Dishwashers are great at washing dishes and utensils. It can easily wash any type of utensil.
But regular usage of dishwashers causes multiple problems. So you need to clean and maintain it for its effective working.
In this post on How to Clean a Dishwasher. I am going to share quick and easy steps for cleaning your dishwashers.
Anyone can follow these steps and can wash the dishwasher. So stay tuned and follow the steps mentioned below carefully.
Do check - Top 10 Best Dishwashers in 2023
Contents:
Why do you need to clean your dishwasher?
A dishwasher is an amazing appliance that reduces the load of washing dishes. But due to its daily usage, it becomes dirty and needs cleaning after a certain period of time.
Well, you might be wondering how a dishwasher gets dirty. So the answer is due to the leftover food particles, oil, grease, undissolved detergent, and water minerals all these things accumulate over time and make the dishwasher dirty.
The dirt decreases the efficiency of the dishwasher and will also make it stinky.
So to prevent these problems, you should clean your dishwasher often.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
The biggest question is what should be the frequency of cleaning your dishwasher.
So according to Goodhousekeeping for the effective working of your dishwasher, you have to maintain it from daily to yearly.
Daily - Remove the piece of food and other leftovers.
Weekly - Clean the gasket and filters of the dishwasher.
Monthly - Deep clean the interior of the dishwasher.
Yearly - Clean the exterior of the dishwasher once or twice a year.
What are the things that you need for cleaning the dishwasher?
Before proceeding to the actual cleaning step, you need to get some important things for the proper cleaning of the dishwasher.
- Warm Water
- White vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Toothbrush
- Microfiber cloth
- Glass cleaner (for external cleaning)
Step by Step Guide for cleaning the dishwasher
Here are the simple steps of washing the dishwasher. Try to follow all the steps.
If you skip any step, your cleaning would be considered incomplete and it can cause problems with your dishwasher in the future.
So read it carefully and follow every step.
Here we go.
1. Remove and clean the racks and baskets
First of all, you need to remove the racks and baskets to access the drain at the bottom.
Most of the racks are easily detachable (removable). You can wash these racks, holders, and baskets with a mixture of warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar.
Now you need to clean the gasket with a mixture of vinegar and warm water with the help of a toothbrush. You should also clean the detergent tray as well.
2. Clean the Drain and Filter
Once you have removed the racks you will find the drain at the bottom. You need to clean the area around the drain with the help of a damp cloth.
Remove any food particles stuck in the drain. Now you can unscrew the filter and wash it in the sink with soapy water and a toothbrush. After washing the filter well rinse it and then replace it.
The drainage is the place where most of the dirt and grease gets accumulated. It also promotes a bad odor. So you need to clean it thoroughly.
You can also use a toothbrush for better cleaning of the drains.
3. Run a full cycle with white vinegar
Now, you are done with racks and drains. It's time to clean the interior of the dishwasher.
So for cleaning the interior, you need to fill a small bowl full of white vinegar. Place that bowl of white vinegar at the bottom of the dishwasher.
Set the wash cycle to full and the water temperature high and wait till the wash cycle is over.
Vinegar has many benefits. It can easily remove grease, detergent, and other residues. Moreover, it acts as a natural deodorizer. So it will also remove the stinking smell.
4. Run a half cycle with baking soda
Well, vinegar will do most of the work. But still, you need to be 100 % thorough with the cleaning. So the role of baking soda comes here.
Baking soda will clear all the leftovers and odor that might have been left by the vinegar.
So you need to sprinkle baking soda all over the interior of the dishwasher and run a short cycle with hot water.
It will also remove the traces of white vinegar and effectively clean the dishwasher's walls with a gentle scrub.
After the wash cycle is over you can use a microfiber cloth to wipe out the water.
How to clean the exterior of the dishwasher?
The exterior of the dishwasher also needs to be cleaned. You can use a glass cleaner (eg. Colin) to clean it.
Spray the cleaner on the exterior surface and wipe it with the help of a microfiber cloth.
It will not only remove the stains but will also give your dishwasher a glossy, shiny look. Now your dishwasher will look new and fresh.
Here is a video tutorial for more clarity you can watch this.
Final Words
It was the complete guide on How to Clean a Dishwasher Machine.
So if you follow these steps then your dishwasher will become more effective and it will clean the dishes in a much better way.
Moreover, regular cleaning and maintenance of the dishwasher also increase its life span.