How to clean the inside of the dishwasher

We all have that sentence on our to-do-list. Do you know? The one that reads “make sure to clean the dishwasher, don’t forget this time”. Yeah, I’m sure you do.

Well… The dishwasher is supposed to be one of the easiest kitchen appliances to clean. It is even supposed to take you at most 15 seconds to clean. That is if you really know what you are doing. The reason why cleaning the dishwasher would take long will be because you notice some parts are still dirty and the smell hasn’t gone.

After many repetitions, you would probably get tired and drop the chore for the day. Form thereon your procrastination sets in. This scenario doesn’t have to be your reality. That is why, on this post, I’m going to help save a lot of time and stress, as I enlighten you on how to clean the inside of the dishwasher.

There are items to prepare and steps to take. Later on this post, you will also be given maintenance tips which will make your cleaning slot easier and it will also prevent your dishwasher from damage.

Why you should clean your dishwasher

The dishwasher is one of the most neglected “to clean” kitchen appliances. The dishwashers tend to build up bacteria stains, rust, and even a terrible smell when not cleaned and maintained. Now you see why it is so important to clean a dishwasher.

Once you’ve clean the dishwasher, you are sure to enjoy your dishwasher, as it is stain-free, bacteria disinfected and has a great aroma.

How to clean a moldy dishwasher

It takes just a few steps to follow and your dishwasher will become suitable for use. Before we move into the steps, let take a quick look at the cleaning equipment you will have to prepare.

Step one: clean up the filter

The filter is a part of the dishwasher that helps to capture loose dirt and sediments. Cleaning this part is very important, as it gets easily clogged up in such a way it causes the water in the dishwasher to overflow. The filter can be accessed on the base of the dishwasher. Unscrew the knob fixed against the filter and then carefully pull it out.

Once you’ve done that, rinse the filter vigorously with warm clean water and dishwasher soap. Make use of a toothbrush to carefully scrub the filter, until the sediments and dirt are removed. Air-dry the filter before you fix it back on the dishwasher.

Note: this task, in particular, should be performed once a week, prior to constant use.

Removes clogs on the water sprayers

When the dishwasher is in use, dirt and sediments tend to get caught up on the sprayer’s hole.  Once the sprayer hole gets clogged up, it will then cause a lesser discharge of water from the sprayer’s hole.

What to do?…

Make sure to remove the dirt and sediments on the holes with the help of a toothpick. Due to its pointy tip, the toothpick can ensure the dirt and sediments are removed carefully. After prying food particles away from the holes. The amount of water shooting through the sprayer holes will be increased, which will make the dishwasher clean dishes a lot better.

Note: this cleaning task should be on your to-do-list and it should be practice once a month in order to ensure a clog-free water sprayer.

Clean the rust from the dishwasher latch

Due to the frequent use of an appliance such as the dishwasher, the latch on the door tends to get rusty. This rusting could cause serious damage such as the destruction of the dishwasher’s door.

Here’s what to do…

Rub-down the latches which are made of stainless steel with steel wool and a stainless steel cleanser. After rubbing it, rinse the latches with cold water and then buff it with a dry cotton cloth.

Note: for further protection, you can coat the stainless latches with nail polish. That way, rusting will occur less.

Clean up the silverware basket

This part of the dishwasher gets a lot dirty quite fast. Since it is where the dishwasher performs its function in the kitchen, which is cleaning the dishes. Dirt and food waste are sure to be stuck in this area of the dishwasher.

How to handle it…

This cleaning task should be performed once per week. It will require you to make use of warm water, dish soap and a bottle brush. Make sure to scrub out any food particles that found themselves stuck in the dishwasher cups.

How to remove the smell from the dishwasher

After constant use of the dishwasher, it is bound to have food particles stuck on the dishwasher’s racks and walls. This will cause the development of mold which gives a bad smell.

In order to deodorize the dishwasher, here’s what you should do:

Here is another way to do it:

Sprinkle some baking soda onto the base of the dishwasher and then let it sit overnight. After that, run the dishwasher on a normal load while the dishwasher is free of dishes.

How to effectively clean the dishwasher using vinegar

Place two-thirds of white vinegar in the dishwasher-safe mug. This mug should then. Be placed on the top rack within the dishwasher. Set the dishwasher to run on a normal cycle with hot water. Once that is done, you will notice the good work of the vinegar. The grease, soap scum and food particles will be loosened and easily clean off from the dishwasher’s walls and racks until everything has gone down the drain.

Maintenance tips to improve the dishwasher’s longevity

Here are a couple of maintenance tips you can apply when using the dishwasher:

Conclusion

So there you go… All you need to know on how to clean the inside of the dishwasher. You’ve been given several easy steps on how to do it effectively. Also, on the post, there is a special method of cleaning, that helps to solve certain dishwasher issues such as the odor.

With this post, not only can you deodorize the dishwasher, but you can also ensure it lasts longer and cleans easily. All thanks to the maintenance tips provided.