How to fix your broken Maytag Dishwasher with an Eraser. {also known as Our Maytag JetClean Panel Stopped Working}

So, in an effort to update our home and kitchen we splurged on a brand new dishwasher! Our other one wasn't even broken just ugly.  So we saved up some cash and got this one...

dishwasher from here.

Model # MDBH949PAM

Pretty right? But, looks aren't all that matter.  

Turns out what you want in a dishwasher is something that actually cleans your dishes.  And preferably one that turns on.  So imagine my disappointment when the buttons on the front panel started choosing when and which ones wanted to turn on instead of which ones I pushed.  And eventually stopped working all together.  After calling about a warranty I thought we bought {or got} with the machine was actually out of date {the machine is just barely over a year old}.  Naturally, I complained to Husband.  And what did he do? Google. 

Turns out this is a common problem that Maytag has been informed of, and instead of fixing the problem, they ignore it.   I reread the reviews for this dishwasher at the bottom of the home depot page and was surprised to see that so many people were having the same problem as us just a little over the year. Anyway, after a bunch of people got fed up with the issue and got sick of paying a repair man for parts and labor, the found a quick fix...

First we unscrewed and CAREFULLY removed the button panel.

You can see the gunk on the ribbon and on that the part of plastic that should have been sealed.

The problem is the steam evaporates up through the UNSEALED panel and debris damages and stains the electrical ribbon which confuses the buttons...

so what did we do? grabbed one of the toddler's erasers and literally erased the gunk.  It's still slightly stained but not physically on the ribbon, which fixed the buttons!

That's right, we tested the panel, added silicone to the part of the panel just above that handle and then re-screwed it in.  See how the buttons work?! Because they do! They turn on and off and I can select which features I want to use. Free fix compared to the HUNDREDS of dollars people were paying for new parts and labor.  

Anyway, that's my contribution to the internet this week?  What about you?  What was your best cheap/quick/easy fix to a frustrating problem? 

Before and After Kitchen Shelves {How to install IKEA shelves}

I'm so excited about my new pantry!  We don't really have one in this house and we've been storing our dry food in the laundry room cupboards, which is inconvenient.  So, my mom offered to purchase these new shelves for us, and Husband hung them up as an Anniversary present.  They weren't difficult, per se, they were just time consuming and not really something I could do while watching Sonja.  I helped though!  

First, I marked all the holes on the left by making sure they would fit above the light switch.

HOWEVER! I didn't think about the electrical box sitting in the wall, granted we didn't have any problems, I would recommend moving it up or over if you have a similar set up.

I marked with pencil inside of the holes, but Husband requested in the future, to use a marker.

I spaced them out every 13 inches so a 12 inch item could fit on the shelves

I also marked 5 inches away from the door frame to make sure they lined up and were centered.

Do not attempt this without a level, you will hate everything if you have to redrill into concrete/brick because your shelves aren't level.

These shelves didn't come with screws for the wall.  So, we picked up a set of screws and anchors from home depot and they were a good fit for our brick wall.

We used the red ones, but it's great to have all these sizes for different projects in the future.

Even though Husband claims he will never drill into the brick again.

We'll see about that...

Close up.

LEVEL it's really important to double check your work before you start drilling in the final set!

**SOMETHING IMPORTANT, we didn't realize was that each shelf was slightly different.  We're talking 2 or 3 cm different.  So, my original marks were slightly off.**

MAKE SURE TO MARK EACH SHELF "SHELF 1,"  "SHELF 2," AND SO ON, THEN MARK THE WALL FOR EACH SELF RESPECTIVELY AS ASSEMBLED.  

The times he had to re-drill, because the holes were slightly off, were so frustrating for him and I felt like it was my fault {even though it wasn't}!

Done and Done.

I'm so happy with my new shelves and bulk storage.  Now, I can see when we're low on something and I don't have to walk all the way to the laundry room when making meals.  It's a perfect set up for our home and pretty too!

Thanks Husband!

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