At a Glance:
How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?
Alternative Methods to Clean a Dishwasher
How To Clean Dishwasher Filter
Tips to Keep a Dishwasher Clean Longer
It may seem counterintuitive to clean something that already cleans for you. Still, dishwashers can start to accumulate unpleasant materials that result in musty odors, lingering residue, and even mold. A dirty dishwasher not only has an unpleasant smell and appearance but also won't operate as efficiently. In the end, that results in dishes that aren't exactly sparkling. The solution: You'll have to learn how to properly clean your dishwasher.
Food debris may build up over time in the dishwasher's drain filter, drain hose, spray arm, and other areas. In the dishwasher, mold can also develop as a result of standing water or other types of persistent moisture.
Deep cleaning a dishwasher requires some labor-intensive work, but listening to your favorite podcast or an upbeat playlist can make the job more bearable. For a detailed explanation of how to clean dishwashers, regardless of whether they are moldy, odorous, or simply not cleaning dishes as well as they should, continue reading.
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DishwashersHow Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?
You can deep-clean your machine every one to three months, depending on your lifestyle and how well you rinse your dishes. Once a month should fit easily into your already spotless schedule if you're a cleaning queen.
But Melissa Maker, a cleaning expert at Clean My Space, advises reminding yourself to use your dishwasher at the start of each season if you don't use it frequently or simply don't have time to do it every month. Even your phone can be programmed to sound an alarm every three months. Maker continues, "It should take 10 minutes or less each time," adds Maker. "It's one of those things that's small but makes a difference."
Signs it's time to clean your dishwasher:
- A mildewy or funky odor
- Dishes aren't getting as clean
- Dishes have white/yellow mineral deposits
- Dishes smell
- There's a film on the interior surface
- Visible mold
How to Clean a Dishwasher
It doesn't take much time or effort to clean your odorous dishwasher, nor is it necessary to do so frequently. In fact, regular cleaning can keep your dishwasher functioning properly and looking brand new.
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Step 1: Clean the Dishwasher Exterior
Wipe the exterior of the dishwasher door with warm, sudsy water to prevent fingerprints from appearing. Alternatively, make your own dishwasher cleaner. Add one quart of water to 1/4 cup of baking soda. Avoid using harsh cleaners or scouring pads that are too aggressive, as these could damage the dishwasher's finish. Dry the door with a soft cloth after it has been cleaned. Remove challenging fingerprints and smudges with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and a soft, dry cloth.
Step 2: Clean Inside the Dishwasher Door
You can access the dishwasher's top and sides by opening the door. Apply hot, soapy water to a small toothbrush and scrub the doorframe. Make sure to look inside any crevices, such as the hinges and the grooves on the rubber seal. If there is a lot of buildup, this step may require gentle scrubbing with an abrasive cleanser. Remove the resulting grime with a household sponge dipped in hot, soapy water. Use a clean, wet sponge to remove any cleaning solution that was left behind.
How to Clean a Dishwasher Tub
To get rid of the main sources of odors, clean out the tub of your dishwasher.
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Step 1: Remove Debris
Take a few paper towels and gather any dirt from the dishwasher's base. The majority of the debris is concentrated near the drain.
Step 2: Run the Dishwasher
You should run a cycle to clean the dishwasher after the debris is gone. There are several DIY dishwasher cleaners that you can use. Here's how to use vinegar to clean a dishwasher: Simply place a cup of unflavored white vinegar that is dishwasher-safe on the top rack. Run a complete cycle after that using the hottest water possible to clean the appliance while disinfecting it.
Step 3: Wipe Out the Inside
After the cycle is finished, use paper towels or a fresh, dry cloth to clean the inside of the dishwasher.
You can use a packet of unsweetened lemonade mix in the soap cup in place of the vinegar. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the bathtub to learn how to use baking soda to clean your dishwasher as well. Use the hottest water you can to complete a cycle for both approaches. Each will aid in sanitizing and enhancing your dishwasher.
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Alternative Methods to Clean a Dishwasher
Check out these instructions for cleaning a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda if you want to use more natural cleaners than just soapy water.
