When cleaning your kitchen, one of the most overlooked, yet most necessary pieces is frequently missed. The dishwasher, after all, is what’s doing your daily cleaning….you wouldn’t clean your kitchen table with a filthy rag that hasn’t been cleaned in months, would you? Not only is it important to clean your dishwasher to remove buildups of food and bacteria for the sake of cleanliness, but it’s also important to keep your dishwasher running properly.
STEP 1: WIPE OUT THE DISHWASHER
First, remove all racks from the dishwasher. Clean each rack, looking for any build ups or food particles. Soap and water is all that’s needed for this step. If the arms can easily be removed, do so, and look for any food buildups in the nozzles. Remove the filter in the bottom and fully clean with soap, water, and a toothbrush. Wipe out the door gasket thoroughly looking for any buildup inside of the creases.
STEP 2: RUN A CYLCE WITH WHITE VINEGAR
Fill a Tupperware or any dishwasher safe container to the top with white vinegar. With the dishwasher empty and all racks put back in run a normal, non-sensor, cycle at the highest heat, use the sanitize option if applicable. Vinegar not only sanitizes but also breaks up hard water and mineral deposits which can build up in the inner workings of the dishwasher.
STEP 3: ADD BAKING SODA
Once the cycle is complete, you can absorb additional food particles by adding a cup of baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher and running a cycle. This will absorb any odors and is slightly abrasive being it is the final touch to a perfectly clean dishwasher.
STEP 4: CLEAN THE EXTERIOR
There’s no sense in going through all this trouble only to have a dirty looking dishwasher. Make sure you grab a can of Don’s Appliances water based stainless steel cleaner, a microfiber cloth, and polish away until it looks like the day it was installed. These steps should be done regularly to maintain a clean, properly functioning dishwasher and when done regularly can greatly extend its life expectancy.