And it removes odours wonderfully too. Take the bicarbonate of soda and scatter it lightly around the lower part of the machine. Then run another short cycle at the highest temperature. Clean the door and outer surfaces Last but not least, finish up by cleaning the door. Use a commercial kitchen spray or multi-purpose cleaner like Cif to cut through any grease, soap scum, or food residue on the door and any handles. Scrub around the door seals with a toothbrush that's been dipped in hot, soapy water. And dig right into all the crevices to make sure you get all the accumulated dirt. Finally, wipe up any excess dirt with a cloth soaked in soapy water. And there you have it. One seriously clean dishwasher. How concerned are you about disinfecting while cleaning? How to make cleaning a dishwasher easier: simple maintenance tasks Now that you know how to clean a dishwasher, you could keep up a regular routine of simple dishwasher maintenance. You'll make your cleaning job that much easier..
What you need How long will this take to clean? To perform a basic cleaning, plan to spend five to 10 minutes, plus two hours for a dishwashing cycle, if needed. If your dishwasher requires a deeper clean, plan for an hour. Figure out your local water hardness Photo: Liam McCabe You can usually Google the water hardness in your area—it's measured in parts per million, milligrams per liter, or grains per gallon. A higher number means you'll need more detergent (probably of a higher quality), plus rinse aid to offset the effects of the extra minerals in your water supply. If you get the dosage right, your dishes should come out sparkling clean (awesome on its own merits), and mineral scaling shouldn't build up in the dishwasher as quickly, either. Follow the dosage guidelines in your dishwasher manual, and prepare to experiment a bit. Clean the filter as needed Photo: Liam McCabe You may need to clean your dishwasher's filter as little as once a year or as often as every few weeks—frequent use, starchy foods, and hard water all contribute to a gunky filter, so it really can vary.
Remove Rack and Clean Strainer Pull out the bottom rack and examine the drainage strainer on the bottom of the dishwasher's interior. Remove any food, paper labels, or small items that might be clogging the holes. Use a soft-bristled brush dipped in vinegar to scrub away anything that is really stuck. Replace the bottom rack. Run Cycle With Vinegar Fill a glass or plastic container with one cup of distilled white vinegar and place the open container on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run a regular wash cycle. You can skip the drying cycle to save energy costs. Rinse With Baking Soda When the first cycle is finished, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the inside floor of the dishwasher. Run a short, hot water rinse cycle (skip the drying cycle) and then open the dishwasher door to allow the interior to air dry. The vinegar will strip away any grease build-up and the baking soda will remove lingering odors. Never mix the vinegar and baking soda in the same cleaning cycle. They'll start to foam and you'll have quite a mess to clean up.
Monthly Although these steps will help fight excess build-up, a deep clean is still necessary once a month to remove residue from hard to reach places. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to deep clean your dishwasher using items you already have in your kitchen. How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher Using Vinegar and Baking Soda The good news about deep cleaning your dishwasher is the appliance does all the heavy lifting for you. No need to spend time bent over the dishwasher scrubbing away — using the right cleaning solutions can give you a clean dishwasher with the push of a button. And you can use items you already have in your pantry! Vinegar works to break down grease and grime, while baking soda will remove any unpleasant odors and leave your dishwasher smelling bright and clean. Repeating this simple cleaning process monthly can give you major results. Here's What You'll Need: 2-cup glass measuring cup 2 cups white vinegar or apple cider vinegar 1 cup baking soda Toothbrush (optional) Directions Make sure your dishwasher is completely empty before deep cleaning.
Lemon juice is the perfect home remedy to clean an iron or any appliances with hard water stains. Clean the Dishwasher Door The door of your dishwasher can quickly become covered in unsightly fingerprints, especially if you have a stainless steel dishwasher. You can keep the stainless steel door fingerprint free by wiping it down with warm, soapy water, or a homemade stainless steel cleaning solution, like the one below. You want to avoid harsh detergents and abrasive scouring pads that might scratch the finish on the dishwasher. After the door is clean, wipe it down with a dry, soft cloth. If you have tricky fingerprints, you can tackle them with a bit of rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. Once the outside of the door is clean, it's time to tackle the inside. Open the door so you can clean the tops and sides. With an old toothbrush, scrub around the door with hot, soapy water, being sure to get in the grooves of the rubber seal and other crevices. If there is a lot of build-ups, you may need to use a slightly abrasive cleaner to remove the gunk.
9. How to keep the dishwasher clean Now you've found out how to clean a dishwasher, keep it sparkling and smelling great with these useful tips to keep it running smoothly: Scrape any excess food off plates, pots and pans before they go into the dishwasher. Don't overfill it as this will make it less efficient and the water won't have room to circulate. Same applies to cutlery. Clean the filters regularly. Use the right setting, don't use an economy setting if the load is really dirty and needs a hot washing. 10. What not to do when cleaning a dishwasher Despite what you might read elsewhere, do not use bleach or harsh cleaners to clean your dishwasher; doing so will damage the seals and dishwasher itself over time. 11. What to do if the dishwasher still smells after cleaning If you're still getting unpleasant smells from your dishwasher – or worse, bits of food that seem to come from absolutely nowhere – you may be dealing with a waste blockage, or the drain hose is bent out of shape, restricting the flow of waste water.