Dishwashers are one of those conveniences we have gotten so used to we hardly think about them anymore.  They are common in most households and used so frequently that we just assume they will always be there for us when we need them.  But, just like any other appliances, dishwashers need regular cleaning and maintenance to not only continue to function normally, but to extend the life of the dishwasher.  There are simple steps you can take each day, coupled with regular cleaning and maintenance, which will prolong the life of the dishwasher and ensure it continues to clean your dishes effectively and efficiently.
The first step you can take to help your dishwasher run as best as possible, is to load it correctly.  This may seem simple, but are you really sure you are correctly loading your dishwasher?  Break out your owner's manual and read the instructions so that you know the manufacturer’s recommendation on how to best load your dishwasher.  It is important that you do not overload your dishwasher.  Just because you can cram one more dish in, does not necessarily mean that you should.  It may seem like overloading your dishwasher will save you money because you will not have to run your dishwasher twice, but, in reality, you will not be saving much or anything.  When a dishwasher is overloaded, it blocks the sprayers and prevents the dishes from getting properly cleaned.  This may necessitate another washing, which eliminates any perceived savings by overcrowding.
While you certainly do not need to clean your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, they should be properly scraped off.  Nobody wants to wash their dishes before running the dishwasher, but if you leave too much food on the plate, you can clog up your dishwasher and create major problems.  In addition to loading your dishes properly, there is some regular maintenance that will help your dishwasher run effectively and prevent damage from occurring.  It may seem counter intuitive to clean your dishwasher, but it is actually very important.  By pouring one cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher and running it on a normal cycle, it will help loosen food particles and clean the inside of your dishwasher so it looks and smells nice.
Next, if you have always wondered where the food particles go once the dishwasher cleans your dishes, there is actually a trap that helps collect food particles.  The food trap should be removed and cleaned out every so often to ensure that dishes actually come out clean after being washed.  Also, just like a shower head can become clogged, so can the sprayer in a dishwasher.
DIY Network explains how to maintain your dishwasher sprayers, "The sprayer arms work by spinning to help ensure that sprayed water reaches all of the dish surfaces in both the top and bottom racks of the dishwasher. Water sprays out of the device by means of small holes placed at regular intervals along the arms. Eventually these holes can become clogged with debris particles or dried soap. To help ensure that your dishes get their cleanest, clean out the holes in the spray arms periodically. Soak the arm in a solution of vinegar and water, and use an ordinary pipe-cleaner to clean the holes."
When you regularly clean and maintain your dishwasher, you can prevent damage from occurring, keep your dishes sparkling clean, and prolong the life of your dishwasher so that it will be there for you for years to come.