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Theoretically speaking, your dishwasher should clean itself; however, that is not the case. Food particles, grease, detergent, and water minerals can build up over time on the filter and walls of the dishwasher. This not only results in the accumulation of gunk but also causes unpleasant smells. Moreover, these can also contaminate your crockery, plates, etc. Simply put, if you do not clean the dishwasher regularly, it will not perform its functions well – inevitably making you spend on costly repairs.
Prevention is indeed better than cure. This article will discuss the most effective steps you should take to clean and maintain your dishwasher. This is especially beneficial for those who live in a location with a hard water supply. Other tips and steps will also be discussed, which recommend keeping your dishwasher lasting for long. Many people suggest cleaning it every six months, and the difference it makes to the appliance’s efficiency is unmatched. If your dishwasher is too old, the article about how to remove a dishwasher may help you.
This step-by-step guide is divided into cleaning and post-cleaning or maintenance steps, along with a list of supplies you will need.
- Cleaning Steps (Steps 1-6)
- Maintenance Steps (Steps 7-8)
Before we begin, here’s a list of the tools and supplies that you will need:
- Rubber gloves
- Toothpick
- Toothbrush
- Warm water
- Microfiber cloth
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
Cleaning Steps (Steps 1-6)
1. Removing the dishwasher’s racks, utensils, and more
To deep clean the dishwasher, you need to first remove all the additional accessories like utensil holders, filters, racks, and more. Some filters need to be unscrewed, while others can be twisted to be removed. Remove them and place them in a warm water solution mixed with white distilled vinegar. Let them soak for about 30 minutes.
2. Clearing out debris
With all the racks etc. removed, you should check for any debris hiding in the corners. Next, clean the spray arms as well as the sidewalls, making sure you get the bottom and top areas. The top and bottom of the spray arms should especially be wiped well. Next, you should be checking the water slots of the filter and dispenser for any debris or build-up. If they are hard to clean, use a toothbrush or toothpick to clean out any tiny crevices.
3. Hot water cycle and vinegar
Turn on the dishwasher for a hot water cycle but pour a cup of vinegar in a bowl and place it on the bottom of the dishwasher first. The vinegar helps break down any leftover food, soap, residue, grease, or grime.
4. Wash cycle and baking soda
After the vinegar wash cycle, fill the bowl with a cup of baking soda and place it at the bottom, just like in the previous step. Run a short cycle again. This will remove any stains inside the dishwasher and freshen it – resulting in a spotless clean dishwasher with a refreshing smell.
5. Outside of the dishwasher door
After the soda wash cycle, find a surface cleaner depending on the material of the door. For instance, stainless steel doors should be cleaned with cleaners specifically for those. However, using an all-purpose cleaner on the steel can leave scratches, so be mindful of that.
The other option is to make your cleaner at home. You can create a mixture of white vinegar, soap, and water as your DIY cleaner. Using a microfiber cloth, clean the surface in the direction of the grains with the soap and vinegar mixture. Rinse, squeeze, and re-dip the cloth and repeat until the surface is spotless. Don’t forget to clean and wipe the handles and the control panel with the same cloth and soap mixture.
6. Cleaning a dishwasher drain trap
Before placing the dirty dishes inside, scrape off bigger food chunks from the plates as they can easily clog the drain trap of the dishwasher. Be careful not to clean the plate so much that the dishwasher sensors think it is already clean – making it run a short cycle instead. This will also cause it to become inefficient, so only remove large pieces.
Also, regular checks of the drain trap should be conducted to see whether any food pieces are stuck inside. They will stink up the dishwasher inside. You can remove and disassemble the drain trap and then clean it with the help of a toothbrush or sponge soaked in dish soap.
Maintenance Steps (Steps 7-8)
Once the cleaning is done, it is important to follow up with cleaning and take other measures to maintain the dishwasher.
7. Keeping the dishwasher clean
After deep cleaning the dishwasher, you will find that the efficiency of the equipment has improved. The cleaner appliance, debris-free corners, and overall smell also result in cleaner dishes. However, if your dishes are coming out with gunk, then that’s a sign your dishwasher still needs to be cleaned properly. Deep cleaning the dishwasher is very important and must be done every six months for optimal efficiency.
However, if your dishwasher has a sanitize cycle, it can clean itself, then run it at least every month. It is hotter than a regular hot wash cycle and kills about 99.9% of the germs and solid food particles left behind after wash cycles.
If your dishwasher does not have the sanitize cycle feature, you should invest in foaming tablets such as Cascade or Affresh. It is equipped to beat residue and detergent build-up and is used during a full cycle wash.
8. Temperature settings
Another tip for keeping your dishwasher’s efficiency high is to keep the temperature to about 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is below 120 degrees, then it will not be able to kill germs.
To check the temperature of the water, fill a cup of the tap water and measure the temperature by placing a thermometer. If it reads a temperature out of the 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit range, the heater needs to be adjusted.
What's more, the right way to load a dishwasher also helps to maintain it. You can read the article and check if you have loaded your dishwasher correctly.
