In principle, your dishwasher should constantly be cleaning itself — but sadly, it’s far from the truth. Over time, undissolved detergents, food, water minerals and grease can build up on the interior walls and dishwasher’s filter. This might show itself in the form of unpleasant smells, or spots or marks on your glassware. Cleaning your dishwasher is essential to ensure that your dishwasher can do its job. Failure to do this can seriously damage the dishwasher’s filter and pump, which can ultimately result in costly repairs.
Step By Step Dishwasher Cleaning
Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to clean your dishwasher – the right way so you can extend your dishwashers lifespan.
1. Remove any leftover food after every wash cycle
Getting into the habit of cleaning any food that’s been leftover after your wash cycle will help to avoid any odours and can stop bacteria from forming. Check the bottom rack and pull out the tray to see if you can find any rogue food bits like beans or pasta.
bacteria forming, in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of foods — beans, pasta, and so on — after each dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to look for any leftover food that may have fallen into the well and remove it with a paper towel to prevent odors and future buildup.
2. Check the doors for residue and grime.
Using a damp sponge or cloth, you can wipe away residue or spots that may have settled on the interior door, its edges, handle and dishwasher controls. Doing this weekly for 5 minutes will ensure that your dishwasher stays sparkly clean, while ensuring that your dishwasher can do its job.
3. Rinse the filter
If your filter isn’t clean, then your dishwasher won’t be able to clean effectively, leaving marks on future loads and unclean washes. Cleaning your filter is easy. Below the bottom spray arm, you’ll find the filter. Unlock and remove it, then rinse it under warm running water. If you want to go the extra mile, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame. This will help to remove any grease or particles stuck in its crevices. Once you have finished, lock it back into place. If you are having trouble locating the filter, then please refer to your manufacturers manual, or website for further details. We recommend doing this weekly, to avoid any build up.
4. Giving your dishwasher a deep clean
When giving your dishwasher a deep clean, you have two options. You might chose to purchase a dishwasher cleaning tablet or you can decide to use a homemade vinegar mixture instead. Whichever option you chose, it’s important to to remove any trapped particles, mineral buildup, and detergent residue.
For a homemade option, put a glass measuring cup filled with two cups of distilled white vinegar on the top rack and run a normal wash cycle without detergent or dishes. For a more thorough clean, you can purchase cleaning tablets like Cascade and Affresh. They contain surfactants that dissolve food bits and greasy residue, but make sure that you read the instructions. Some of them can’t run in the same cycle as dishes and detergent.
