Cleaning and Maintaining Your Smeg Dishwasher

Smeg dishwasher cleaning and maintenance in Durban 

You own a stylish Smeg dishwasher, known for Italian performance. But is this premium appliance truly ready for the relentless Durban challenge? The KZN coast’s unique climate—high humidity and hard local tap water—wages a silent war against your household machines. Ignoring these local stressors means reduced efficiency, dull glassware, and ultimately, an expensive appliance repair cost  Our blog post offers a professional, three-part guide, drawn from our years of KZN repair experience, to ensure your Smeg performs efficiently for years across Durban North, Umhlanga, Amanzimtoti, and the wider KZN coastal belt.

If you’re using a SMEG dishwasher and want to understand all of its functions — from control panel features to maintenance routines — you’ll find everything you need in the official manual. You can view it here: SMEG dishwasher instruction manual (PDF).

Battling the Hard Water

Mineral buildup, commonly known as limescale, is the main culprit  in Durban’s domestic dishwashers. Hard water has  high concentrations of calciums and magnesium, which solidify into white, crusty deposits when heated. These deposits choke internal components, stress the dishwasher heating element, and  reduce the cleaning power of your Smeg quite a bit. 

Tip 1: The Monthly Citric Acid Deep Clean

To combat hard water scale, follow these steps:

• Run a hot, empty cycle using a natural yet powerful water descaler.
• Add 2–3 tablespoons of food-grade citric acid powder directly into the detergent dispenser.
• Note: Citric acid is easily found at local pharmacies or baking supply stores across Durban.
• The Benefit: This method is gentle on rubber seals yet highly effective at dissolving stubborn scale from internal pumps and hoses.

Tip 2 Rethink Your Rinse Aid

Use a high-quality rinse aid consistently with every single wash, regardless of the detergent type. Rinse aid lowers the water’s surface tension; this causes water to sheet off the dishes rather than dry in droplets. White streaking on your glasses is a classic sign of hard water issues that proper rinse aid usage can minimise.

Step 3 The Spray Arm Inspection

Its important to often check the tiny jets on both the upper and lower water spray arms. Limescale loves to build up in these jets, creating mineral blockages that restrict water flow and pressure. Gently use a toothpick or a thin piece of wire to remove  the blockages. A blocked spray arm directly results in poorly washed crockery and cutlery and the need for re-washing.

Combating Humidity and Coastal Air (The Durban Damp Defense)

Durban’s high humidity is the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and stale, unpleasant odours inside any kitchen appliance, especially dishwashers. The coastal air also carries microscopic salt particles, which will creating a secondary threat to the exterior finish.

Tip 4: The “Door Ajar” Protocol

Make this a  rule immediately after the cycle completes. Open the door slightly—around 5 to 10 centimetres—and leave it open for at least an hour. This simple action lets the humid, trapped air  escape the machine, crucially preventing mildew growth on the tub walls and door rubber seals.

tip 5 Wipe Down the Seals and Gaskets

Commit to wiping down the door seals and door gaskets on a weekly basis. Use a cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution, paying extra attention to the bottom edge where moisture and grime collect. This prevents mold growth and also maintains the rubber’s elasticity, ensuring a long-lasting, watertight seal.

Tip 6: Outside Cabinet Care

Give the stainless steel exterior a light clean occasionally if your Smeg is situated near a door or window, especially in beachside suburbs like Ballito or Scottburgh. Coastal humidity and air movement can deposit salt residue onto the metal surface. Wipe the cabinet down with a soft microfiber cloth and a special stainless steel cleaner to protect the finish against potential corrosion and pitting.

Tip 7 The Weekly Filter Deep Clean

Take  the entire multi-part filter system (coarse, fine, micro mesh) found at the bottom of the machine. Rinse all components under warm running water. Use a dedicated soft, old toothbrush and a touch of soapy water to gently scrub the mesh. Only re-insert the filters when they are completely clear and correctly seated.

Durban’s  environment demands a more robust and rigorous appliance maintenance schedule than those followed in drier or inland regions. A few simple, consistent weekly and monthly habits keep your stylish Smeg appliance running like the premium kitchen machine it is designed to be. Consistent maintenance is not just an optional chore; it actively protects your significant appliance investment and saves you hundreds, if not thousands, on expensive and inconvenient Smeg dishwasher repairs down the line.

Trusted resources

If your Smeg dishwasher suddenly stops mid-cycle or starts flashing mysterious symbols on the display, don’t worry — those are just fault codes trying to tell you what’s wrong. From water inlet issues to drain blockages, each code points to a specific problem that can often be fixed with a simple reset or quick check. To help you better understand what your appliance is saying, take a look at our detailed guide on Smeg dishwasher error codes and how to fix them before calling in a professional.

Conclusion for Smeg dishwasher cleaning and maintenance in Durban

If your Smeg dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly or has started making unusual noises, it might be time for a professional check-up. Our team offers reliable appliance repairs across Durban, and we’re always happy to help homeowners keep their kitchens running smoothly. You can learn more about our Smeg dishwasher service in Durban to see how we can get your appliance back to peak performance quickly and efficiently.