The spray jets on your dishwasher could become clogged at some point in time. This can be due to a buildup of food particles or minerals, especially if you're using hard water. Clogged spray arms will render the dishwasher unusable since the spray arms are responsible for spraying the water onto the dishes.
There are rare cases where the type of clogging may require the assistance of a dishwasher repair expert. However, in most cases, you should be able to handle this type of appliance maintenance job on your own.
Disconnect the Jet Arm
Before you attempt to unclog the spray arm, you'll need to take it out of the washer. Unplug the washer from the electrical outlet and take out the racks. Next, remove the bolts or screws that will be holding the spray arm. In some cases, you may not be able to find these fasteners. The arms can still be cleaned while in position but it will be slightly more challenging.
Soak the Jet Arm
Soaking the spray arm for some time is quite effective in dealing with most clogs. All you need to do is mix water with soap and 1 cup of vinegar and agitate the mixture. If you're dealing with mineral deposits, this mixture may not work as well as it would with food particles. In that case, you'll get better results by soaking the spray arm in undiluted vinegar.
For those who can't remove the spray arm, wrap the spray arm with pieces of cloth that have been soaked in the mixture described above. You'll need to spray the pieces of cloth with the mixture after every 30 minutes to keep them wet.
Scrub Out the Deposits
Once the debris has become sufficiently loosened, you'll need to scrub the arm. You can also use pins and cotton swabs to remove some of the debris in the nozzles. Toothpicks and tweezers can also be useful in such situations. The debris can also be removed using compressed air. Once you're done with the scrubbing, rinse the spray arm with clean water.
Using Enzyme Digester
You may also find yourself in situations where the buildup will still be present even after hours of soaking. In such cases, you can use enzyme digesters to eat through the food debris. Take as long as is needed and then wash the spray arm with soap and water. Running the dishwasher can help to rinse out the inside of the arms.
