Regardless of what you may think, your dishwasher doesn’t clean on its own. In time, grease, bits of food, undissolved detergent, and water minerals collect on the dishwasher’s filter and interior walls. The gunk is unsightly and smelly and can leave stains and film on your dinnerware, glassware, and flatware. When you don’t clean the dishwasher as you should, it will begin to perform poorly. Also, if you don't remove the grime and food build-up, the filter and pump will suffer damage, leading to expensive repairs.
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We cannot stress enough about the importance of prevention, and the dishwasher doesn’t make an exception. Using high-quality detergents and rinse aid reduces the risk of staining on the interior of your dishwasher. Suppose you live in an area with hard water. In that case, a whole-home water softener or regeneration salt added to the dishwasher’s water softening system will decrease the spotting of the glassware. It also prevents mineral build-up in the dishwasher.
Many tips can help with keeping the dishwasher clean and efficiently running. For example, little things like leaving the door open at the end of a cycle will reduce the risk of mould and mildew. It can also prevent stale odour.
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It all depends on how often you use the dishware, but generally speaking, you should clean the dishwasher as follows:
We don’t recommend you use bleach, especially if the dishwasher is made with stainless steel interior. Don’t use bleach also if the dishwasher has stainless steel parts on the interior. Keep in mind not to use bleach with vinegar because the two can generate lethal chlorine gas.
Whether you want to remove the gunk from the gasket, door, filter or want to stay on top with daily cleaning, the following dishwasher cleaning tips will help you have an immaculate dishwasher on a regular basis.
The leading cause of odour problems with dishwashers comes from the leftover food that can turn the dishwasher into a garbage disposal. You should make a habit out of cleaning the remaining bits of food after every dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to get any leftover food in the well and use a paper towel to prevent small and future build-up.
You shouldn't pre-wash items but instead, focus on preventing unwanted smells. Therefore, you should wipe excess food from bowls, silverware, plates, and other items before placing them into the dishwasher.
Also, look for labels or new items with barcode tags on them and remove them before loading the dishwasher.
Open the dishwasher door and clean the top and sides. Dip a small toothbrush in hot soapy water and clean around the door. Go deep into the grooves of the rubber seal and crevices, hinges included. If there’s a lot of build-ups, you could scrub it gently with an abrasive cleaner. Use a household sponge damped in hot soapy water to wipe the grime and a clean wet sponge to remove any cleaning solution.
You want the door’s exterior to be clean and fingerprint-free. Wipe it on the outside with warm soapy water. You can also use a homemade dishwasher cleaner of 1 quart of water and ¼ cup baking soda. Stay away from harsh cleansers or tough scouring pads that could scratch the dishwasher's finish.
Use a soft cloth to wipe dry the door and a soft dry cloth with rubbing alcohol to wipe away the stubborn smudges.
As for the dishwasher gasket, gently scrub the gunk from the rubber seal with an old toothbrush and wipe clean with a paper towel or damp cloth.
You have to remove all the racks and utensil holders. Make sure to wipe off all stuck-on food particles and debris. Use a soft brush/old toothbrush to scrub the spray arm and remove clogs.
Always examine the owner's manual before you use hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew or mould.
As long as the filter isn’t clean, your dishwasher won’t be clean. You can find the filter below to the bottom spray arm; pull out the bottom rack to access it. You can also check out the owner’s manual for details.
A clean dishwasher filter is fundamental for spotless dishes. The filter has many roles in the dishwasher:
If you clean the dishwasher filter regularly, the dishwasher performs at its best, load after load. Here's general guidance on the frequency of cleaning the filter:
Remove the lower dish rack to expose the dishwasher’s bottom. You can find the filter in the back corner of the dishwasher tub or around the base of the bottom spray arm.
Many filters include two parts: the upper and lower filter assembly. Turn clockwise the upper filter (a quarter turn) to take it out. Lift it gently and pull the lower filter forward to remove it.
Remove soils by running water over the filter. Use some dish soap and a soft brush to get rid of all calcium deposits and stubborn debris. Don’t use a wire brush or anything rough to scrub the filter because you could damage it.
Place the lower filter back on the tub’s bottom and install it correctly. The upper filter should line up with the round opening in the tub’s bottom part. Make sure that the upper filter fits into the slot on the top of the lower filter. You have to turn the filter clockwise until you feel it’s glided into place. If you sense the filter turns easily, it means it’s not placed correctly. You should keep turning it clockwise until it’s locked.
Never run the dishwasher unless you’re 100% that the filter is locked. Examine the upper and lower filter assemblies. Should the filter be loose, it will damage the dishwasher.
Any of the following issues signal that the filter requires cleaning:
You have to make time and remove all mineral build-up, deeply set particles, and detergent residues every now and then. You can use cleaning tablets or homemade cleaning methods. Details are right down below.
You can find many types of cleaning tablets from prestigious manufacturers. They are made with surfactants that dissolve greasy residues and food bits. Always read the instructions before using the cleaning tablets, as some don’t allow use in the same cycle as detergent and dishes.
If the DIY route sounds more appealing to you, you can use vinegar. Here’s how to do it right:
You can also deep clean the dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda. After you run the hot cycle with vinegar, sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the dishwasher’s bottom. Run a short hot cycle afterwards.
Vinegar is an acid and can cause damage to the dishwasher, especially on hoses and rubber gaskets. Use it wisely.
If you notice water sitting in the dishwasher's bottom after washing dishes, foreign objects or chunks of food could block the drain trap in the bottom centre. The dishwasher shares the sink’s drain and often that with the garbage disposal as well. When one of the two isn’t draining correctly, you should unblock the sink first. If the dishwasher still doesn’t drain:
If your dishwasher has a removable drain trap cover, you can examine the owner’s manual for instructions to lift it.
The condition of your pipes and the water source play an essential role in whether your dishwasher develops mineral and rust stains or not. You can find in-stores products to remove rust stains from appliances.
You can put the product in the soap dispenser cup of the dishwasher; sprinkle some on the bottom as well. Run the empty dishwasher through a complete cleaning cycle.
Hard water and rusty pipes represent the leading causes of the rust stains on the dishwasher. Unless you solve these problems, you will have to repeat the process regularly. If it's not working, you can hire a plumbing contractor to install a filter that is highly efficient at rust control.
You can also try to remove the rust stains with lemons. It can work miracles.
Fingerprints on any surface make it grimy and dull; the situation is even worse with stainless steel appliances.
Use a stainless steel cleaner to make your dishwasher fingerprints-free and shiny. The cleaning product helps you achieve a streak-free shine and protect the dishwasher’s surface from future smudges and dirt.
Avoid abrasive cleaners and pads that can cause scratching and marring of your dishwasher’s exterior.
Sometimes, some white vinegar is all you need to clean the dishwasher. Vinegar is astringent acidic, so it's a highly effective agent for breaking down scum on most appliances. On a side note, you should always have a spray bottle with vinegar on hand and spritz the dishwasher from time to time for sparkling results.
If you already use baking soda to remove pesticides from your fruits, you're not going to be surprised when we tell you that you can also use it to get rid of stubborn residue from food waste. It works because baking soda is a safe and mild alkali substance.
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We need to remind you to be extra careful when using bleach. If your dishwasher is made with or has any stainless steel elements on the inside, we don't recommend you use bleach. Don't ruin the dishwasher, and use either baking soda or white vinegar to clean your dishwasher.
Once you're 100% sure that your dishwasher is lined with plastic and has plastic parts (it's typical for more affordable models), you can use bleach—it can kill mould, mildew, and germs!
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