Your dishwasher handles the remnants of your meals, leaving your dishes clean day in and day out. However, by now, you might have noticed it doesn’t clean itself. Unpleasant smells and stains on your appliance’s walls are a sign that your dishwasher is due for a cleaning.
If you want to show your trusty dishwasher some love but don’t know how to start cleaning it, we’ve got your back! Here, you’ll learn how to leave your dishwasher sparkling clean with things you can find in your pantry.
Step #1. Empty out your dishwasher
First things first, make sure there’s nothing left inside your dishwasher so you can reach every corner without obstructions. Take out all the racks, utensil holders, and dishes.
Throw those racks and holders into the sink with some warm, soapy water to clean them up, and let them dry while you tackle the main appliance.
Step #2. Give the filter a wash
Your dishwasher’s filter keeps food bits from re-depositing on your dishes by trapping the gunk. After enough time, the accumulated gunk can cause blockages, leading to all sorts of problems—that funky smell being one of them.
Here’s what you need to do to keep the filter clean:
- Take out the filter—you can usually find it as a small round thing at the bottom. Give it a twist and a lift, or check the manual if you’re unsure.
- If there’s a mesh filter, take that out too.
- Clear out any leftover food gunk from where the filter was sitting.
- Wash the filters with warm, soapy water and scrub away. Use a soft toothbrush for the mesh one and your regular kitchen sponge for the other.
- Pop the filters back where they belong, making sure they’re in the right order.
Note: Some dishwashers have self-cleaning filters, so if yours does, you can skip this part.
Step #3. Pre-clean your appliance
Make your cleaning job easier by pretreating the walls of your dishwasher to loosen up stubborn stains.
Grab a clean cloth, dip it in warm, soapy water, and wipe down all the walls. Not all the grime will come off, but the tough stuff should soften up. Also, use a toothpick or clip to clear out any clogged water jets.
Note: If you see gunk on the rubber seal of the door, scrub it away with soapy water and a soft toothbrush to prevent leaks.
Step #4. Use vinegar for the white spots
Vinegar is your best friend for getting rid of hard water spots and further softening stains. Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of vinegar, place it on the floor of the dishwasher, and run a hot water cycle.
Once the cycle ends, those white spots should disappear, and dealing with grease will be much easier. Plus, vinegar also works to neutralize odors!
Note: Don’t stress about vinegar harming your dishwasher—it’s totally safe! Just don’t pour it into the detergent compartment.
Step #5. Finish with baking soda
After the vinegar cycle, run another short hot water cycle, but sprinkle baking soda on the floor of the dishwasher beforehand. This will help dissolve any stubborn stains and grease still lingering in your appliance.
Finally, run a drying cycle before putting the racks and holders back in.
Note: If your dishwasher doesn’t have a drying cycle, just dry it manually with a clean microfiber cloth, paying extra attention to slits and tiny holes to prevent mold.
Keep the rest of your house sparkling, too!
The perfect setting for a clean dishwasher is a spotless kitchen! One Click Maids offers thorough cleaning services to keep every room in your home pristine. We’ll take over your chores so you can relax in a clean home—no hassle! Take a look at our services.