Ideally, your dishwasher should keep itself clean – but unfortunately, it doesn’t. The filter and interior walls of the dishwasher accumulate dirt, grease, and undissolved detergent over time. This gunk smells and looks bad, but it can even leave spots on your glasses, dinnerware, and flatware. Therefore, if you don’t properly clean your dishwasher, it can’t perform to its full potential. Furthermore, if food and grime collect in the dishwasher’s filter and pump, it can seriously damage the machine, resulting in costly repairs.
Listed below are easy steps you can use to clean your dishwasher naturally and ensure it stays in top condition.
Step 1: Clean the drain
Pull the bottom rack out of the dishwasher to inspect the drain and remove anything stuck there. Cleaning the drain will improve drainage and prevent dishes and machine damage. Combine a cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda and microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. Put the mixture down the drain and wait 10 to 15 minutes. Flush the drain to clear out any debris or clogs using boiling water.
Step 2: Clean the filter
Then, gently remove the dishwasher filter and check the dishwasher’s base for any food remnants. Once the area is clean, wipe it down with a damp cloth. After that, wash the filter with warm, soapy water. Remove any food remnants with an old, soft toothbrush. Rinse them with warm water before reinstalling them.
Step 3: Run a vinegar wash cycle
Dispose of the white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe cup, and enter a hot-water cycle into the otherwise empty machine. Grease, grime, and unpleasant odours are eliminated by using vinegar.
Step 4: Run the baking soda rinse
Run a short heat-water cycle after you sprinkle the bottom of the appliance with one cup of baking soda. The dishwasher will be squeaky-clean, fresh-smelling, and stain-free when it’s finished.
Step 5: Wipe down the door
In a spray bottle, combine three cups of hot water and half a cup of vinegar. Spray your door with warm water (if your manual says to use warm water). Wipe down the inside with a damp cloth. Ensure the exterior is also cleaned.
Comparison of the cleaning methods of various dishwasher brands
There are many brands of dishwashers available in the market today. A few of these brands are Bosch, Miele, Electrolux, Fisher and Paykel, LG, Samsung, Asko, Westinghouse, Chef, SMEG, Simpson and many more. Although the basic features of all dishwashers are the same, there may be new features that are distinct to each brand due to the advancement of technology. While dishwashers require frequent manual cleaning, some dishwasher brands utilize self-cleaning features to save time. Integrated grinders are used in self-cleaning dishwashers to pulverize food, washed away by a drain. The “self-cleaning” nature of these filters is defined by the fact that there is no routine accumulation to be managed by the owner. The Dishwasher brands which consist of the self-cleaning feature are Bosch, Electrolux, Samsung and LG. Despite the self-cleaning feature, cleaning your dishwasher manually at regular intervals will boost its effectiveness.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
Depending on your problem, you might have to do upkeep from time to time, from daily to weekly to monthly. Here are some tips:
Daily: Dispose of food bits
Weekly: Clean the dishwasher’s gasket and door as well as its filter
Monthly: Clean the interior thoroughly
As needed: Cleaning and buffing exterior surfaces
Possible issues with a dishwasher that hasn’t been cleaned for a long period
- Dishwasher overflowed with soapy water
- Hazy film and water spots on glassware
- Dishwasher parts aren’t working properly
- Dishwasher filter clogged
- Dishwasher does not drain
- Dishwasher won’t start
- Leakage issue in dishwasher
- It smells bad in the dishwasher
- The dishes aren’t drying in the dishwasher
- The dishes are still dirty
Final Thoughts
Prevention is always better than cure. It is important to regularly clean your dishwasher, following these tips. It is also good to hire a professional appliance repair service that provides dishwasher service in Adelaide. A good dishwasher detergent and rinse aid can do a lot to help reduce the unsightly stains that can accumulate in your dishwasher. Additionally, if you live in an area with hard water, you should use a water softener or add regenerating salt to the dishwasher’s water softening system to prevent spotting on glassware and mineral buildup dishwasher.
