I don’t know about you, but to me it sounds like an oxymoron to clean your dishwasher. Isn’t it cleaned every time you use the dishwasher? I mean it is what the dishwasher does—wash dishes. But just like with your washer machine, soap scum can build up along with food particles and other yuck.
So what should you do to clean your dishwasher? Just follow these steps …
1. Take Out and Clean Dishwasher Parts
Take out all parts of the dishwasher that can be removed by hand. Typically dishwashers have a filter in them to remove and clean. In my Frigidaire Gallery® Dishwasher I have a fine grade and coarse grade filter, and so I only need to check and clean it when necessary if large food particles become trapped or when I notice a drop in cleaning performance. The filters on my dishwasher are self-cleaning, but when I want to do a deep clean or get out tough gunk I do clean those filters out.
Here is the gunk I found when I cleaned my filter out….I know…ewwwww!
Take them out, and clean them with warm, soapy water. You may need a sponge to get all the gunk out of your filter.
2. Wipe out the inside of the Dishwasher with Soap & Water
Gunk—everything from food particles to bits of plastic—can get stuck in on the edges of the dishwasher door, or on the walls of the dishwasher. Take a dishcloth with warm soapy water and wipe it all down well.
3. Clean and Sanitize Dishwasher with Vinegar
Make sure the dishwasher is completely empty of all dishes. Then take a dishwasher-safe cup, such as a glass measuring cup, and fill it with vinegar. Place the cup with the vinegar in the dishwasher on the bottom rack and run the dishwasher on the hottest cycle. The vinegar will sanitize the dishwasher removing any odors that linger. If your dishwasher has a lot of hard water stains you may need to do this routine more than once.
4. Clean the Outside of the Dishwasher
Once the inside is clean, next you’ll want to clean the front of the dishwasher. Start by wiping down the top of the door that meets the top of the dishwasher. Then take warm soapy water and wipe down the front of the dishwasher. Then dry it all off with a soft towel.
When I clean my Frigidaire Gallery® Dishwasher regularly once every 2-3 months, I find that my dishes come out sparkly clean which saves me time. No more irritating little food particles to have to rewash! And I really love the soft rubbery prongs that keep my cups from banging all around while they are getting cleaned. It’s probably my favorite feature about my dishwasher.
Cleaning out your dishwasher not only helps with odors and ickiness, but it can also help your dishwasher keep your dishes coming out sparkly clean.