Every once in a while, someone will accidentally put too much dishwasher liquid or use the wrong type of detergent and this will lead to an avalanche of soap suds oozing out of your dishwasher onto your kitchen floor. You want to act fast, because sitting soapy water can cause some irreparable damages to your floor, and some pretty devastating (oxymoron intended) mold infections that can affect your health. So without further ado, here’s what you can do if your dishwasher overflows.

Step 1: Disconnect the Power     Pressing the cancel button on your dishwasher will hopefully begin the draining process. But you’ll also need to turn off the outlet for the machine. Bear in mind that standing in suds while trying to turn off an electrical outlet is a recipe for disaster, so you want to wear rubber boots, before flipping off the master switch.

Step 2: Pour some Salt on the Suds     You’ll just create more suds if you start cleaning with a mop, so what you want to do is pour a layer of table salt over the suds. Soap has a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with salt which causes it to dissipate. Now you’ll be left with a puddly mess of water, which is a lot easier to clean up than soapy suds.

Step 3: Mop     Now you want put some dry towels on the floor so they’ll absorb the water. Once the bulk of the water has been absorbed, get your mop and clean up the entire floor. Remember to also move and clean beneath the dishwasher as some water would have seeped underneath it. Get some clean water and mop the entire area again. You want to ensure there’s no residue left on the floor that could be harmful.

Step 4: Air Dry, then Take Precautions     Ventilate your kitchen to prevent the floors from warping. Ensure you read the   label before buying your next dishwasher soap, and make sure you have your dishwasher checked regularly to ensure your door gaskets, water supply tubes, tub seals and filters are at peak performance.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Livingston, Lodi and Montclair.