So here it is 2 years later from the first time our dishwasher backed up and I was forced to do a major de-gunking in order to get it running back up to speed.

That was then, this is now...

Today, when I glanced at that basket in the back of our dishwasher, I noticed lots of "black gunk" had built up underneath the basket itself.

There was so much blackness in there, that you could actually tell from a distance that there was some serious build-up going on in there. No water backing up this time, just lots of slimey black gunk.

Here's what I did. (Much the same as last time, with 2 new steps...)

This morning on NBC's Today Show, they were talking about all of the controversy surrounding the numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles. There is a new government report regarding the safety of plastic bottles.

Supposedly, if there's a 3, 6, or 7 inside that little triangle on the bottom of the bottle, then it's not the best kind of plastic that you'd want to be eating or drinking from.

For example, some plastic bottles contain Bisphenol A, a chemical that has been linked to reproductive and fertility problems. Turns out, this may just be the tip of the iceberg...

Since my earlier article describing how I fixed our clogged dishwasher myself was such a hit, I thought I'd offer up a few more great tips for 'fixing' your dishwasher and keeping it running smoothly.

I've collected these through the years from home magazines and consumer product shows on TV...

Try these...

• Users Manual Guide -- Odds are, you can find virtually any user manual here.
• User Manual Search -- Here you can download manuals and find old, out-of-print assembly guides.
• Repair Manual Catalog Online -- Repair manuals for outdoor equipment (like lawn & garden), cars, boats, motorcycles, etc.

Jim and I are definitely do-it-yourselfers. In our six (plus 1) years of marriage, we have never once called a repairman to our home whenever something broke or stopped working.

Around the house, if something goes wrong, Jim usually has enough handyman skills in him to get us out of practically any jam.

And with my research skills, I'm usually able to point him in the right direction anytime he's unsure about something. I guess we're a pretty good team.

But last week, Jim was out of town -- for a total of 10 days.

Just my luck... on Day 1 the dishwasher decided to quit working!

The water would not drain from the bottom of the dishwasher. The entire tub was FILLED with water... all the way up to the point where the door opens. Ugh!

Believe it or not I managed to fix it myself.

Here's what I did...

Who knew, that I'd first hear about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers at a conference about blogging?

It's true. When Glenn Reynolds (a.k.a. "The Instapundit" and godfather of the blogging world) mentioned in passing how much he liked this handy household gadget, I knew they must be great. And when he commented on their ability to work on a wide variety of surfaces, rather than just those stated on the box, I knew this product would be right up my alley.

I'm not kidding when I say these Magic Erasers truly work miracles... and they're only about a buck apiece!

• These foam-like pads are extremely lightweight and resemble pieces of styrofoam.
• They are made of a porous melamine material that gets into hard-to-clean surfaces and tiny grooves... like magic!
• All it takes is a dab of water to moisten the eraser. No other cleaning chemicals needed (...and no elbow grease).

My Favorite Uses For Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

The very first time I tried a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, I was SHOCKED. It worked so well... but what really sold me was its ability to clean that slightly rough, textured surface that the handles of our appliances are made of.

After a few minutes of wiping down appliances, light switches, and cupboards (also lightly textured), I was compelled to go all around the house LOOKING for stuff to clean... These things are great at getting into the tiny cracks & crevices of virtually any surface!

My other faves:

Removing scuff marks from floors, doors, and baseboards (...not only scuff marks, but also years of black grime & built-up hairspray on white baseboards in the bathrooms & door panels of cabinets/doors)

Making tennis shoes look like new again

Cleaning white grout effortlessly

Removing set-in tea stains in the Mr. Coffee Instant Tea Maker (pitcher & tea holder)

Cleaning the textured plastic parts of the computer monitor, keyboard & mouse

Removing set-in stains from drink coasters (...even those ceramic ones)

Cleaning in the tiny nooks & crannies of the electric can opener

...but wait, there's more!