How to Install Tine Caps on a Dishwasher Rack

One way to spruce up your dishwasher racks is to install rubber tine caps on the ends. The dish rack is painted and often covered in a thin rubber coating at the factory. Over time, the coating gets gouges from pots and dishes. Eventually this leads to the metal wire dish rack developing rust. Dish rack repair kits are available at appliance repair shops to help you refurbish your current racks instead of having to replace them. The kits come complete with rubber tine caps as well as dishwasher-safe touch-up paint to cover small rust spots.

Towel
Newspaper
Steel wool
Pliers
Tin snips

Instructions

- 1
  Place a towel or newspaper on a flat surface such as the floor or the kitchen countertop. Open the dishwasher door, and remove both dish racks. Place the dish racks on the towel or newspaper with the tines pointing up.
- 2
  Rub the ends of the tines with steel wool, removing the surface rust from the tines. If there are caps on rusty tines, twist and pull the caps off with a pair of pliers.
- 3
  Trim the ends of any tines that have extensive rust with a pair of tin snips. Cut the tines as straight as possible when trimming.
- 4
  Push tine caps over the end of each tine. The tine caps are usually snug, requiring no glue or other adhesive.
- 5
  Apply touch-up paint to the inside of the tine cap, if the cap is loose on the tine. The touch-up paint comes with the tine cap kit and has a brush applicator under the cap. Once you apply the paint, push the tine cap over the tine.

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Dishwashers