How to Clean a Dishwasher: The Easy Way

A dishwasher is a necessity in every home. What’s not so easy to figure out, though, is how to clean it if the dishes aren’t coming out as clean as you want them. If you have a washer that doesn’t seem to be cleaning your dishes properly and you don’t have time for a professional service call, don’t worry! This tutorial will teach you how to clean your dishwasher with ease. You only need a few simple ingredients and five minutes of your time.

The cleaning process does not have to be as hard as some make it out to be. A simple cleaning on a regular basis can save a lot of problems in the future.

Do you need to clean your dishwasher?

Your dirty unit should be cleaned at least once a week, but if you can’t remember to do it, no problem. In order to keep your dishwasher clean you need a schedule for the family to be on and it is as simple as a hot water cycle making sure no food bits are in the unit and running a long cycle.

When your dishes aren’t coming out as clean as you’d like, first check the filters. If they’re clogged or not working properly, this is one of the most common causes of dirty dishes. Make sure that your filters are in good condition and that you’re cleaning them every time you run a load of dishes through the machine.

If the problems persist and all else fails, check the detergent dispenser and make sure there’s enough detergent available to wash all of your dishes. If there isn’t enough detergent, use an automatic dishwasher booster to add more liquid detergent to the machine.

Why does my dishwasher need cleaning?

A dishwasher does need cleaning regularly. The detergent gets rid of most of the grime and buildup in the unit, but over time, everything accumulates, making it harder for your dishes to come out clean. To have a perfectly clean dishes you need to take care of it regularly.

Making sure your dishwasher is clean is nothing more than maintenance like you would on a car. It only takes one running cycle to clean a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda. Make sure there are no bits of food left in the bottom, cleaning the machine of food residue will help eliminate a smelly dishwasher. Next make sure the filter is clean and clear of excess food as well and is clean.

How to Deep-Clean the Dishwasher

To effectively deep-clean your dishwasher, you should first start by cleaning the outside. You can use a mixture of 1 tablespoon baking soda and one tablespoon white vinegar to get the job done. Now this article we used vinegar and baking soda, but with that being said there are commercial products on the market as well.

We start with one full cup of vinegar standing and full and then sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the machine. Making sure there is no food waste in the machine we the run a cycle without detergent. The vinegar will help break up mineral deposits and mineral buildup in the machine.

Make sure the rubber gaskets are wiped down with a soft damp cloth, and use a brush if the is some buildup on there as well.

What is the best product to clean a dishwasher?

The best product to clean your machine is baking soda and distilled vinegar left upright in a cup so it does not drain when you turn the machine on. Set the machine at its highest temperature and run a long cycle, with baking soda just sprinkled in the machine and your cup of vinegar standing upright full of vinegar. There are some commercial products that are a citric-acid-based machine cleaner that does have a good effect at cleaning as well.

It really is not that hard to achieve a clean, fresh-smelling machine. Depending on the use in your home, cleaning should be once every month to once every six months again depending on the use. Most built in dishwashers will eventually get a grimy buildup in one form or another, leaving bad smells and not getting the job done. From unpleasant smells to water stains a simple dishwasher cleaning program from the family in a weekly or monthly schedule will keep your machine going for years to come.

How often to clean a dishwasher filter?

It’s important to keep your machine filter basket clean at all times. This helps your machine run more efficiently and prevents food particles from getting stuck in the filter, which can cause blockages. The good news is, you only need to clean the filter about once a month or once every two months. Depending on how often your unit is used, that means you can save yourself time and effort by learning how to clean it yourself.

When it comes to cleaning a dishwasher filter, you only need to do it once a month or once every two months. This depends on the use of the unit as well as every family is different. These filters tend to collect food scraps and chunks of food, so they do need to be addressed. A dishwasher drain trap that is not cleaned can also cause a backup and flood.

Final Thoughts

The best way to clean your dishwasher is to use a machine cleaner. It’s a one-step process that will get your machine clean and running good for a long time to come. Every dishwasher manufacturer will have a guideline in the dishwasher manual and tell you exactly what to look for and how to clean it. Once you have a clean machine you can wipe the front down with a soft cloth and that is it.

Depending on the family and use of the unit, a monthly basis cleaning should be more than fine for most. Just like all the rest of your kitchen appliances, a little maintenance goes a long way.