How to Clean a Dishwasher (Quickly!)
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Illustration: Ellie Schiltz/Getty Images
Do you know how to clean a dishwasher? It’s okay if the answer is no. After all, Lucy “Peachy” Challenger, a cleaning influencer and TV star based in Blaenavon, Wales, notes that most people often forget about scrubbing the easily overlooked appliance when cleaning their kitchen. “But forgetting to clean your dishwasher regularly can mean that your dishwasher doesn’t clean your dishes as well as it could,” Challenger says. “It’s a simple 10-minute task that should be done approximately every four weeks if used regularly.”
In the following guide from AD, learn how to clean a dishwasher with white vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. Not only will your machine look brand-new, but it will also run more efficiently than ever.
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Why dishwasher cleaning is important
Have you ever put your dishes into the dishwasher and they come out dirty? Or find a glass tainted with soap scum, or worse, bits of food left on a plate? If you’re experiencing this, your dishwasher might need some extra care.
“Regular cleaning helps to provide the best cleaning experience and keep your dishwasher in top shape for years to come,” Morgan Eberhard, senior scientist at Cascade based in Cincinnati, Ohio, says.
By regularly cleaning your machine, you can ensure that you won’t have to rewash your dishes in a frustrated rush. (Knowing how to properly load your dishwasher the right way can also make a world of difference.)
In short, cleaning your dishwasher can help save you time, prevent costly surprise repairs, and get rid of any foul odors.
How often you should clean a dishwasher
How often you clean your dishwasher depends on your schedule and needs, but Eberhard recommends cleaning your dishwasher at least once a month. If you think about it, this appliance is responsible for ensuring the surfaces you eat food off of every day are sanitary. So, you’ll want to make sure you’re cleaning it often and well.
“Over time, food particles, grease, and soap scum can build up in the filter and the holes of the spray arms, affecting its efficiency and even causing unpleasant odors,” Eberhard says.
By cleaning your dishwasher regularly, you can ensure it will function well and last longer. A little effort now can save money and time in the long run. Tip: Pick a day each month to deep clean your major appliances to make them less overwhelming to keep track of.
How to clean a dishwasher
For a quick clean, Eberhard recommends running the dishwasher in an empty wash cycle with a single dose of Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Cleaner to prevent food particles and soap scum from building up.
For a deeper clean, follow the below steps.
Step 1: Gather your supplies
You can’t clean a dishwasher without gathering a few cleaning products first. But, great news, you probably already have most of them. The following steps are general guidelines, but make sure to look at your specific appliance’s manual.
What is the best thing to clean the inside of a dishwasher?
While there are different products you could use, you’ll need the following for this method:
Warm water
Dish soap
Toothpick
Toothbrush
Microfiber cloth
Notice: Experts do not recommend using bleach when cleaning your dishwasher.
Step 2: Remove the filter, utensil holders, and dishwasher racks
Close up of the inside of a modern dish washer, cleaning filter concept
To get down into the nitty-gritty cracks and crevices, you’ll need to remove the racks, utensil holders, and filter (some filters simply twist off, but others will require tools to unscrew them). Take them out and place them in a mixture of warm water—about half of your sink—and one cup of white distilled vinegar. Leave them to soak for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3: Clean dishwasher filter
After soaking, it’s time to clean your dishwasher filter. And it’s one of the most critical steps to cleaning a dishwasher, according to Eberhard. So, make sure you’re following the specific guidelines your manual has laid out to ensure you’re doing so correctly.
Once you’ve read up on your filter, remove it carefully and clean out any visible gunk. She recommends first running the filter under warm water to shake out anything stuck inside. If you still see additional buildup, you can use a mild dish soap—her pick is Dawn Platinum EZ-Squeeze—to lightly get rid of it. But make sure you’re not leaving unwanted residue behind.
“Be sure to rinse away any soap suds before returning the filter to the dishwasher,” Eberhard says.
According to professional domestic cleaner Paula Tarling, based in Bristol, UK, a soft toothbrush is great for scrubbing the gaps and mesh in the filter.
Finally, before putting the dishwasher filter back, make sure you wipe down the surrounding area, just in case there are extra food scraps or trapped odors, Challenger warns.
Young Woman Fixing Dishwasher
Step 4: Clear out all debris
Now that you have a clear line of sight, check for any lingering debris that might be hiding within. Challenger recommends using soapy water to wipe down the interior walls and corners.
Next, turn your attention to the spray arms.
“There are little holes [in the spray arms] that can get food debris trapped in them and then water cannot get to your dishes,” Tarling said.
Check the arms and dispenser, and look inside all the tiny holes and slots where water sprays out. If you see food particles or other debris lodged in tiny crevices like these, you can also use a toothbrush or a toothpick to clean them out.
“Tip: Always check the door seal,” Challenger says. “You’d be surprised how much grime builds up here.”
Step 5: Use vinegar and baking soda to clean the inside of the machine
Once you’ve done all your manual wiping, it’s time to bring out the vinegar and baking soda to get the inside sparkling.
How do you clean a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda?
First, fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with one cup of white vinegar and place it on the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Set the dishwasher to run on a hot water cycle. The vinegar will break down any remaining bits of food, grease, soap scum, residue, and any other leftover grime.
When the first cycle ends, remove the bowl and sprinkle one cup of baking soda along the bottom of the dishwasher. Run it on a short cycle. The baking soda will remove stains and freshen the dishwasher. The result? A bright, sparkling dishwasher that smells oh so clean.
Step 6: Clean the outer dishwasher door
Woman's hand starting dishwasher with dirty utensils
Grab a cleaner specifically formulated for your dishwasher’s exterior surface: If it’s stainless steel, for instance, look for a cleaning product that is made for stainless steel.
Another way to go? Create a DIY dishwasher cleaner. A basic mixture of dish soap, water, and white vinegar makes a great homemade cleaner that’s safe for all dishwasher surfaces. Dip a microfiber cloth in your soapy water, squeeze out the excess, and then swipe in the direction of the surface’s grain. Rinse out your cloth and then go over the surface again for a gleaming, fingerprint-free finish. Make sure to wipe down the control panel and handles with your damp cloth as well.
Frequently asked questions
After seeing the benefits of a clean dishwasher, you’re likely going to want to maintain it. Consider the following tips that should help keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape.
How do you know when it’s time to clean your dishwasher?
While Challenger recommends a regular dishwasher cleaning schedule (about every four weeks), there is another telltale sign that’ll let you know it’s time to clean: dirty dishes. Anytime your bowls and plates come out with gunk still on them, it’s an indicator that your dishwasher needs a deep clean.
What is the best way to clean and deodorize a dishwasher?
The deep cleaning routine outlined above should keep your dishwasher clean, but Challenger has an additional tip for those who want to go the extra mile. “If you’re feeling extra fancy and your dishwasher has a bad odor, you can rub down the interior with some vanilla essence and a cloth,” she says. “This will not only make your dishwasher smell great—it also acts as an antibacterial.”
How do you keep your dishwasher clean?
Opened full loaded dishwasher machine in contemporary kitchen
Apart from regularly scheduled deep cleans, if your dishwasher has a self-cleaning sanitize cycle, you should run it every few weeks. Generally, the sanitizing cycle runs hotter and longer than a regular dishwashing cycle, and it’s able to kill 99.9% of bacteria and food soil that a standard wash cycle leaves behind. If your dishwasher doesn’t have a sanitize cycle, you can stock up on a dishwasher cleaner like Affresh or similar products.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
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