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Step 1
Turn off your dishwasher. Sounds obvious but you could be surprised by how long it could take you to turn it off when confronted with the shock of foamy water creeping into your kitchen like a horror flick monster.
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Step 2
Take advantage of the soapy mess and mop your floor. Look on the bright side, dishwasher detergent is marvelous stuff for removing stubborn dirt and stains.
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Step 3
Once your floor is somewhat dry, lay some towels down in front of the dishwasher door and slowly open it up. Check the strainer and water inlet areas at the bottom of your dishwasher for pieces of food, fallen items you had intended on washing or perhaps a serious lime buildup.
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Step 4
If this was not your issue, find your dishwasher's drain hose and inspect it for leaks or kinks. If the dishwasher hose is in poor condition, replace it.
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Step 5
If you have a disposal unit on your sink, it may pay to run it for a minute to ensure a blocked disposer isn't the culprit of your leaking dishwasher.
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Step 6
Before finishing your dishwasher's cycle, pour 1/2 cup to a cup of white vinegar into the dishwasher. This will help break down the soap and foam. An overabundance, or even the wrong type, of dishwasher soap can also cause the leak so this can serve two purposes. Vinegar is also good to run in your dishwasher from time to time to prevent iron and/or lime buildup.
Comments
mercygirl said
on 10/15/2009 Another tip- if you live in an area where there is hard water, you may want to check the gasket around the inside of your dishwasher. It will not seal right if there is a crusty buildup. Use vinegar full strength to soften then scrap with plastic knife.
GreenGables said
on 10/14/2009 Great article and a fun read. 5*
rnmassage said
on 10/13/2009 Dishwashers are great until they go haywire. Another good tip is to always use dishwashers and washing machines when you are at home, so hopefully you will see problems before they become major.