Here's Everything You Need To Know About How To Clean A Dishwasher
...which you should be doing a regular basis, btw.
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Have you ever taken your dishes out of the dishwasher and realized that they still looked dirty? Have no fear, you probably don't have to splurge on a new dishwasher just yet. You see, dishwasher maintenance is an important part of keeping your dishwasher working at its highest capabilities—and preventing it from getting that musty, food-gone-bad smell. While you may not have washed your dishwasher before, it's never to late to start. Plus, these cleaning tips are so easy—your dishwasher does all of the hard work for you, we promise. For spotless dishes and an odor-free kitchen, here's everything you need to know about cleaning your dishwasher.
Daily Cleaning: Rinse Your Plates
We know, we know—it's annoying to wash your plates before you put them in the dish washer. However, if you don't remove the little bits of leftover food from your plates before putting them in the dishwasher, they'll build up over time and prevent your dishwasher from working properly.
Weekly Cleaning: Clean Your Filter
If your dishes are coming out of your machine with dirty spots, an unclean filter is probably the culprit. Your filter is what does the actual washing in your dishwasher, so it's essential to keep up with it regularly. You may not know were your filter is, but a quick consultation with your owners manual (or googling your dishwasher model) should clear that right up. Simply run your filter under hot water, and use a toothbrush to gently scrape away any particles stuck in there. Just a warning: if you've never cleaned it before, there may be a lot.
Weekly Cleaning: Polishing The Surface
Finger smudges won't effect the cleanliness of your dishes and utensils—but they sure don't look nice. You're putting the effort in to clean your dishwasher, you may as well let it show! Get a standard stainless steel polish, you can reuse it on all of your other kitchen appliances.
Weekly Cleaning: The Door
It's not the first place you think to clean, but next time you head to your dishwasher, check the door...if you dare. A surprising amount of food grime settles around the buttons, hinges, edges and handles of your dishwasher, and a simple wipe down will clean it off.
Monthly Cleaning: Deep Cleaning
If you want your dishwasher to do its job properly, you're going to want to get rid of the food debris and detergent residue that builds up over time. Use dishwasher cleaning tablets with surfactants to dissolve all of those gross left-behind dregs. After you empty your dishwasher, run it with Finish Dual Action Dishwasher Cleaner, Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, or for really stubborn grease and residue, Miele Dishwasher Tabs.
Monthly Cleaning: Natural Deep Cleanse
If you'd like to keep things au natural, you can clean your dishwasher with products you probably already own. Add two cups of distilled white vinegar and run your empty washing machine on a regular cycle. Afterwards, run a short cycle of hot water, only adding a cup of baking soda. This will prevent stains and keep your dishwasher smelling nice and clean!
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