Ever catch a whiff of something funky when you pop open your dishwasher? Time to give that appliance a good ol’ deep clean. The good news? You won’t need to soak it in harmful chemicals; just raid your kitchen for some baking soda and vinegar!
Here’s the lowdown on a simple and natural method to leave your dishwasher clean and shining.
Step #1. Clear out your dishwasher
To reach every spot in your dishwasher, it needs to be empty. So, take out everything: racks, utensil holders, dishes—whatever you find there.
Toss the racks and holders into the sink with some warm, soapy water as soon as you take them out so they are dry at the time you finish cleaning your appliance.
Step #2. Wash the filter
Don’t neglect your dishwasher’s filter; it’s a game-changer. Ignore it, and you might be in for blockages, leaks, or a busted water pump. Plus, that stinky smell? It’s often thanks to food gunking up the filter.
Cleaning the filter goes like this:
- Remove the filter. You can identify it as a little circular mechanism at the bottom. Twist and lift or check your manual if you’re in doubt.
- In most dishwashers, you can usually find a mesh filter too. If yours have it, take it out.
- Reach for the hole where the filter sat and clear out any leftover food bits.
- Toss both filters in the sink and wash them with warm, soapy water, scrubbing away the grime. Use a soft toothbrush for the mesh filter and your kitchen sponge for the other one.
- Put the filters back where they belong, all in the right order.
Note: Some dishwashers have self-cleaning filters. If yours is one of them, just skip this step.
Step #3. Tackle the food residue
Your walls might have some food bits stuck on them, even grease—that you may or not may see. So, it’s necessary to pretreat them before continuing.
First, grab a clean cloth, dunk it in warm, soapy water, and wipe over all the goo and gunk. Rinse and repeat. Not every bit will go, but the stuff still stuck will be softened enough. Also, use a toothpick or clip to tackle any clogged water jet holes.
Note: Food goo on the rubber seal can lead to leaks. If you spot gunk there, hit it with soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Step #4. Use vinegar for general cleaning
Harness the power of vinegar! Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of vinegar, park it on the dishwasher’s floor, and let the machine run a hot water cycle.
Vinegar not only tackles grease and food stains but also kicks those chalky white spots (hard water stains) to the curb thanks to its acidic component—and it’s a great funk-buster too!
Concerned about vinegar damaging your dishwasher? No worries! It’s safe as long as you don’t pour it into the detergent compartment.
Step #5. Baking soda finale
Once the previous cycle is completed, run a short new one (also with hot water), but this time, cover the dishwasher floor with a thin layer of baking soda. The chemical composition of baking soda will act on the softened stains and gunk, dissolving them in water.
Finally, run a drying cycle before returning the racks and holders to the dishwasher.
Note: If your dishwasher has no drying cycle, manually dry the interior with a clean cloth. Pay attention to slits and tiny holes, as neglecting them can lead to mold growth.
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