Together with washing machines and ovens, dishwashers are large appliances that make great additions to a household because they simplify life and save us lots of time. Knowing how to clean your dishwasher is a helpful and important skill to learn. As is the case when learning how to clean a washing machine or how to clean an oven, it’s not difficult at all. You might be wondering why it needs to get cleaned if its job is to clean, every time it gets turned on. The truth is that over long periods, a build-up of grease, food, and detergent, form on the inside walls and filter of a dishwasher.
To get rid of the food build-up and stop you from asking, “why does my dishwasher stink so bad”, we’ve put together the best way to clean and deodorise a dishwasher. Take care of the outside and inside of your dishwasher with this simple method, making use of vinegar and baking soda, and enjoy the sight of spotless dishes being unpacked every time.
How To Clean A Dishwasher With Vinegar And Baking Soda
This combination of ingredients forms a powerful cleaning agent that can be used to clean many of your household appliances, including your dishwasher. Follow these 4 simple steps to clean and deodorise your dishwasher:
Cleaning Supplies Needed
- Rubber gloves
- Warm water
- A microfiber cloth
- An old toothbrush
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
- Remove the utensil holders, racks, and filters from the dishwasher. This will give the cleaning solution you use more space to focus on the crevices that need cleaning. Set the removable items aside as we will look at a way to clean them below.
- With the dishwasher now cleared, inspect it to see if there are any food bits or other particles that need to be removed. Use an old toothbrush to get in between tight spaces and small holes such as the filter and dispenser to give them a good clean. Wipe down the interior walls with a microfiber cloth sprayed with a mixture of vinegar and water.
- Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into a bowl and place it at the bottom of your dishwasher. Close the door and set it to run on a hot cycle.
- Once the cycle has finished and the vinegar has had an opportunity to break down any bits of food, grease, and grime that remained, it’s time to run a second cycle. Take the bowl out and sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. Set it to run a short cycle for the baking soda to freshen and deodorise your dishwasher.
How To Clean The Outside Of A Dishwasher
Once you have completed the job of restoring the inside of your dishwasher to a fresh-smelling, master-cleaning machine, take a moment to clean the outside so that it matches the sparkle being given off from the inside. Here are two ways to clean the outside of your dishwasher:
- DIY solution: Create a cleaning solution by mixing water, white vinegar, and dish soap. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and squeeze it out until it’s damp, before using it to clean the outside of your dishwasher. Make sure to cover the whole outer surface including the handle and control panel. Finish off by wiping the surface with a different microfiber cloth dampened only with water.
- Dishwasher cleaner: If you can get hold of a good quality cleaning product made specifically for dishwashers, use that to bring the sparkle back to the outside of your dishwasher.
How To Clean The Dishwasher Filter
The filter of your dishwasher is probably the most important part to clean because a dirty filter will affect how effectively your dishes get cleaned. If it’s clogged up with food bits and other gunk, the whole machine won’t do as good a job at cleaning. Use these 3 easy steps to clean the filter:
- Unlock the filter and rinse it under hot water. If you aren’t sure how to unlock it, check the manufacturer’s manual or website.
- Use an old toothbrush to scrub the different parts of the filter. Make sure you get rid of all grease and food particles.
- Place the filter back in and lock it into place.
How To Clean The Dishwasher Rack And Utensil Holders
Finish off the last piece of the puzzle by cleaning the parts of the dishwasher you removed at the beginning. Simply soak them in warm water with a cup of white vinegar added to it. Allow them to sit for 30 minutes while you clean the rest of the dishwasher. Once the time has passed and you’ve finished the entire machine cleaning process, rinse the rack and utensil holders under warm water before putting them back in.
Add the steps listed above to your checklist when learning how to clean a kitchen, so that your entire kitchen is left spotless. By following this easy and methodical process, you’ll have a pristine looking dishwasher that doesn’t leave a single trace of food on your dishes.
