The dishwasher is something that you can easily use every day or every other day. The more you use it, the more it will acquire buildup from your water or food particles. This article will go over a step by step guide to cleaning your dishwasher with natural alternatives.
1. Remove and Clean Your Dishwasher’s Filter.
Your dishwasher’s filter is bound to get food particles and gunk buildup over time. The first step is to located and remove the filter. Your filters can be found at the bottom of your dishwasher, and you unscrew it to pop it out. Next, fill your sink with warm, soapy water and let the filter soak for ten to fifteen minutes. Take it out and check for any stuck on gunk. If you see some, you can carefully scrub it with a toothbrush to dislodge the stuck on food. Be careful with this step; the filter is surprisingly fragile.
2. Deodorize Your Dishwasher with Vinegar.
You may notice your dishwasher has a stale or musty smell, and vinegar will help you remove this. Pour a cup in the bottom of your dishwasher and run it on a heavy clean cycle. The vinegar will eat anything built up or stuck that you missed.
3. Deodorize Your Dishwasher a Second Time with Baking Soda.
The third step is pouring a cup of baking soda into the bottom of your dishwasher and let it sit overnight, or at least a few hours if you can’t wait that long. Run an empty cycle to wash the baking soda out. This step ensures that your dishwasher is doubly clean, and there will be no odors when you’re done.
4. Scrub Away Any Extra Grime
This final step is if you want to go the extra mile. After you have cleaned the filter, and run the vinegar and baking soda through, look for any stuck on debris that may be left. If you see some stuck in tight corners like in the door seal, under the arms, or around the dish racks, mix a paste of water and baking soda and get a toothbrush. A toothbrush is perfect for reaching those hard to get places, and the baking soda paste will be coarse enough to scrub any remaining debris away. You should rinse your dishwasher or run another empty cycle when you are finished cleaning.
If you want to ensure your dishwasher is running to it’s fullest potential, repeat this process every three months or so, and your dishwasher will last for years.