Get Your Kitchen Nice and Sparkling! Here's Exactly How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher
It's no secret that people love their dishwashers. This time-saving appliance is truly a masterful sidekick when it comes to cleaning your kitchen. Have you ever taken a peek at the inside of your dishwasher, though? If it is not being cleaned regularly, it very well may be home to food bits, grease, undissolved dishwasher detergent and water minerals.
Just because your dishwasher is going through a cleaning cycle doesn't mean that it's cleaning itself in the process. If you're not sure how to give your dishwasher a much-needed freshening up, don't worry! This step-by-step guide will explain how to clean your dishwasher.
It's not the most glamorous chore in the world, but cleaning your dishwasher will prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for germs and mold. Plus, it will increase the lifespan of your dishwasher (while keeping the same cleaning efficiency). Read along to learn the best practices for cleaning your dishwasher.
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How To Clean Your Dishwasher
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
Items Needed
Distilled white vinegar
Damp microfiber cloth or paper towels
Old toothbrush
Soap
Cleaning gloves
Baking soda (optional)
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
1. Remove All Dishes and Pans
Empty out your dishwasher of any lingering dishes, pans, cups or utensils. You don't want anything getting in the way of your deep cleaning, especially if you haven't cleaned your dishwasher in a while.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
2. Take Out and Soak the Removable Parts
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the task of cleaning your dishwasher, start by taking out the removable parts. Cleaning the utensil holders and dishwasher racks is a manageable starting point! Give them a good rinse with a paper towel or damp cloth first. If they look extra grimy, you can soak them in your sink with warm water and two cups of white vinegar while you take care of the rest.
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3. Remove Food Debris
If you haven't put on those cleaning gloves yet, now is a good time to do so! Grab a paper towel and remove the lingering food pieces.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
4. Run a Hot Cycle With Distilled White Vinegar in a Dishwasher-Safe Bowl
Distilled white vinegar saves the day again! Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl. Make sure it is facing up (in the top rack). Run your dishwasher on the hottest cycle. Once it finishes, keep the door open.
5. Clean the Drain
In most cases, your dishwasher drain will be on the bottom part of the appliance. It can also be the culprit of clogs, water back-ups and lingering food particles. To clean it, combine warm distilled white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda, then pour into the drain. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. Afterward, you can clear it by slowly pouring hot water over it.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
6. Clean the Dishwasher Filter
Every dishwasher is different, and some newer models come with self-cleaning filters. To confirm whether yours has a self-cleaning filter, consult your manual. If it doesn't, your manual will show you how to remove the dishwasher filter.
Once removed, clear out the base with a damp paper towel or microfiber. You can easily wash the removable part by hand with warm water and soap. For best results, use an old toothbrush for scrubbing and detailing.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
7. Detail the Inside Door
Clean off that toothbrush, swish it around in some hot water and gently wipe/scrub around the inside door.
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8. Allow to Air Dry and Repeat Monthly
If your dishwasher still feels wet from the cycle, allow it to fully air dry before closing it. Add back the removable parts and repeat on a monthly basis (or as needed).
What Is the Best Thing To Clean a Dishwasher With?
The truth is, you don't need fancy or expensive cleaning products to clean your dishwasher. Appliance experts agree that the best things to clean a dishwasher with are warm water, white distilled vinegar, baking soda or bleach.
How To Deodorize a Dishwasher
Have you ever opened your dishwasher, only to be greeted with a musky scent? If so, your dishwasher may be long overdue for a deep clean. If that's the case, put on your cleaning gloves and follow our steps above.
If you're looking for a quicker alternative, you can follow step four: Place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with distilled white vinegar on the top rack and run on the hottest cycle. Once complete, remove the bowl and pour one cup of baking soda into the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a second cycle normally.
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How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher
If you use your dishwasher every day, it's likely putting in some decent hours of work! Refreshing it with a deep cleaning will ensure that you keep it longer. Plus, your dishwasher will always be odor-free.
Looking for how to deep clean a dishwasher? Soak the removable parts, run a hot cycle with distilled vinegar, scrub-a-dub the filter and drain. Afterward, you can detail the interior and exterior. For more details, check out the step-by-step list above.
Does Vinegar Ruin a Dishwasher?
Some dishwasher manuals may advise against using distilled white vinegar on their surfaces. Make sure that you research your respective dishwasher brand and model to confirm.
However, distilled white vinegar has been a timeless tool used to clean appliances and household items. Dishwashers are no exception to this rule when used in the correct way. Don't pour vinegar into the detergent/soap dispenser and run a cycle that way! You can, however, use it to detail removable parts of your dishwasher and run a cycle with a dishwasher-safe bowl full of vinegar.
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