How to Clean Dishwasher

You’ve finally got your dishwasher and now it'll take care of all your dirty dishes. But who is going to take care of the dishwasher?
If you’re thinking it’ll clean itself along with the dirty dishes, you’re wrong. In fact, dishwashers build up gunk, grease, bits of food, and minerals every time they finish a washing cycle.
If not cleaned properly, this build-up could decrease your dishwasher’s efficiency or even end up needing some costly repairs. But don't worry, here are some tips on how to clean the dishwasher that will help you take care of your beloved little helper.

How to Clean Dishwasher

If you use your dishwasher on a daily basis, then these tips are just for you. Why? Because with these tips, all you need are some items you can find in your household, and will not cost you a fortune.

Clear the Drain

Cleaning the drain is the first step in maintaining your dishwasher. This step should be done on a daily basis.
To clean the drain, Simply remove the bottom rack and start removing any gunk or food stuck in the drain. Removing all this gunk will enhance cleaning efficiency and will keep your dishwasher bad-odor free.

Clean the Filter

Ever noticed this round-shaped object at the bottom of your dishwasher. That's your filter and it needs special attention. A simple twist and pull motion should be enough to remove the filter. Once done, throw away all the built-up gunk, give it a good wash, and place it back.
Cleaning the filter is very important as it’ll extend your dishwasher’s life span and avoid future malfunctions.
Tip: Don’t confuse filters with salt reservoirs. A filter will have mesh netting while salt reservoirs don't.
if twisting doesn't unlock the filter, check your user’s manual for a detailed step-by-step guide.

Flush The Drain Hose

If your dishwasher is having a hard time draining, this could be an indicator that your drain hose is clogged. A clogged drain hose is the last thing you want to encounter while maintaining a dishwasher.
Cleaning the drain hose may sound like a complicated process, but it has great benefits.
Let's look at some of the issues you might face due to a clogged drain hose
Water puddles or standing water is a very common issue that results from clogging the drain. This will result in a bad odor and a non-efficient cleaning cycle.
Water flooding your kitchen floor is another indicator that your drain hose is clogged. Because, where else could the water escape if its only way out is clogged
Dirty or smelly dishes are another issue you might face since your dishwasher is not working so efficiently
Taking the time to do some draining work on your hose will definitely hurt your back, but will save you tons of money and manual cleaning time. Which is what made you buy the dishwasher in the first place

Clean Sprayer Arms

Sprayer arms are responsible for shooting water onto the dishes. Those parts can get clogged by bits of food or minerals, which will decrease the cleaning effectiveness of your dishwasher.
Take them out if possible and give them a good wash to make sure each hole is functioning properly. Check the owner’s manual for guidance to remove spray arms.
If you can’t manage to remove the spray arms, try inserting a small wire into each hole to remove any stuck bits.

Vinegar

Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar is a good way to clean your dishwasher’s drain, and pipes, as well as remove any odd smells, and gunk you might have missed while cleaning the drain.
To do that, simply fill up a bowl with white vinegar, place it on the top rack of your empty dishwasher, close the door and set it to the highest temperature cycle possible.
Make sure you don’t just spill vinegar directly into your dishwasher, as most dishwashers run their drain at the beginning of their washing cycle.

Alcohol

Just like vinegar, fill up a bowl with some alcohol and place it on the upper rack. Run a cleaning cycle at a high temperature, and you’re done.
You are now left with a clean germ-free dishwasher. Which will take your dish cleaning process to a new level.

Baking Soda

You’ve tried vinegar or alcohol and now you want to go the extra mile.
Sprinkle one cup of baking soda at the bottom of your dishwasher and let it sit overnight. This will allow the baking soda to soak in. What’s next? You’ve guessed it, run a high-temperature washing cycle the next morning and you’re done.
This will help deodorize your dishwasher and brighten up the stainless steel interior, giving it a shiny new look.

Dishwasher Salt And Rinse Aid

Dishwasher salt’s main focus is cleaning the dishes and removing water streaks, and avoiding the cloudiness of glassware. That's not the only benefit, dishwasher salt will also help with avoiding clogging up the insides of your dishwasher with limescale.
Built-up limescale could be very harmful over the long run.
How often should you use dishwasher salt? It is best to fill up the salt reservoir at least once a month. Also, keep an eye on the reservoir every five to ten washing cycles to check the salt levels.

Exterior cleaning

Now that you’ve taken care of the filter, drain, and interior. Polishing the exterior is like the cherry on top of the cake. It’ll remove any dirt, grease, or splashes off of your dishwasher’s buttons.
In case your model has a touch screen, it’ll enhance the screen’s responsiveness and prevent it from random scratches.
Rubbing alcohol and a microfiber towel is a great choice to clean buttons and touch screens. Since it’ll evaporate easily, it won’t leave you worried about seeping in between buttons and controls.
Just spray some alcohol over the exterior door and wipe it off immediately, and it should leave you with a clean and germ-free exterior.

Conclusion

When it comes to dishwashers, they’re incredibly handy and time-saving as they allow you to work on something else while it takes care of your dishes. Investing some time to clean it will give you some rewarding results.
Cleaning a dishwasher may look intimidating, but in reality, it’s only a few bits and pieces. Cleaning them properly will keep your dishwasher around for a long service time.
And with these tips, you now have a map of where to go exactly.