Why You Should Clean Your Dishwasher
No matter how vigilant you are about wiping excess food off your dishes, particles of food make their way into the filter and bottom of your dishwasher. Over time those pieces of food, combined with grease and bits of your dishwasher cleaning tabs to create a gunky build-up. Not only does it cause odor, but it also prevents dishes from getting truly clean — yuck.
How Often Should I Clean the Dishwasher?
The answer depends. If you wipe down every day spills and splatters on your dishwasher daily and remove leftover food particles from the bottom weekly, it makes the need for a deep clean less frequent. If frequent cleanings slip your mind, do a thorough cleaning seasonally or about every three months.
How to Clean the Dishwasher
As a general cleaning rule, start with the gentlest method. Getting your dishwasher clean takes very little supplies-wise, but what you lack in products, you make up for in sweat equity. Here are some helpful tools to use when you’re cleaning your dishwasher.
How to Clean the Inside of a Dishwasher
Pull out the dishwasher racks and place them in your sink or on the counter. Using a paper towel or rag, collect any bits of food lingering in the bottom of the dishwasher. A good pair of rubber gloves lowers the ick factor here. Locate the dishwasher’s filter in the bottom, remove it and set it aside.
Fill another small container or bucket with hot water and dish soap. Dip a scrub brush into the soapy water mixture and scrub the inside of the dishwasher. Focus on the bottom, the inside of the door (especially where the dishwasher detergent releases), and the inner walls of the dishwasher.
How to Clean the Dishwasher Filter
Place your dishwasher filter in a small container or bucket of hot water and dish soap and let it soak in the sink for at least 30 minutes. If needed gently scrub the filter with your soft bristle scrub brush. This little item is essential to keeping your dishwasher in proper working order and starts to smell when food collects inside of it. A clogged filter could also be the reason a dishwasher is not draining.
Don’t Forget to Clean the Dishwasher Seal
One of the grimiest areas on the dishwasher isn’t the interior. It’s the skinny seal around the door edge. It’s one of the first places to get spills and drips and is often missed in a cleaning. Use your soap and water mixture and the soft scrub brush to clean the edge of the seal, then wipe it dry with a paper towel or rag.
How to Clean Dishwasher Components
Head back to the sink and scrub down the racks with hot water and dish soap. Rinse and pat dry. Put the clean dishwasher filter back inside your dishwasher, lock it in place and put the racks back in the dishwasher. Following the package instructions, run a cycle using Affresh dishwasher cleaner.
Clean the Dishwasher's Exterior
Use a damp microfiber cloth with a little bit of soap to wipe down the front of your dishwasher. For a little more cleaning power you can also use a multipurpose spray. Avoid using anything abrasive, like scrubbing sponges that might scratch the door’s surface. If you have a stainless-steel dishwasher, consider using a special stainless-steel cleaner to remove dirt and fingerprints. Apply using a microfiber cloth and clean in the direction of the metal grain for best results.
Tips to Keep a Dishwasher Clean Longer
Once you've seen how much effort it takes to deep clean a dishwasher, you want to keep that clean for as long as possible. Here are the best ways to keep a dishwasher clean longer:
- Regular wiping and cleaning (at least once a week) of splashes and spills help prevent hard-to-clean stuck on messes.
- Clear large pieces of food off your plates before you load the dishwasher, those big pieces can get stuck in the dishwasher's bottom or dishwasher filter and create clogs and odor—yuck.
- Try to run the dishwasher regularly, it not only prevents a pile up in your sink, it prevents odor and messes from hanging around inside the dishwasher.
How to Clean a Dishwasher FAQs
When it comes to deep cleaning your dishwasher there's a lot of misinformation out there. First and foremost, refer to your dishwasher manual to see how the manufacturer recommends cleaning it. Since every machine is a little different, it's a helpful starting point.
What is the best way to keep a dishwasher clean?
Using a dishwasher cleaning tablet helps keeps the inside cleaner with the push of a button, but know that it's worth doing a seasonal deep cleaning of your dishwasher to get all the surfaces the dishwashing cycle will miss. Follow the instructions above for detailed help.
How can I clean the dishwasher with vinegar?
You might have heard that you can clean the dishwasher with vinegar—but because vinegar is an acid, it can erode the rubber seals in your dishwasher with repeated use. Even using it to clean the interior isn't that effective for cleaning water spots and hardwater build up. It's safer to use hot water and diluted dish soap and a scrub brush.
How often should I deep clean my dishwasher?
If you do a light regular clean, you should only need to deep clean your dishwasher seasonally.
Should you clean a dishwasher with bleach?
No, it's not recommended to use bleach to clean a dishwasher — especially in a stainless steel dishwasher.
How long should dishwashers run?
Depending on your dishwasher, a normal cycle usually lasts about two hours. The model and age of your dishwasher are factors. Read the manual for details on your specific dishwasher.