If the preliminary checks fail, the next step is to access the drain hose, which requires moving the dishwasher away from the wall. Safety is paramount during this stage; the dishwasher must be unplugged from the electrical outlet or the circuit breaker must be flipped off. Additionally, the water supply valve—usually located under the sink—should be turned off to prevent accidental flooding. Once the unit is disconnected from power and water, the drain hose can be located. It is typically a corrugated plastic tube running from the bottom of the dishwasher to the garbage disposal or a drain tailpiece under the kitchen sink.
The hose was free. She held it aloft. Something sloshed inside. how to clean out a dishwasher drain hose
She reattached the hose—first to the dishwasher pump, then to the disposal inlet, tightening the clamps until they bit securely. She slid the dishwasher back, leveled it with a twist of its front feet, and turned the breaker on. A prayer. A deep breath. If the preliminary checks fail, the next step
She worked the long brush through the hose like a colonoscopy from hell. Back and forth. Back and forth. Each pass dragged out more sludge. She sang a little song to keep her courage up: “Drain hose, drain hose, let go of the gross.” Once the unit is disconnected from power and
“One more victory over entropy,” she said. Then she added a post-it to the fridge: Clean drain hose. Next due: June.