How to Repair a Rusty Dishwasher Rack

Dishwashers tend to cost somewhere between $300 and $700. That's a big expense, so you'd think it would function fairly long before it started showing signs of deterioration right? Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

Oftentimes, dishwasher racks, in particular, start to rust prematurely. In some cases, it happens as soon as 2 years after purchase. Yes, you can replace the rack, but that costs more than a little bit of money.

Because of this, a dishwasher rack repair project is the more sensible course of action. The question, though, is how to repair a rusty dishwasher rack.

There are a number of ways to go about repairing dishwasher racks. However, in truth, it's much simpler than you realize. Below, we're going to discuss the different means of repairing dishwasher racks, helping you return your dishwasher back to its prime state.

Methods to Repair a Rusty Dishwasher Rack

There are several methods for repairing a rusty dishwasher rack. The method you should utilize depends on the extent of your dishwasher rack's damage. We'll discuss the most prominent repair methods now.

Replace the Rack

In extreme cases, it's best to just replace the rack entirely. Now, what denotes an "extreme case"? If multiple vertical tines on the rack have broken off, it's probably time to replace the rack entirely.

It's possible to repair broken tines. In fact, in cases where only a single tine is broken, this is probably the best course of action. But if you're missing several tines from your rack, it's likely more cost-effective to just swap out the rack completely.

Sand the Rack

If you're interested in removing rack rust, you can do so simply by sanding it. This can be done either with conventional sandpaper or with a small, handheld sander.

Regardless, you should sand the affected areas until all rust is removed. You should also tear away any excess latex coating so that there's no chance of dishes getting snagged on it.

Now, if you stop here, more rust will form in the future. Eventually, the tines on your dishwasher rack will rust away until they break off. That's unless you take further action, the likes of which we'll discuss below.

Apply Uber Goop Coating

If you're interested in preventing dishwasher rack rust on your formerly rusted dish rack, you'll need to perform precautionary measures. One option is to apply a coating of Uber Goop to your dish rack.

Uber Goop is an anti-corrosive substance that dries onto metal entities. It's commonly used in the repair of dish racks. Once it's there, it will hold up for years before eventually breaking down and exposing the metal on the inside of the rack once again.

If you're going to use Uber Goop, you need to make sure to clean the rack before applying it. Cleaning dishwasher racks should be done with rubbing alcohol. Rub the alcohol over the formerly rusted areas and then, once it's dry, apply the coating of Uber Goop.

Note that you may have to apply 2 to 3 coats of Uber Goop in total. This can take up to a day.

Install Coating Caps

Another option is to install coating caps. These are latex caps that fit directly over the tops of dish rack tines. Once they're on, they block the tops of the tines off from water exposure, thus preventing the risk of rusting.

Of course, they also incur the friction that cups and other dishes would otherwise put on the tines themselves. This prevents the latex coatings beneath them from deteriorating and exposing the metal of the rack. If the metal of the rack isn't exposed, it can't rust.

It's most common to pair coating caps with the Uber Goop solution. This provides an exceptional level of protection. Plus, it ensures that the caps don't fall off during washes.

If you apply caps sans Uber Goop, they will fall off, as they're simply not strong enough to hold on without the adhesive present.

The great thing about coating caps is that they're cheap. You can buy a whole dish rack's worth of them for under $30. And should they ever wear down themselves, you can simply replace them at another low price.

Installing Dishwasher Rack Coating Caps

If you're going to go with the dishwasher rack coating caps, you might want to learn a thing or two about how to install them. The installation process is fairly straightforward. You essentially just slip them over the tops of the affected tines.

That said, they need to fit snugly. Because of this, they're not always the easiest to get on. So, how do you go about getting them on when difficulty presents itself?

The key is to warm them up in some way, not to an extreme extent, just enough so that they're malleable. You can do this in a number of ways.

One option is to simply roll them between your hands for 15 to 30 seconds. If that doesn't work, run them under hot water.

Regardless, before the caps are installed, make sure the dishwasher rack tines have been covered with Uber Goop. Without Uber Goop present, the caps will simply fall off during washes.

Interested in Covering Your Rusty Rack With Coating Caps?

Interested in using the simplest method to repair your rusty dishwasher rack? If so, you're in the right place. We here at Uber Goop have all the dishwasher coating caps you could ever need.

Whether you want white caps, light gray caps, or dark gray caps, we have you covered. Check out our selection of dishwasher coating caps now!