You might think that there is no need to clean the inside of your dishwasher. After all, its very job is to, well, clean things! Even though this kitchen appliance is frequently subject to hot water, detergents and heat, that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to get dirty and require some attention once in a while.
The inside of your dishwasher can become the site of accumulation for things such as food debris, grease and built up soap scum. Over time, these can cause issues as minor as a bad odor, to more serious problems like reduced efficiency and clogged drains.
Ways to Clean Your Dishwasher
Here are some of the ways you can avoid these issues by giving your dishwasher a quick and easy clean:
First, take a look at the drain.
At the bottom center of your dishwasher, you’ll find the drain where dirty water is removed, run a wash cycle and flushed into your septic or plumbing system. Look in and around that area for anything foreign that should be removed. Don’t be surprised if you find things like seeds, fruit pits, broken glass, bones and other unseemly things that really have no place in your dishwasher drain.
Vinegar, the wonder cleaner!
Next, run your empty dishwasher through an entire cycle with the hottest water setting and a cup filled with white vinegar placed on the top rack. The vinegar bath will help wash away any grease, grime, and hard water buildup while sanitizing and deodorizing the inside of the appliance.
Next, the baking soda.
There are so many things you can clean using simple baking soda and it is also perfect for cleaning the inside of your dishwasher. After the vinegar cycle has run, sprinkle ¼ cup of baking soda in the bottom of your appliance then run it through a short wash cycle (again, using the hottest water setting possible). This will further remove odors and any stubborn food stains that may still remain.
Mold and mildew?
Bleach is an option but we recommend to use it with caution. If your dishwasher has a stainless steel interior, do not use bleach inside your dishwasher! (Bleach can corrode stainless steel)
If the interior is anything other than stainless and you have issues with mold and mildew, you can add ½ to 1 cup of bleach in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run it through a full cycle (hottest water cycle offered).
Give the outer edges of the door a good wipe down.
Using the methods described above, chances are the interior of your dishwasher will be squeaky clean and there will be no need for further elbow grease there. At Grace Home Cleaning, we want to ensure you don’t neglect the outer rim of the door where offending grease and food particles can build up. Using warm soapy water or a mixture of vinegar and water, wipe carefully around the edges of the door and seal to assure those areas are as clean as the inside now should be.
Every few months or so, take a few minutes to give your hard-working kitchen appliance the love it needs. Your kitchen will not only smell better, but your dishwasher is likely to perform better with each wash and you might even avoid costly repairs down the road.
Grace Home Cleaning loves clean kitchens.
If you have residential home cleaning questions or would like to look into ways we can assist you in keeping your home squeaky clean on a regular basis, call us at 402-769-0774.
