How to Clean a Dishwasher

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Cleaning your dishwasher should be done regularly just like any other frequently used home appliances. You might not notice it but through time, small bits of food, soap scum, and grease have clung together and have been deposited in corners and crevices of your dishwasher. And as these things continue to accumulate, your dishwasher will really experience appearance and odor problems.

Steps for Cleaning your Dishwasher

1. Get a small brush and dip it in hot soapy water. Scrub around the door specially the areas where the grooves and crevices of the rubber seal are. You will most likely be surprised at the amount of debris that has accumulated there.

2. While scrubbing thoroughly, you may need the assistance of a soft abrasive cleanser in order to remove the hardened grime on your dishwasher.

3. Once you’re done scrubbing the dirt and grime, use a household sponge soaked in hot soapy water to wipe away the scrub off dirt and grime. Wipe the sponge over the door and continue scrubbing the parts inside your dishwasher that may have food remains especially the out of reach corners.

4. While cleaning your dishwasher, pull out the bottom rack and check the drain area. Wipe around the drain area to ensure that no hard lumps are blocking the drain. Don’t be surprise if you will find chips of glass, crab shells, small pieces of gravel, and bones inside. These things could block the drain and will cause damage to the dishwasher’s pump and even scratch the dishes.

5. Wet a clean sponge with the cleaning solution and wipe it on the gasket and the door of your dishwasher.

6. Fill up a dishwasher-safe cup with some plain white vinegar and place it on the top rack. Run a complete cycle using the hottest water temperature available. Make sure that your dishwasher is empty while doing this except for the cup of vinegar.

7. The vinegar will help in cleaning your dishwasher by washing away the loose, greasy grime. It will also sanitize your dishwasher and any musty odor will be removed.

8. If you don’t have any white vinegar available to use in cleaning your dishwasher, a sachet of unsweetened lemonade mix place in the soap cup can be a good alternative. Other flavors of lemonade are not safe to use because they will only left stains in your dishwasher.

9. To have a refreshing and bright appearance after cleaning your dishwasher, it is ideal to use baking soda to remove the stains inside. Scatter a cupful of baking soda around the bottom and run a complete cycle using the hottest water temperature available in your dishwasher.