All appliances designed to clean have to be cleaned themselves. This includes your dishwasher, and given what they’re cleaning – dishware, cups, cutlery and pans chock-full of grease and food – it’s important to make cleaning this appliance a regular chore. Luckily, it’s super easy to do and doesn’t demand any extra effort!
Why Clean Your Dishwasher?
It can seem unnecessary to spend time cleaning the inside of your dishwasher, an appliance that heats up, fills itself with a soapy cleaning product, and disinfects the dirty dishes. This is why many homeowners put it at the bottom of their to-do lists, but it’s very important!
In dishwashers, soap residue and hard-water deposits build up over time, getting on the walls and intricate components and making them less efficient. Combined with the build-up from food particles and grease, you can see how the performance of dishwashers can drop in a short amount of time.
By sanitizing your dishwasher as part of your routine, you will keep it working smoothly and make sure that all your dishes come out as clean as possible. It doesn’t take expensive cleaning products either – it’s as simple as baking soda and vinegar!
Using Vinegar To Clean Your Dishwasher
By using white vinegar and baking soda (not together but in separate parts of the machine), you can make an excellent DIY cleaning solution. The acidic vinegar loosens up the soap scum, food particles, and grease that sticks to the walls, racks, and components on the inside of your dishwasher, while the mild alkali properties of baking soda dissolve dirt and grease in water. Together, these two home staples get the gunk off your appliance and down the drain.
Fill a dishwasher-safe cup two-thirds with white vinegar and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. Next, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run the dishwasher on a hot-water cycle, giving it some extra sterilization.
That’s it! The dishwasher will be fresh-smelling and have a brightened, stain-free interior. Do this every few weeks to keep the dishwasher clean for every use. You can also give the drain a little spritz with vinegar between washes to keep it fresh.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
There are several other things you can do to keep your dishwasher clean, but they, too, are easy. One way is to check if any large food particles settled in the drain below the lower rack. If you see anything remaining after a cycle, remove it ASAP. These particles can clog the drain and rot in it, letting bacteria thrive and creating bad odours that can spread to your dishes.
Don’t forget about the garbage disposal drainage, because in many kitchens, it links to the dishwasher’s drain hose. By keeping the disposal clean, you can keep the rest of the inside cleaner for longer!
