It might sound unnecessary to clean the actual dishwasher, but it is a necessary evil if you want your dishwasher to run efficiently. Not to mention, your dishes will be cleaner and your dishwasher will smell fresher, too!
What You Need
Distilled white vinegar
Baking Soda
Microfiber cloths or soft rags
Toothbrush
Stainless steel or multipurpose cleaner
Instructions
1. Run your dishwasher or wait until just after you've ran a cycle. Empty dishwasher.
2. Remove the racks. Check the spinning arms to make sure all the holes are open so water can run through them freely. Clear out any debris that has built up in the holes of the spinning arm. Needle nose pliers, a toothpick, or any other small pointy tool should work (be careful not to scratch the spinning arms).
3. Clean under the bottom of the door. In some dishwashers, this is a spot where water doesn't go, so it can accumulate debris. Wipe this off. Inspect the floor of your dishwasher, around the drain where the wastewater exits. There will be a grate or grill around it, under the arm. Look for debris clogging up this area and remove any solid matter that has built up. If you have a filter, like I do, remove and dissemble the parts in your sink.
4. Remove any food remnants. Using a soft toothbrush, wash filter parts with a baking soda paste or soapy water. Do the same thing on the inside where the drain is. Reassemble and replace all parts.
5. Wipe around the seal with a damp cloth soaked in white vinegar. For tighter areas, you can use a toothbrush or q-tip.
6. Wipe around the edges and sides of the machine.
7. Remove the utensil holders and racks. Check them for any stuck-on food pieces and then wipe down.
8. Remove hard water deposits/scale by running one cycle of your dishwasher empty, with distilled white vinegar. Do this after you've done the other cleaning steps, so that it will also take care of anything you missed during cleaning. Add 2 cups of vinegar to the bottom and turn the machine on to an energy saving or low wash. Stop the machine mid-wash, so the vinegar can set on the bottom and work. Let it stand for about 20 minutes, then turn on to finish cycle.
If you have rust stains, you can tackle them with a dishwasher-safe rust remover. If the finish is chipping or flaking off the wire baskets in your dishwasher, try a sealant made just for dishwasher racks.
If you have problems with mold and mildew, bleach will work effectively by adding ½-1 cup in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a full cycle. (NOTE: DO NOT USE BLEACH IN YOUR DISHWASHER IF YOU HAVE A STAINLESS STEEL INTERIOR).
9. Clean the buttons and panel thoroughly.
10. Spray the handle and front of your dishwasher with a mild spray cleaner or stainless steel cleaner, depending on the type of dishwasher you have. I find microfiber cloths work best for stainless steel and always wipe with the grain. To obtain a streak-free finish, spray cleaner on one towel and wipe on. Go behind with the second towel and wipe off.
Additional Notes:
- It's good practice to do this (or a briefer version), about once a month.
- Be wary of dishwashing gels. They typically contain bleach and over time will cause the rubber seal to break down and leak.
Images: Kimberly Watson
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Good post. Gallon jugs of vinegar are cheaper by volume than the smaller bottle shown.
This is great. I have been looking for a good method for cleaning my somewhat ineffeicent and smelly dishwasher!
~Jill
http://stuffjillloves.blogspot.com/
Synchronicity: I was just looking inside my d/w today and wondering if I needed to do anything! This post just what I needed. Thanks, AT!
Synchronicity x 2: My dishwasher has been running inefficiently and leaving a filmy residue behind. I was just thinking that white vinegar would probably do the trick, but this lays it out perfectly. Thanks! www.orglamic.com
Leaving the dishwasher door slightly ajar so it can air out delays the development of odor and mildew.
When I was a kid, my mother would run the dishwasher empty, once in a while, with Tang orange juice powder. After that, it was spotlessly clean...
I've always had good luck with "Glisten" and the Finish dishwasher cleaners!
for those with mineraly cloudy dishes, pick up lemi shine, we found it at target, its like a citric acid sorta thing that removes mineral deposits. the whole thing is apparently due to some ban on sulfates. works like a charm (promise theyre not paying me to say it. i wish!)
great post! this is something i feel creepy about not having done, but i never knew how to do it. thank you!
Thanks, Miami's Elaine - but I have a fear of bulk:)
Pascal: I've heard about this trick too, but I've also heard stories of it staining white dishwashers.
I'm impressed -- will you stop by and do mine??!! ;^)
I use a mix of Borax and baking soda. It works like a charm. My friends use a small sprinkle of Ajax powder and baking soda.
About every 2 to 3 weeks seems good enough due to very regular use of the DW in my house.
Best solution - in addition to the above - run an empty cycle filling the soap dispenser with Tang (I do 1/2 Tang and 1/2 Borax). It cleans out all the pipes and tubes of gunk and cleans it nicely. I do this once every 6 weeks.
that's my dishwsher! lol!
Instead of Tang use the unsweetened lemon Koolaid packs. It is really about the citric acid and these do not contain as much color and no sugar (unlike the Tang). Plus the packets are so small you can keep them on hand in the kitchen without taking up too much space.
Thanks for helping rid the world of smelly dishwashers. I am going to try the Tang method. http://icreatables.com
I'm trying the kool-aid/tang method right now - all I have is orange kool aid. This brings up another question though...if you should clean your dishwasher, shouldn't you clean your washing machine &, if so, how?
Wonderful post! I agree with Prmama, do the washing machine post too. They do need cleaning (Clean Mama will have a good tutorial).
ps. Thanks for using reusable cleaning supplies
A super fast and easy way to clean your dishwasher if the inside is gross from mineral deposits, is to put a bunch of rhubarb leaves (leaves only) in the silverware tray and run an empty wash. The leaves contain oxalic acid and it breaks down mineral build up, much the same way vinegar does.