It almost seems redundant to clean a dishwasher. They’re designed to clean dishes — so shouldn’t they be self-cleaning? Sadly, they’re not.
In fact, dishwashers can get quite filthy, especially if you run them often. If you’re one of the folks who let their dishes pile up out of sight in the washer, it can help to know how to clean your dishwasher, how often to do it, and ways to keep it clean after the fact.
Here’s the full scrub.
How to clean the dishwasher
The good news is that it’s not hard to clean your dishwasher.
1. Clean the drain
A clear drain will increase cleaning efficiency and prevent damage to the dishwasher.
2. Wash the filter
Many dishwashers have removable filters. Most have a circular filter that sits under the spray arms on the bottom of the dishwasher’s interior. Some models have a separate metal coarse filter that the cylindrical filter holds in place.
3. Run a wash cycle with vinegar
White vinegar is an effective cleaner, deodorizer, and sanitizer. And it can most certainly help the inside of your dishwasher:
4. Run a wash cycle with baking soda
Baking soda isn’t just for making cakes fluffy — it’s also a cleaning agent.
5. Wipe the rubber seal
The rubber gasket around the door can get dirty with daily use. Use a towel and hot, soapy water to wipe away any gunk on the gasket.
6. Wipe the front
Rinse the kitchen towel in clean, hot, soapy water and wipe down the front of the machine.
If you have a stainles- steel dishwasher, use stainless-steel cleaner to give it a spiffy shine.
Why do you need to clean the dishwasher?
Dishwashers dissolve food particles from your dishes with the help of hot water and detergent. Over time, food particles can clog up the drain and spray arms.
The clogs reduce the amount of water circulating during the wash and rinse cycles. Eventually, your glasses get cloudy and dishes end up with a film of soap and food residue. Which is… eww.
Regularly cleaning your dishwasher not only helps your machine clean effectively but may even extend the life of your appliance.
How often should you clean the dishwasher?
If you run a load daily, appliance experts recommend that you clean your dishwasher’s filter and drain once a month to help keep it running smoothly and your dishes clean.
Use it less often? You might be able to wait a bit longer between cleanings.
How to keep your dishwasher clean for longer
Scrape your dishes well before you place them in the dishwasher to prevent food buildup in the drain. But remember to deep clean the dishwasher itself every once in a while. Or learn how to hand wash dishes in the least annoying way.
tl;dr
Cleaning a dishwasher involves taking out some of the components — like the filter and drain — and cleaning them individually. You’ll also need to run the dishwasher with both vinegar and baking soda separately.
Giving your dishwasher a once-over roughly every month helps you keep it free of clogs and running smoothly. Be sure to scrape your dishes before loading them up to provide a little extra shine.