Experienced housekeepers know that even though your dishwasher is designed to clean, it needs some care too. Nothing is worse than discovering a musty odor emanating from your supposedly fresh dishwasher or finding leftover food particles on your sparkling dishes. But fear not! Cleaning your dishwasher doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In just a few simple steps, you can restore it to its pristine state. So, let’s dive in and unveil the secrets to keeping your dishwasher clean and efficient!

Step 1. Empty the dishwasher

When cleaning almost any kitchen appliance, the first thing to do is free up space to wipe and scrub comfortably.

A dshwasher is no different. So, before starting your cleaning session, remove everything you can to make room to clean the dishwasher walls—taking off the racks and washing them with soapy water separately.

Note: If your washing machine still has plates and cutlery inside, take those out too.

Step 2. Clean the debris

Now that you have room to clean, you can remove the superficial grime. Use a damp microfiber cloth or sponge to wipe away the debris. If you find stuck-on food residue, remove it gently with a scrubbing pad or soft-bristle brush.

Cleaning the debris and larger pieces of food waste will get them out of the way sooner. Otherwise, all that residue will get tossed around during the washing cycle, and you will still need to clean it later.

Step 3. Scrub the rubber bands 

The ingredient that will be doing most of the heavy lifting in this process is vinegar. However, its acidity can also wear down the rubber seals that keep the water inside during a washing cycle. 

Don’t worry; running a washing cycle with vinegar inside the dishwasher won’t damage the seals. But it is best to avoid having the vinegar in direct contact with the rubber—especially if you’re scrubbing it in. 

The best way to wash these rubber pieces is by using soapy water and a toothbrush. A regular dish soap mixed with water will work perfectly fine for removing anything that might have made its way to the gasket. Plus, the toothbrush will give you better access to all those nooks and crannies in the seals.

Step 4. Run a hot water cycle with vinegar

This step will eliminate most—if not all—of the grime and stains in your dishwasher. Do you want to know the best part? You won’t need to scrub anymore! All you need is a dishwasher-safe bowl and white vinegar from your pantry. 

To wash your appliance: 

1. Pour one cup of vinegar into your bowl and place it at the bottom of the dishwasher. 
2. Then, run a hot water cycle and let the vinegar do its job. 
3. Once the process is over, remove the bowl and wipe the dishwasher walls with a damp cloth or soap. As easy as 1-2-3!

Warning: Vinegar is perfect for the dishwasher walls, but the same cannot be said for its internal mechanisms. So, to avoid damage to this appliance, remember never to fill the detergent compartment with vinegar. 

Step 5. Run a short wash cycle with baking soda

If some little stains remain after the vinegar wash, don’t worry. Baking soda is excellent for removing grease, so you can use this kitchen staple to deal with the toughest grime! However, if your dishwasher already seems spotless, this step will still leave it smelling clean and fresh.

Sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the dishwasher’s bottom and run a short washing cycle. But be careful! The same warning for vinegar applies to baking soda, so don’t forget to leave the detergent compartment alone.

Step 6. Wipe the outside of the dishwasher

Now that the most important parts of your dishwasher are taken care of, you can focus on making it look good in your kitchen!

So, grab a sponge and soapy water and get wiping. Then, with a damp microfiber cloth, wipe again to rinse the residue. Lastly, dry with another microfiber cloth so the moisture doesn’t run down.

Let us help with the rest of your kitchen!

Now that your dishwasher is clean, it’s time to tackle the rest of your cleaning chores! If this seems too much for you, but you would still like to enjoy a nice spotless kitchen, give BG011 Cleaning Services a call.

We follow a thorough cleaning checklist to ensure that your kitchen—and the rest of your home—is spotless. Book your service today!