The rack in our dishwasher holding plates and cups is getting rusty. The paint at the
end of the metal prongs came off. Otherwise it's still a perfect dishwasher. The problem is
that this causes rust stains on plates and cups:
rust on cup after diswasher use
I have tried to re-paint the dishwasher rack but does not last. Paint is not durable enough.
It comes off after a few weeks but I found a much better solution: rubber end-caps with
a 3mm hole. They fit perfectly and they have actually the additional benefit that the rubber
dampens any rattling sound. You can find these rubber end-caps on ebay.
You may also be able to find a product called "dishwasher rack caps" or "dishwasher rack tips". The rubber end-caps that I used are meant for closing off pipes but they work perfectly for this purpose and they are stronger than vinyl "dishwasher rack tips".
black rubber end-caps with a 3mm hole
dishwasher rack with rusty ends causing stains on cups and plates
dishwasher rack with rubber end-caps installed
These end-caps are a durable solution extending the life time of the dishwasher. You just
have to be careful when pulling out the dishes to not accidently pull off the caps.
It's possible to glue the caps to the metal prongs with "LePage 100% Repair Gel". This
glue can handle the temperature and steam inside the dishwasher. It needs a few days
in order to dry under the tight seal of the rubber cap. Don't use the dishwasher while
the glue is drying.
