When it comes to cleaning your appliances, dishwashers often come last on the list. But despite your dishwasher cleaning dirty dishes on the regular, it too needs a good clean every now and again to prevent a build-up of grime and residue.
Follow our step by step guide for how to easily clean your dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda so you can keep it running efficiently, looking sparkly and free of lingering smells.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Toothbrush
- Microfibre cloth
- Rubber gloves
Start by emptying your dishwasher of racks, utensil holders and the filter which can be found underneath the bottom spray arm. Some filters can be unscrewed by hand, but others may need tools to remove them. If you’re not sure how to remove yours, then refer to the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website.
Pop your racks, utensil holders and filter into a bowl of warm water with 250ml white vinegar and leave to soak for at least 30 minutes.
Now it’s time to get scrubbing. Remove any debris that might be clogging the holes, then wipe the spray arms and side walls with vinegar. Use a toothbrush to get into any cracks and crevices.
Fill a dishwasher safe container with 250ml of vinegar and place it in the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Run it through on a hot cycle to allow the vinegar to break down any leftover grease and grime. You can skip the drying cycle to save on energy costs.
If you’ve still got a lingering odour, read the next step for how to clean a smelly dishwasher.
Why you should clean your dishwasher
Let’s start with why it’s important to keep your dishwasher clean.
Even though you run hot, soapy water through it on a regular basis, food, grease and dirt still builds up in the filter and interior walls. This makes your dishwasher less efficient over time, eventually leaving you with dishes that aren’t thoroughly cleaned and potential costly repairs from having to fix damaged pumps.
The debris that builds up can also lead to bad odours and the last thing you want is a smelly dishwasher.
How often you should clean a dishwasher
In order to keep your dishwasher running efficiently, it’s advised to give it a good deep clean every six months.
In between times, make sure you are rinsing off your dishes before loading up the racks and try not to overload the dishwasher so that the soapy water can circulate easily.
How to remove smell from a dishwasher
Once the first cycle has ended, sprinkle the base of the dishwasher with 250g of baking soda and run it on a short hot water cycle to remove any stains and lingering smells (you can skip the drying cycle again).
Once it’s complete, open the door to dry it off. Your dishwasher should now be smelling fresh and looking sparkling clean.
How to clean your dishwasher door
If your dishwasher door is made of wood or plastic, wipe it down with a microfibre cloth and some washing up liquid mixed with warm water. This will remove any splatters or marks. Once it’s looking nice and clean, rinse off your dishwasher with a cloth dipped in plain water and go over it with a dry cloth.
If your dishwasher door is stainless steel, we recommend using a cleaning product specifically for stainless steel. Use a microfibre cloth and follow the instructions on the product, wiping in one direction following the grain of the metal. Another option is to mix washing up liquid with warm water and a splash of olive oil or baby oil, using the same method as before to wipe away any streaks.
Now you’re equipped with the tips and tricks to keep your dishwasher fresh, clean and smelling better. If you’d like help with your cleaning jobs, hire a Tasker near you today.
