped into cooler temps and early spring rains. This is Idaho, you know – or close enough – and it’s too soon to count on consistency. A cheery fire burns in the little stove this morning, sending welcome warmth into the house.

Followers may wonder if we ever replaced the problematic Kenmore / Whirlpool dishwasher. No – not yet. While I’ve moved beyond the disappointment of having purchased a lemon, Mike is still disgruntled.

Daffodils finally bloom

“Our first dishwasher was a portable,” said Mike, speaking of his growing-up years in Mississippi. “It would break, and Dad would fix it.”

I’m not sure Mike should compete with his dad on this issue. Times have changed. I really think the days of “dad fixing it” are about over, but whatever . . .

But the other issue in the back of my mind is that I’m not sure we can do better. I’ve read review after review about machine after machine, and there isn’t a model with consistently good reviews. I know – they say that mean people will sabotage product ratings by writing poor reviews for the fun of it, but having had a bad experience, I can relate to the problems reported, including: failure to clean dishes, trouble with mother board, poor customer service, delayed response (or no response) from repair service, costly repairs, and continued issues despite repair. It’s enough to make me think twice.

Daffodils -- and the promise of more blooms

So, Mike pulled the dishwasher out – again – and we checked it over. We identified nothing because we know nothing. We pushed it back, and then it wouldn’t come on at all, so we pulled it back out. Mike fiddled with connections again, and we just left it extended from the counter for a week while I continued to use it. If I tried long enough, I could eventually get it to run. Mike checked connections again, and when it would run consistently, he carefully pushed it back under the counter.

Meanwhile, it seems to run with a bit more vigor, but I still don’t trust it. I keep my soapy sponge at the sink and clean the dishes as I load them. I also examine them as I take them out.

And that’s where we are today. KW

TROUBLESHOOTING THE DISHWASHER

Four years ago, we bought a new dishwasher to replace the low-end GE that came with this modular home. Having had good luck with Sears appliances in the past, we bought a Kenmore Elite (Whirlpool) at our local Sears appliance store. Once I began to work with it, I appreciated that it ran quietly, but otherwise it seems to lack power. Short of two years, the pump went out, and two repair persons said it was because I used soap packs. The repair cost $260, and while it seemed to solve the immediate problem, I was still unimpressed with its laziness. I resolved that I would not put more money into it AND that I would not put up with it forever.

Last week I reached the end of my rope. If I didn’t hand wash a dish before I put it into the machine, I had to hand wash it when I took it out. “That’s it!” I announced to Mike and the dogs. “Until this dishwasher is replaced, I’m washing the dishes by hand.” (I’m well-familiar with the method, having received early and extensive training.)

And then I went out on a dishwasher fact-finding mission, but just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge a dishwasher by its appearance. How am I supposed to know which is good and which isn’t? When the sales rep asked me what features I wanted, I said one that would get my dishes clean. There sat a Whirlpool looking just like mine, so I said I didn’t want that one.

Back at home, I decided I owed it to our investment in the Kenmore to troubleshoot it again. I found a video produced by Sears, where Wayne from PartsDirect tries to convince me that getting my dishwasher to clean the dishes is simply a matter of loading it correctly, changing detergent brands, or cleaning the filter. The intro says:
Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? All the Easy Fixes You Need to Know
If you're running the dishwasher, and dishes are still coming out a little dirty, don't stress. There's no need to buy a new machine or start washing dishes by hand. First, make sure the appliance isn't overloaded. Without enough space between items, the soapy water won't be able to move freely.
If that isn't the problem, then it might be something mechanical. Our friends at Sears PartsDirect have some easy tips and fixes to whip your dishwasher back into shape.

How funny! It’s as if Sears is responding right to me, Mrs. Mike Q. Homemaker, but I know they didn’t make the video just for my benefit. 

Handy-dandy sponge cleans dishes

With the video playing on Mike’s tablet, the two of us checked out the dishwasher. We cleaned the arms, cleaned the filter, checked the water level, and tested the water temp at the tap. Other suggestions were to change the detergent or run Dishwasher Magic. If it’s none of these little things, don’t be discouraged. It’s probably just the water intake valve, the heating element, the pump, etc. The implication is that I can diagnose, order the part, and fix it myself, making this lemon into a perfect machine.

As of this writing, the dishes do seem to come out cleaner, but the results are inconclusive. And I know from experience that Sears doesn’t care anyway. I have nostalgic feelings for Sears, but it’s time for them to go. KW

ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH BOB

Pepper pauses above the water's edge

I guess I’m a little paranoid about the way the dishwasher runs, and who can blame me? We paid $280 to repair a dishwasher less than two years old. Add to that the fact that it serves a household of two who are not here a third of the year, makes the costly repair further frustrating.

So, I was finding suds in the bottom of the tub after a wash, and we decided I should call Bob the repair guy again.

“How are you running it?” Bob asked.

“Well,” I began with some trepidation, “I toss a pod in the silver basket and run the one-hour wash. But sometimes I use the ‘smart wash.’ And sometimes I’ve also used powder instead of the pod.”

Nellie

“DON’T use those pods!” said Bob. “Go to the store, buy liquid soap – or powder. But QUIT using those pods!”

Basalt rosette on Snake River across from Asotin

“Bob, have you seen the soap aisle in the store?” I queried. “It’s full of pods.” (In fact, I didn’t say so, but the powdered Cascade I have now I purchased at Albertsons on clearance.)

“You aren’t looking hard enough,” Bob replied. “You can still buy powder and liquid detergent, and that’s what you have to do. Just don’t buy Kirkland.”

“And,” he continued, “that ‘smart wash’ cycle simply runs the same cycle three times. Use the ‘one-hour wash.’”

“All right,” I said contritely, feeling properly chastened.

“That’s ridiculous,” said Mike. “Any dishwasher detergent should work.”

“Yes,” I said, “but I don’t really want to chance more problems, so I will comply with what Bob says.”

Columnar formation

So, I took myself to Walmart and checked the dishwasher products. The first repair guy said I should buy Dishwasher Magic, which son Milo also recommended. I tossed a twin pack into my cart. Rows of shelves were filled with pods in a variety of brands and sizes – Cascade, Finish, and “Great Value” (the store brand). On the very bottom shelf were several brands of liquid detergents. I saw no powdered product. KW

[The words are about the dishwasher but the photos were taken Monday, March 27, as we hiked along the Snake River. (See previous post.) The basalt formations are quite spectacular.]