DIY Dishwasher Rack Repair: A Full How-To Guide

A rusty dishwasher rack can damage dishes. Instead of buying an overpriced replacement rack, try this dishwasher rack repair guide.

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Introduction

Dishwasher racks can sustain damage over time due to a variety of factors. The primary culprit is wear and tear from daily use, including the abrasive effects of washing heavy pots, pans, and sharp utensils. Also, high temperatures, moisture, and harsh detergents can cause rust and corrosion, weakening the rack's structural integrity. When these racks become damaged, they pose several problems. First, they can no longer hold dishes securely, leading to potential breakage and damage to valuable crockery. Second, damaged racks can hinder the dishwasher's efficiency, resulting in inadequate cleaning and increased energy consumption.

Materials Required

  • Dishwasher rack replacement tips
  • Vinyl repair paint

Project step-by-step (3)

Step 1

Rack Repair Kit

Color-matched vinyl repair paint and replacement rack tips are sold at appliance parts stores or online for dishwasher rack repair.

Dishwasher Rack Repair KitTMB Studio

Step 2

How to Clean Dishwasher Racks

Load a wire brush into a rotary tool and zip off the old rust and vinyl. Keep brushing until you get to fresh metal. Then paint a new coating on the tips of the dishwasher rack.

Cleaning Rust over Dishwasher Rack with Rotary Wire BrushTMB Studio

Step 3

How to Apply Paint And New Tips

Coat the freshly cut tip with vinyl paint. Then slip a new vinyl tip over the tine. Let it dry and you’re good to go.

Dishwasher rack tines break off or lose the protective coating at the tips and then you get rust spots on your dishes. You can fix your dishwasher rack in less than an hour and for a fraction of that cost. To rerack a dishwasher buy a bottle of vinyl repair paint and a package of replacement tips to match your rack color. Cut off the rusted tips with a rotary tool and cutoff wheel. Then retip the tine.

To patch a rusted area around a broken dishwasher rack tine, first clean off the rust.

Applying Paint on Dishwasher Rack TipsTMB Studio