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The frequency for cleaning your dishwasher filter depends on your usage habits. If you run the dishwasher daily and don't scrape or rinse dishes before loading, you should clean the filter about once a month. For those who use it only once or twice a week and rinse items beforehand, cleaning it every three to six months may be sufficient. A clear sign that your filter needs cleaning is a musty smell, even after a wash cycle. Regularly cleaning the filter is important to prevent food buildup and clogging over time. It can be helpful to add this maintenance task to your calendar to stay on schedule.

You should avoid using a pressure washer on any surface or item that could be damaged by the high-pressure spray, as some materials are too delicate to withstand the force.

Key items and surfaces to avoid include:

• Electrical Components: Never pressure wash electrical systems, as water can cause short-circuits and create a safety hazard. This includes utility meters, breaker boxes, electrical outlets, generators, and HVAC or air conditioner units.

• Delicate and Fragile Materials: Fragile items can crack, shatter, or be stripped by the pressure. Avoid pressure washing windows, glass, light fixtures, shingled roofs (especially asphalt), and stucco.

• Painted, Stained, or Sealed Surfaces: Unless your goal is to strip the finish, do not pressure wash painted surfaces, stained wood (like decks), or anything with a protective seal that could be stripped away. Be especially cautious with older surfaces that may contain lead paint.

• Soft Woods and Certain Decking: Delicate surfaces like softwood, composite decking, and antique or wooden patio furniture can be etched or damaged. If you must wash wood, use a lower-powered pressure washer with a wide-angle nozzle to prevent damage.

• Living Things: Never use a pressure washer on people, pets, or plants. The force can cause serious injury and will destroy landscaping.

Limescale can build up outside your dishwasher if you live in a home with hard tap water. Any household surface exposed to water and heat may have unsightly limescale deposits, including kettles for boiling water, sinks, countertops, toilets, taps, tubs, shower doors, glassware, and aquariums. Glass, laminate, porcelain, granite, and other similar surfaces can all have limescale.

Your first instinct might be to grab the bleach to clean a moldy dishwasher, but it’s not the best product for the job. You don’t want to use bleach to clean stainless steel components if your dishwasher has them, as it can cause significant damage. In addition, the scent of bleach can linger if not rinsed well, causing your dishes to retain a smell (and even taste) of bleach.