How to Change the Color of a Whirlpool Dishwasher
cats, Stuff I don't hate April 2nd, 2011I’m so awesome, I can’t stand it.
Today I saw a home improvement show where the home owner changed a white dishwasher into a black one (without paint) to match the rest of the appliances in her kitchen. I never knew that was possible.
I set out to do the same, since we have a black stove, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and toaster.
Here’s the before:
Here’s how I did it:
Note: You may want to disconnect power first. I did not, but I was also careful not to touch any wires (You won’t have to for the procedure.)
1. Remove any screws that secure the access panel below the dishwasher door.
2. Release the access panel and remove the retainer strip (if you have one) that holds the door panel on.
3. Slip out the flexible white panel and peek behind it to see if the reverse side is black.
4. Mine was (!!!), so I pulled out the panel (it’ll bow), flip it over and slide it up back in place. Smooth out any puckers.
5. Slide the retainer strip back on to secure the panel.
6. Put the screws back in the access panel. This was the only hiccup I had. One of the screw holes was located in a tight space above and behind the access panel.
We don’t have one of those magnetic screwdrivers that holds screws in place until you get it in the hole.
What did I use to hold the screw on the end of the screwdriver?
Chewed gum.
Again. Awesome. Me.
Now not only does our dishwasher match our appliances, but our cat Shadow thinks the “new” dishwasher goes so much better with her fur.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Stumble it!
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Wow, very nice. You’re a regular Norm Abram!
Jeff´s last blog post ..Rogue Antivirus- The most common computer virus and what to do about it
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Wow. I am super impressed. That cat wasn’t white before, was it???
lin´s last blog post ..Its the Weekend-Shake IT- Baby!
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:39 pm
i learned that a long time ago from someone btu have never needed to change my dishwasher front. i love the chewed gum holding the screw in place!!
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Way to improvise! It looks lovely (and so does Shadow).
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April 2nd, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Wow! That is truly impressive!
If only I had a dishwasher… well, one like you do… I have one, but I think he would probably object if I tried to change his colour.
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April 2nd, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Love Lin’s comment!
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April 2nd, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Shadow is a ninja. I didn’t even see her! I think I might just change mine too. If only because I can pretend I have a new appliance. 🙂 That black looks really nice with your cabinets. Good job!
Also, chewed gum? Brilliant.
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April 2nd, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Wow! Your kitchen is really clean. Black also hides dirt better. It looks great!
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April 2nd, 2011 at 11:54 pm
……….this could be a really fun thing to do to someone while housesitting….
April 3rd, 2011 at 1:32 am
Well as they say, if Kathy can do it…. 😉
In truth our 12 year old dishwasher still works fine but the white panel is beyond hope for ever looking new again. Maybe we will get lucky with the reverse side too.
@daughterbonnie – I was thinking the same thing.
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April 3rd, 2011 at 5:21 am
You are beyond awesome! Especially with the gum holding the screw on the screwdriver!
*Chants, “All hail Kathy!”*
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April 3rd, 2011 at 5:27 am
looks 100% better to me and I prefer black appliances over white. And much respect to you for working the tools. I admire a woman who can work a tool belt if she had or wanted to and not curl up in a ball crying she doesn’t know how to use a hammer. nice work, Kathy.
April 3rd, 2011 at 5:33 am
Lol okay I’m on my handheld and just scrolled up….is that a dish detergent bottle in the shape of a cat or is your cat in the sink. First day home, my cat jumped on the kitchen table, I told her if she does that again, she’ll be eaten. Does your cat do dishes? If so I want to talk to you about about a summer exchange program.
April 3rd, 2011 at 6:24 am
Wow! Kathy, you surprise me! You did a great job, and you always told me you were no good at DIY. It looks great! Shadow finishes the photo off though.
Babs (beetle)´s last blog post ..The day I almost lost Mo!
April 3rd, 2011 at 6:31 am
You are queen of awesome 🙂 It looks fabulous. Those black doors can also be used as extra mirrors I know this because my dad had a refrigerator like that and I always used it to check the hair on my way out the door.
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April 3rd, 2011 at 6:36 am
Jeff — You want I should come over your house? I can change out light bulbs and door knobs, too. I know. Can you stand it?
lin — Hee. That made me laugh. I promise I won’t try to change the fur of my feline friends. Of course, I might just do some touch ups. Shadow has that little locket of white on her chest….
sparkling74 — I wish I’d known about this when we first moved in 14 years ago. We’ve been suffering a mismatched kitchen for so long. Oh, the humanity!
Emily Suess — My husband tried to help with the screwdriver problem but got frustrated, and I have to say I’m very pleased with myself that I thought of the gum. Who needs expensive special tools when you’ve got Trident? (Oh, and Shadow says thank you.)
flit — Hee. If you have someone who washes dishes and you don’t have to, hold onto them and don’t change a thing!
Grace — Me too. FUNNY!
Surfie — Shadow is a ninja! The same thing happened when I took video about the loud Sun Chips bag. People commented that they didn’t see Shadow jump up on the counter behind me at first. I love the black. It’s warmer and looks pretty sleek too.
Lauren — Oh, you should have seen all the gunk I had to clean off the dishwasher access panel. You wouldn’t have said it was so clean. Black hides dirt, but not streaks, so I’m forever cleaning the stove front and now will have to do the dishwasher too. Never ends.
daughterbonnie — A most excellent idea! I like the way you think. It would be funny to see how long it took for people to notice and then scratch their heads.
Will — Got that right! If I can, you can! It was so great to see the other really clean side and shove it up there. Just like new!
cardiogirl — I don’t know how I can get any more awesome this weekend. Another hour on the elliptical and now this. You can’t stop me!