Clean Dishwasher with Vinegar
Vinegar works well as a homemade dishwasher cleaner and is natural and secure to use in your dishwasher. After emptying the dishwasher, put a dishwasher-safe bowl containing one cup of white vinegar on the top rack. The dishwasher should then be run on its hottest cycle. Open the dishwasher door and let the dishes air dry instead of using the drying cycle.
Fill your sink halfway with warm water, two cups of white vinegar, and the removable dishwasher parts. Next, put the components in the sink, soak them for 20 minutes, then rinse them and reattach them.
Clean Dishwasher with Baking Soda
In order to clean the interior and eliminate odors, you can also sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the floor of an empty dishwasher and run a brief cycle on the hottest setting. Skip the drying cycle and let the dishwasher air dry, just like when you clean a dishwasher with vinegar.
Note: Cleaning inside a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda is simple and efficient, but the two shouldn't be used simultaneously. Instead, clean with vinegar first, followed by baking soda.
How To Clean Dishwasher Filter
Food particles, grease, detergent that haven't fully dissolved, and water minerals accumulate over time in the dishwasher's filter. Let's look at how to clean your dishwasher filter so that the washing performance of your appliance doesn't diminish.
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Step 1: Remove and Clean the Filter
Pull the bottom rack all the way out to access the dishwasher filter. The appliance's filter is typically found in one of the back bottom corners. If your filter can be removed, simply twist it out of the dishwasher before rinsing it under hot running water to get rid of any food particles or other debris.
Step 2: Clean Under the Filter
Use a wet cloth, sponge, or toothbrush to clean the area inside the dishwasher where the filter is located. Reinstall the clean dishwasher filter after it has been cleaned.
Be aware that filters on various appliances vary greatly. For detailed instructions on how to clean your dishwasher filter, consult your owner's manual. (Don't have the user manual? Many manufacturers' websites have them.)
Tips to Keep a Dishwasher Clean Longer
If you want to keep your dishwasher’s cleaning performance in tip-top shape, follow these tips.
- Maintain a consistent schedule for cleaning the dishwasher. Or, at the very least, immediately after noticing that your dishes aren't getting clean or that there is debris in the dishwasher, clean the area.
- Before putting dishes in the dishwasher, rinse off any food debris.
- Do not put food stickers or other items that are difficult to dissolve in the dishwasher.
- A dishwasher should not be overloaded so that the water can circulate easily.
To recap, your dishwasher should, in theory, be cleaning itself all the time, but sadly, it doesn't. Food particles, grease, undissolved detergent, and water minerals will build up over time in your dishwasher after a while. That basically means that no matter how carefully you load your dishwasher, it won't be able to do its job properly if you don't clean it properly. You can take some preventative measures to help keep the interior of your dishwasher clean, though regular maintenance simplifies the job.
At BlvdHome, we strive to extend the lifespan of every appliance we sell by doing more than just finding dishwashers that fit your lifestyle. So come to BlvdHome today to purchase your new dishwasher from our enormous selection of models, styles, and brands!
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The roots of this family business began as early as the pioneer settlement of Southern Utah. One descendant of those 1861 pioneers was Lester Wittwer. In 1928, he started a trucking business with other family members, delivering homegrown fruits and vegetables to many outlying areas. The story of BlvdHome began in 1974, when Lester's son Tony decided to venture off into the furniture world - with two full-time employees and a small showroom of only 8,000 square feet. Today, BlvdHome has 4 retail locations with over 160,000 sq. ft. of showroom space, located in St. George, Utah, Hurricane, Utah, Cedar City, Utah, Mesquite, Nevada, and a new Las Vegas store coming soon. With over 230 amazing team members, BlvdHome continues to deliver on a commitment to customer service that started over 90 years ago.
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At BlvdHome, we provide quality name-brand appliances, furniture, and mattresses for great prices. Shop dishwashers online or visit us today at one of our locations in Utah or Nevada. In the meantime, browse our website to shop BlvdHome Bargain Barn and check out our flooring selections to increase your home value. More available than ever, our experts at BlvdHome are always happy to help you more about how to clean dishwashers, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
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