How to Unstop a Dishwasher

You have an inkling that a dishwasher is not supposed to make strange noises, spew soapy suds onto the kitchen floor or be flooded with water when the washing cycle is complete. Rather than running out and buying a new dishwasher, you may only have to clean it out. You can unstop a dishwasher with a few simple steps and tools, so the water will go where it’s supposed to: down the drain.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bucket
• Rags
• Scrub brush
• Plunger
• Container
• Baking soda
• Vinegar

1. Empty the dishwasher. Take out all the dishes and the dishwasher racks, if possible. You need the easiest access to the bottom of the dishwasher where the drain is.

2. Scoop out all standing water. Use measuring cups, coffee cups or any type of container that works to scoop all the standing water into a bucket. You need to see the drain in the bottom of the dishwasher in order to unclog it.

3. Scrub the bottom drain area. Often you will find chunks of food, paper, melted items or other debris has simply lodged itself into the drain area. This in itself is sometimes enough to stop up the dishwasher. If you happen to remove large chunks of junk, you may have just found your answer.

4. Test the drainage. You can pour water into the drainage area to see if it drains. If it does, you should be good to go. You can test it by running a cycle without soap or dishes in the dishwasher just to be sure. If it’s still stopped up, proceed to the next steps.

5. Get a plunger. Again with the dishwasher emptied, plunge the bottom drain area to see what may come unclogged. You may need to take the long handle off of the plunger and use the rubber part as a hand tool. If need be, stick a sponge or rolled towel in the hole where the handle was to increase suction. Sanitize your plunger first by cleaning it with antibacterial cleaner or have a plunger separate from your toilet plunger that you use for other jobs, like unstopping the dishwasher.

6. Go for the baking soda and vinegar fix. Using the same combination many kids have used on homemade volcanoes, pour a generous portion of baking soda into the drain area in the bottom of the dishwasher followed by some vinegar. The two substances will react to bubble, foam and help dislodge any buildup in the pipes. You can follow this with more plunging if the drain still appears clogged.

7. Test it again. Run the full wash cycle without soap or dishes in the dishwasher to make sure it is draining properly. If it’s still not working, repeat the steps until you know you did all you can do and call an expert to delve deeper into the connecting pipes wherein the problem may be.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent a dishwasher from getting clogged in the first place, make sure to thoroughly clear dishes of large chunks of food and debris. Also scrape off any stickers, price tags or other paper items that might become soggy and lodged in the drain.
• It is not recommended to use drain-unclogging chemicals in your dishwasher.
• Make sure to discard of the water and debris from the clogged up dishwasher somewhere outdoors and throw away the debris. Do not simply pour it down the sink unless you want that to be clogged, too.