How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Have you ever taken the time to wash the machine that washes your dishes? Yes, your dishwasher itself needs to be cleaned so you can remove any build-up or unpleasant odors. In this article, we’ll share how often you should do that and the secrets to the best results.

Maintaining Your Dishwasher Is a Must

Simply running the dishwasher will not deep clean it. As a result, it will accumulate food, grease, and undissolved detergent.

So, the next time you want to load your device, make sure that it’s properly cleaned. The best part is you can use items you already have at home.

How to Clean With Vinegar and Baking Soda

Using the right products will allow for a deep clean of your dishwasher that doesn’t involve heavy lifting and scrubbing, and we know that you already have these products at home! Vinegar helps remove grease and grime, while baking soda eliminates unpleasant odors. Try this simple cleaning hack and repeat it monthly for optimal results.

You need a glass measuring cup, two cups of white or apple cider vinegar, one cup of baking soda, and a toothbrush (although that’s optional).

What Steps to Take

You should empty out the machine before deep cleaning. Put two cups of vinegar in the glass measuring cup and put it on the top rack. Run a normal cycle without anything else in the dishwasher.

Then, remove the measuring cup and pull out the bottom rack. Add baking soda all over the bottom of the machine, run a short hot-water cycle, and when it’s finished get rid of any stubborn stains with a toothbrush.

How Often Is Too Often?

There are different things you can do after each use, weekly and monthly, to keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape. After each use, clean up any leftover food, and don’t forget to check out the silverware basket. Once a week, you can wipe away any residue on the interior door, the handle, and the dishwasher control with a damp sponge or a towel.

You should also remove the filter every week and rinse it under hot water while scrubbing the mesh screen and plastic with a toothbrush. This step will help you avoid spots and film on your dishes. For stainless steel dishwashers, polish the exterior door to remove fingerprints and stains. You can do so by using a stainless steel cleaner.