You would think your home’s dishwasher was a self-cleaning appliance… unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Over time your dishwasher will accumulate gunk and grime in the filter and interior walls. Luckily this is an incredibly easy appliance to keep clean.
Remove the Racking / Clean the Drain and Filter
The first step to deep cleaning your dishwasher should be removing the racking trays. These will go back in later, however removing these trays will give you access to your washers drain and filter. Once you have clear access to the drain, remove any built-up debris and hard material that could potentially make its way to the pump causing damage.
Clean the Filter
Once the washer’s drain has been cleaned and cleared it is a good time to inspect and clean the filter. If this is the first time removing the filter you can expect food to have accumulated. Rinse away any residue and let sit in warm soapy water for 10 minutes, then rinse once more before reinstalling.
Replace the Racking and Run Wash Cycle
At this point it is a good idea to return the racking trays to the dishwasher as they will be cleaned during the wash cycle. Vinegar is great at helping to loosen up grime that has set in on the interior walls of the dishwasher. Place a bowl filled with white vinegar on the top rack and run your washer’s hottest temperature cycle, this will often be the “heavy-duty” or “cleaning” cycle.
Once this first cycle has ended sprinkle a cup of baking soda around the bottom of your machine. The baking soda will eliminate odors as well as help to eliminate stains. Run a final cycle with the baking soda in the machine, again on the hottest setting.
Scrub the Seals and Door
Now that the interior of the dishwasher has been cleaned, take time to wipe down any seals and the edges of the washer door. Food can find its way between these rubber seal and cause unwanted odors down the line. A simple degreaser will do the trick.
Finally wipe down the door with warm soapy water and wipe clean. Many new units will have a stainless or brushed steel door, for these types of doors we recommend a stainless-steel spray cleaner/polish to bring back the luster and shine in the finish!
We recommend completing these simple steps once every 3 months to keep your dishwasher running smoothly and effectively. Want to see more household tips and tricks? Connect with us on social!
