Cleaning dishwasher spray arms means taking each arm off, poking debris out of the small jets, flushing the inside with water and making sure the arm turns without catching. It fixes dishes that come out dirty on one rack or in one corner, and it's worth doing whenever you clean the filter.
Time: about 20 minutes · Difficulty: Easy · You'll need: a toothpick or wooden skewer, a soft brush, a towel, your dishwasher manual (for the arm release method)
Before you start
- •Let the dishwasher cool and make sure it's off.
- •Empty both racks so you can slide them out.
- •Use wooden or plastic tools only. Metal picks can widen or burr the jets and change the spray pattern.
- •Lay a towel on the counter so small clips or caps don't roll away.
Steps
Step 1 — Check which arms you have
Most dishwashers have a lower arm on the tub floor and a middle arm under the upper rack, and some add a third arm or spray nozzle at the top. Look for any arm that's caked with residue or has jets you can see are blocked.
Step 2 — Remove the lower arm
On many models the lower arm lifts straight off its hub, while others have a cap or nut you turn by hand first. Don't force it. If it doesn't budge, check the manual for the release direction.
Step 3 — Remove the middle arm
The middle arm usually unscrews or unclips from a tube under the upper rack. Slide the rack out first to reach it more easily.
Step 4 — Clear each jet
Hold the arm up to a light and look through each opening. Push a toothpick gently into any blocked jet to break up scale or food, then shake the arm to move loose debris toward the center hub.
Step 5 — Flush the inside
Run warm water into the hub opening and let it flow out through the jets. Keep flushing until no more grit comes out. Scrub the outside lightly with a soft brush and dish soap.
Step 6 — Reinstall and spin-test
Put each arm back the same way it came off, then spin it by hand. It should turn smoothly and not hit a tall pan handle, a utensil or the rack itself.
Step 7 — Load smart and run a cycle
Run a normal cycle with a light load. Keep tall items from blocking the arms' path and check that nothing hangs through the rack.
Didn't fix it?
If the arms are clear but cleaning is still weak, look for scale building up on the arms or the tub, which is common with hard water; see how to descale a dishwasher. An arm that won't spin after cleaning may have a cracked hub or a worn bearing. Weak spray on every arm at once can point to a circulation pump or water inlet problem, and that's a job for a dishwasher repair visit.
How often to do this
Check the arms every two to three months, or right away if one rack starts coming out dirty. Homes with hard water may need more frequent checks, because mineral scale tends to narrow the jets over time.
From Kevin: A single seed or sliver of glass wedged in one jet is a common find for me, and that one spot is enough to leave a whole corner of the rack dirty. Two minutes with a toothpick beats rewashing every bowl by hand.
Questions? Call ProFix NJ at (973) 718-9373.