A Dishwasher that is well maintained will perform consistently for 8–12 years. One that is neglected shows declining results within months — poor cleaning, odours, and eventually mechanical issues. Indian kitchens put more demand on a Dishwasher than most — the heavy oils, masalas, and daily high-volume use require more attentive maintenance.
This guide gives you a simple, clear schedule. Follow it and your machine stays in top condition.
Maintenance Schedule at a Glance
The Filter — Most Important, Most Neglected
The filter is the single most important maintenance point of any Dishwasher — and the one most people never clean. In an Indian kitchen, the filter collects masala paste, ghee, food particles, and spice residue every cycle. A clogged filter means water recirculates through dirty residue, which is why dishes start coming out cloudy or with food particles on them.
How to Clean the Filter — Step by Step
Step 1: Open the Dishwasher and remove the bottom rack completely. The filter assembly is in the floor of the machine — usually a round cylinder with a flat mesh plate around it.
Step 2: Twist and lift the cylindrical filter counterclockwise to remove it. Lift the flat mesh filter out too.
Step 3: Rinse both parts under warm running water. Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the mesh — masala and oil residue gets embedded in the fine mesh and needs light agitation to come out.
Step 4: If there's grease or turmeric staining, soak the filter in warm water with a few drops of dishwash liquid for 10 minutes before scrubbing.
Step 5: Reassemble and lock back in. The flat plate goes in first, then the cylindrical filter twists clockwise to lock.
Indian Kitchen Note
Indian cooking produces more oil residue per cycle than European cooking. Aim to clean your filter every 2 weeks rather than the monthly interval that most Dishwasher manuals suggest. You'll notice the difference in cleaning results immediately.
Spray Arm Maintenance
The spray arms have small holes (jets) through which water is sprayed under pressure. In hard water areas — which includes most of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan — mineral deposits build up in these holes over time and reduce water pressure, resulting in patches of the rack that don't get cleaned properly.
Checking and Cleaning Spray Arms
Monthly check: Remove the spray arms (they usually clip off — check your manual for the mechanism). Hold each one up to the light and look through the jets. If any are blocked, use a toothpick or thin wire to clear them.
Deep clean (every 3 months): Soak spray arms in a bowl of equal parts white vinegar and water for 30 minutes. The acid dissolves mineral deposits. Rinse thoroughly and reattach.
After reassembly: Always spin the spray arms by hand before starting a cycle to confirm they rotate freely without touching any loaded utensils.
Door Seals — Prevent Odour and Mould
The rubber door seal is where mould most commonly develops in Dishwashers. In Indian homes where the kitchen is humid and cooking happens multiple times a day, moisture builds up in the seal folds. If left unattended, it develops a musty smell that transfers to utensils.
Door Seal Cleaning Routine
Weekly: After the last cycle of the day, wipe the door seal with a dry cloth. Pay attention to the folds and corners where water pools.
Monthly: Wipe the entire seal with a cloth dampened in diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar : 2 parts water). This removes mould spores before they become visible growth.
Always: Leave the Dishwasher door slightly ajar when not in use. This allows air circulation inside and prevents the closed, moist environment that mould requires.
Running a Cleaning Cycle
Once a month, run an empty cleaning cycle to clean the interior walls, spray arms, and heating element. Two methods:
Option 1 — Dishwasher Cleaner Tablet: Place a Dishwasher cleaner tablet (available at most supermarkets and online) in the machine with no utensils loaded. Run on the hottest cycle. The cleaner removes grease buildup, mineral deposits, and odours from all internal surfaces.
Option 2 — White Vinegar Method: Place a cup of white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack. Run a hot cycle with no detergent. The vinegar acid cuts through grease and mineral deposits. Do not add baking soda in the same cycle — they neutralise each other and produce foam.
Hard Water Care — Especially for Gujarat
Hard water is water with high mineral content — primarily calcium and magnesium. Most urban water supply in Gujarat is moderately to highly hard. Hard water causes white spots on steel utensils after washing, a chalky film on glass, and mineral buildup inside the machine over time.
Dishwasher salt is the solution. It goes into a dedicated compartment (usually in the floor of the machine, under a screw cap). The salt charges the water softener inside the machine, which removes minerals before they can deposit on utensils or internal parts. Refill when the salt indicator light comes on — typically every 3–6 weeks depending on your water hardness.
Rinse aid also helps significantly with hard water spots. It reduces the surface tension of water so it sheets off utensils cleanly rather than forming droplets that leave mineral rings when they dry. Keep the rinse aid dispenser topped up at all times.
If You Have Hard Water
Run your first few cycles with Dishwasher salt active and check steel utensils for white spots. If spots persist, increase the rinse aid dosage setting (most machines allow adjustment). If you're in Ahmedabad or surrounding areas, salt is highly recommended year-round.
Signs Your Dishwasher Needs Attention
Cloudy or spotty utensils: Hard water deposits or empty rinse aid — top up rinse aid and add salt.
Food particles remaining after cycle: Clogged filter — clean the filter immediately.
Musty smell: Door seal mould or dirty filter — clean both.
Water pooling at the bottom: Blocked drain — check the filter and drain area for trapped food.
Dishes not drying properly: Empty rinse aid compartment or drying cycle issue — top up rinse aid and check cycle settings.
A well-maintained NOVÁK lasts over a decade.
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