In this article, we are discussing how to clean dishwasher at home easily. Cleaning is never there on our priority lists, but the place which demands more than any other is your kitchen and the machines we use on a daily basis in our kitchen. One machine or says appliance that we use quite a bit every day is the dishwasher.
We don’t often think about cleaning it, but we need to clean dishwashers after an every 2-3 weeks. Soap and hot water can only do a lot every time you run that expensive machine. Luckily, we have listed some of the best and easy ways to clean dishwasher with everyday elements used in our kitchen.
Why Do We Need to Clean a Dishwasher?
It might seem weird to worry about cleaning dishwasher, whose job is washing dishes. But these handy machines require routine cleaning likewise your other kitchen chores. You need to clean it up every day because the door draws fingerprints every time you hold it with dirty dishes, and especially the crevices and corners that build up residue comprising food particles, soap scum, and grease.
Not only do these residues look bad, they ultimately lead to bad odor because of the bacteria that increases in warm, dark and moist places. A monthly cleaning process can keep your dishwasher looking like new and fresh.
Ways to Clean Dishwasher with Home Remedies:
1.) Clean Dishwasher with Vinegar & Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are a great combination when comes to cleaning utensils or appliances. Many people have been using this as cleaning agents for years. You can say this is the kitchen’s best friend when you need to clean kitchen. The same goes with your dishwasher.
Use the steps given below to clean your dishwasher with baking soda and vinegar:
- The first step is to take off all the items or utensils from your dishwasher.
- Take out the dishwasher filter.
- Soak this filter in the sink or container with soap liquid and warm water for 10 minutes
- Now, replace the filter.
- Take one cup of white vinegar in a bowl.
- Add ½ cup of baking soda to the vinegar.
- Pour the mix of vinegar and baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher.
- Now, you can run the dishwasher on heavy wash cleaning cycle.
2.) Liquid Bleach to Clean Dishwasher
Bleach is another beneficial solution of the kitchen cleaning family. When used properly, it can help you eliminate even the toughest of stains. Be careful, bleach is very damaging to stainless steel. Do not use bleach if your dishwasher is made up of stainless steel.
Well, bleach is a slightly stronger than baking soda and vinegar. If you have ignored your dishwasher for years and are worried about lasting stains or mold, liquid bleach can do the wonders to eliminate all this.
Use the steps given below to clean your dishwasher with liquid bleach:
- Take off all the utensils from your dishwasher.
- Take one cup of liquid bleach.
- Put liquid bleach in serving cup and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
- Now, run your dishwasher at the hottest wash setting.
3.) The Tang or Kool-Aid Method to Clean Dishwasher
If you don’t have bleach or vinegar. This is one of the tried and tested method to clean dishwasher with Tang or Kool-Aid. This is just like bleach or vinegar, Tang or Kool-Aid provides that extra energy and strength to your dishwasher. It not only helps you get rid of tough stains or cloudy glasses, but also acts as a natural kitchen freshener.
Use the steps given below to clean dishwasher with tang or Kool-Aid method:
- Run your valve until water is hot
- Run your dishwasher at heavy wash.
- Now, turn off the valve
- After 5-10 minutes, open your dishwasher.
- Add Tang or Kool-Aid to the detergent container and to the bottom of the dishwasher, combining it with the water.
- Close dishwasher and again run the dishwasher at the heavy wash and let it finish the cycle.
- Once the dishwasher stops clean it with normal water and your dishwasher is now fresh and new.
4.) The Manual Method to Clean Dishwasher
As we discussed above, all the solutions were easy and need not much physical effort. However, like most repairs and cleaning methods, there is always an old and thus, very effective method to clean dishwasher.
To use this method, follow the steps given below
- Remove all the items from the dishwasher.
- Make sure rotating holes are clean. Use nose pliers, needle, a toothpick or some other small sharp pointed tool to remove any residue that has built up in the small holes of the spinning arm.
- Wipe the bottommost door and the grate with warm and soapy water.
- Remove the filter and clean with warm and soapy water. Make sure you take off the filter if you can and clean each piece. You can use baking soda to clean filter properly.
- Clean around the door with a wet cloth soaked in vinegar.
- Wipe down the utensil shelf with a toothbrush and cloth, as well as both dishwasher racks with warm soapy water.
- Run an empty cycle, putting vinegar as mentioned above.
5.) CLR to Clean Dishwasher
Dishwasher cleaners are helpful on soap debris, but not typically useful on calcium, rust build up or hard water. Use CLR (calcium, lime, and rust) cleaning mixture in a dishwasher cycle for an in-depth cleaning as needed. Rinse the dishwasher properly after a CLR cleaning to prevent cleaning deposits on your dishes.
To use this method, follow the steps given below:
- Empty all the utensils from the dishwasher. Run an empty dishwasher first to get the best results.
- Fill dishwasher with water. Once the dishwasher is half-full, put 1/2 cup of CLR into the water.
- Again run the dishwasher and let it complete cleaning cycle.
- Run the dishwasher with normal water to rinse any residual of CLR to prevent any residue from washing any dishes.
Conclusion:
The dishwasher is one of the toughest working appliances in the home. With all the food, dirt and bacteria that enter, we should clean the dishwasher once a month. Doing so will safeguard your dishwasher’s health for a longer period of time.