How To Pull Out A Dishwasher To Clean Behind It In 2022?

Pulling out an older dishwasher isn’t a straightforward task as it needs a careful process and a reasonable amount of strength.

Still, it’s an essential task for multiple purposes, including cleaning behind it, getting access to the back panel, and replacing the older one.

As you can’t skip, learning a safe yet successful process of how to pull out a dishwasher to clean behind it will be a wise decision. 

This guide will help you pull out your dishwasher quickly and properly without damaging anything or hurting yourself.

How to pull out a dishwasher to clean behind it- 3 simple steps

Pulling out the dishwasher and cleaning behind it isn’t a straightforward task. And you can’t directly start moving it as lots of connections and attachments are there.

To safely and effortlessly pull out the dishwasher, you have to remove all its connections, including, plug from the outlet, water supply line, drain line, plumbing, bucket, and more. 

It means you have to release all the attachments and connections first, and then you can pull out your dishwasher to clean behind it efficiently.

For safety, wear a pair of gloves, collect some towels, and, if required, take the aid of a friend. Let’s learn the process step-by-step:

Disconnect your dishwasher

Unplug the dishwasher

Before removing your dishwasher from the cabinet, disconnect it from the power outlet. In general, the dishwasher is placed close to the kitchen sink.

So finding its plug won’t be difficult. After finding it, disconnect the plug from the power outlet.

But if you don’t have a power outlet under the sink, check the back of the dishwasher and remove the plug from it.

Cut the Water

Now shut off the supply line to stop sending water to the dishwasher. As the power source, the shutoff valve for the water supply should be under the kitchen sink.

You may be interested in: How To Build A Kitchen Island With A Sink And Dishwasher.

Unless the dishwasher has a dedicated shutoff valve, you should be able to disconnect the water supply from both the sink and the dishwasher.

Disconnect the Drain Line

The next connection to take off is the drain line of the dishwasher. Simply find a larger yet flexible hose that is secured by clamping onto the sink’s drain line. Lose the clamp and remove that hose.

Pro tip: after disconnecting the drain hose, put a small plastic bucket on top of it. this way you can prevent the water from dropping out.

Read More: What Causes A Dishwasher Not To Drain?

You can also use a container to catch the water that may come out before it blocks the drain line.

Remove the Attachments

After disconnecting the waterline and plumbing, it’s time to remove the dishwasher. Dishwashers are usually placed in the cabinet using metal brackets that connect to the countertop.

To find it out, open the dishwasher door and look at the edge of the counter. After finding them, remove the bracket by taking out the screws.

Following the mounting brackets, remove the faceplate that was used to cover the dishwasher bottom.

Mounting screws attach it to the dishwasher, and spring clips keep it in place. Now you should notice the dishwasher feet.

Twist these feet clockwise to lower them before removing the dishwasher. It will give you enough room to take the dishwasher out perfectly.

Pull out the Dishwasher

After removing all the attachments and connections, you are ready to pull and slide your dishwasher.

Remember, the dishwasher is quite heavy and while lifting or sliding, it can scratch the floor or damage the tile.

Therefore, use flat cardboard or a towel to put under the dishwasher. That’s the way you can slide the dishwasher across the floor easily without damaging anything.

You will need another towel to use as a backup. It will help catch the feet while you will lift and pull them out.

But make sure you don’t trip on the towel while working, as sliding under the feet can cause injury.

If you still feel the dishwasher snug in its bay, adjust its feet. Make the dishwasher a little shorter by tightening the washer feet into the unit’s body. It will help pull out the dishwasher very easily.

Lift and Pull

Finally, lift the dishwasher from the bottom and then put a towel under its feet. Then rock and pull the dishwasher, gripping from the bottom, and slide it out of the bay.

If they present themselves, slip a towel under their back feet. Put a new towel on the top of the unit to protect you from cutting down due to the top appliances.

Make sure you have pulled the plug away from the back wall. Move the dishwasher, following these tricks, until you get enough room to clean behind it efficiently.

After cleaning behind it properly, reverse the steps and move the dishwasher to its original place. Rejoin all the attachments and accessories and make sure putting the plug in the outlet is the last step.

FAQs about Pulling Out A Dishwasher To Clean Behind It

Final words

The dishwasher is quite a large kitchen appliance, and pulling it out can be difficult. Although an installed dishwasher remains attached with plenty of connection and attachment.

Read More: What Is The Best Quietest Dishwasher?

It makes the process challenging by increasing the risk. Therefore, people feel lazy about pulling it out and cleaning behind it.

But throughout the guide, we have explained a step-by-step formula on how to pull out a dishwasher to clean it.

Hopefully, following this technique will allow you to clean behind the dishwasher safely and successfully.