V — Every time I fix something relatively simple, people have to hear about it for a week. I’m beside myself. And I’m laughing that some of you didn’t notice Shadow right away. She’s always in the sink wanting us to turn the water on. I never understood how people kept their cats off counters. I mean, you know they do it when you’re not home, so I figure let ’em do it. Lost cause. Shadow can do dishes, but she uses her tongue, so you may not want to exchange.
Babs Beetle — I know! I am no good at most big things, but somehow I find the challenge for the little things exciting and it builds my confidence. Shadow says “Thank you, I think I do too.”
ann — Thank you, my dear. Yeah, I realized very quickly they’re like mirrors, which is why I moved all of my body away from it before taking a picture.
April 3rd, 2011 at 7:48 am
That is so freaking cool! I don’t own a dishwasher, but even if I did, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to do that — much less know that you COULD do that. I’m impressed. And sooooo relieved Shadow approves.
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April 3rd, 2011 at 8:28 am
Awesome. You.
April 3rd, 2011 at 10:08 am
Animals have to approve.
It’s the law
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April 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I can tell Shadow is happy with the change. I wish they made dishwasher fronts in calico.
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April 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 pm
I’m officially in awe. I got confused just reading what you did, but I see the results and that makes you a genius in my book. You are the best of the best of the best, Kathy!
Linda Medrano´s last blog post ..Parisian Perfection
April 3rd, 2011 at 5:11 pm
That’s brilliant! I’m kind of sad that my dishwasher is already black.
Rima´s last blog post ..La-La-La-Language
April 3rd, 2011 at 7:18 pm
So smart!! Nice improvement and thanks for your great tales.
April 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Great job — I had no idea those panels were reversible.
If your dishwasher has a white interior, you can dye it pink by cooking some tomato sauce and then putting the pot into the dishwasher without rinsing it thoroughly first. You can also dye a white skirt pink by washing it with a red sock. I’m really good at dying white things pink.
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April 4th, 2011 at 3:39 am
QUESTION!: Did you do the same thing with the cat? That is the first thing that comes into my mind after seeing the pics.
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April 4th, 2011 at 3:52 am
JD at I Do Things — Why thank you very muchly. You know, it’s been two days and I still come in the kitchen and I’m like “Oh, wow. A black dishwasher.” It surprises me for a split second. It’s both weird and cool that it’s different.
Ferd — Funny. You.
Pricilla — Oh, how I know! You don’t know how many times we’ve adjusted things in the house so they are to the liking of Shadow and Lucky. They rule and we know it.
Daisy the Curly Cat – Oooo! Now wouldn’t that be cool? Our kitteh Stinky (RIP) had markings just like Harley and she was so happy the day a Gateway computer box showed up. It looked just like her! She approved.
Linda Medrano — Aw, thank you. I’m still pretty pleased with my work, considering, well… considering it’s me. I’m just not that smart usually.
Rima — Aw, too bad! Some people, I found, are trying to figure out how to change their dishwashers over to stainless steel. Now that would be a project.
diane — Thank you!
Laura — Oh, yeah, I’m all about changing colors too when I don’t mean to. I just dyed a white shirt blue by washing it with brand new jeans. D’oh!
April 4th, 2011 at 9:17 am
I’m very impressed. And while I don’t have a dishwasher either, I am seriously considering buying a dishpan that matches my kitchen. 😉
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April 4th, 2011 at 11:03 am
That’s cool what you can do with a screwdriver and some used chewing gum. MacGyver would be proud.
April 4th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Ooooooooo!
April 4th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Wow. Impressive! I love the “new” matching appliances.
April 5th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
You. Are. Awesome! This is probably the best tip I have read in decades! I am going to check mine right now even if all my appliances are white and they all match, I just want to see if it is possible. Thank you!!!
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April 5th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Shieldmaiden — And you will admire it for days if you do. I can’t stop looking at my fabulous new matching dishwasher. I know. I need a life.
Linda — Seriously! I love when you don’t need expensive and fancy tools. I’m also a fan of duct tape.
Marvin — Yes, it’s ooooooo-worthy, isn’t it?
Meleah rebeccah — Me too. And now I’m trying to figure out how I can swap out the bottom part of my stove to be black too. That little bit of white is annoying me now.
Jen — You have no idea how excited I was to see the black on the other side. “YESSSSSS!”
April 6th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
You rock!! I’ve very impressed.
April 7th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Brilliant, this is exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you Kathy!
April 7th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Well, I am impressed! Long live the problem solvers!!!
Bruce´s last blog post ..The Mexico Option
April 7th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Very good job! Goes purrfect with Shadow 🙂
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April 7th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I was thinking about that little bit of white on the stove and you know… a Sharpie can do wonders.
Jen´s last blog post ..What it’s Really Like to be a Single Mother
April 8th, 2011 at 7:55 am
I think you have putted good steps to change whole make over of the kitchen with in few minutes. Black shining color is looking really awesome.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Everyone should have a dishwasher that matches the cat.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:14 am
Great to see yet another use for chewing gum! The final product looks great, well done 🙂
May 3rd, 2011 at 12:03 pm
That is a little known secret! I don’t know why the manufacturer’s don’t make this more clear. Maybe they want you to buy a new appliance instead of changing the panel when you want a new color. What do you think?
October 10th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Yeah!! Thank you for posting this. I just finished painting my kitchen. I had heard that this was possible, but didn’t know how to do it. I looked in the guide for my dishwasher, but no luck. Then I found your instructions when I Googled!! Just changed to a black dishwasher!!! THANK YOU!