We cannot think of living a life in today’s world without a dishwasher, washing machine, or vacuum cleaner. In our busy schedules, they are our best friends and help us to complete our household chores in a jiffy.
However, taking care of the maintenance and cleaning of these devices is of utmost importance. If they are not maintained properly, then they will break down often and their longevity will reduce.
You will have to end up buying new gadgets more frequently then. Hence, our suggestion is to take good care of your appliances and clean your dishwasher on a regular basis. Many people have multiple questions in this area and we will try to address all of them in this article.
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How frequently should you clean your dishwasher?
It depends on your usage, however, if you are a family of four and use your dishwasher every day or every alternate day, this ideally should be the schedule. You will be surprised to see the enhancement in the performance of your dishwasher if you follow these steps-
- Daily– Remove the visible pieces of food and dishwasher soap etc. after the wash cycle.
- Weekly– Remove and clean the filter thoroughly. Scrub the door edges and the entire body of the dishwasher from the outside. Clear the rubber door gasket thoroughly as insects and cockroaches will attack and spoil it if there are food particles stuck to it.
- Monthly– Deep clean the tubs, trays, and filter using white vinegar and baking soda.
- As per requirement- Clean the internal spots left by minerals and calcium. Always remember that unless your dishwasher is clean, all the utensils which you wash in it also will not be clean.
Supplies needed to deep clean your dishwasher
· Warm water
· Toothpick
· Toothbrush
· Distilled white vinegar
· Baking soda
· Microfiber cloth
· Rubber gloves
It is not suggested to use bleach to clean your dishwasher. Some dishwasher soaps contain a diluted amount of bleach to remove coffee, cocoa, and tea stains from china mugs, however using strong bleach as a cleaning agent is not recommended. It is not advisable to use bleach with vinegar as they react and produce chlorine gas which is not good for your respiratory system. It is lethal in nature and if inhaled for long durations can cause a good amount of damage to your respiratory tract and lungs.
Step-by-step guide to cleaning your dishwasher
If you do not clean your dishwasher on a regular basis, it will become a garbage dump and attract insects and cockroaches. Food particles, grease, oil, animal fat, undissolved detergent, calcium residue in hard water, and other water minerals build up on the dishwasher’s interior walls, rubber gasket, and filter.
It starts smelling like rotten food and the unpleasant smell attracts the flies and other insects. If there are loads of food particles accumulated in the drain area, then even water might start accumulating. Maggots and mosquito larva can take birth in enclosed areas that are humid and warm. Your entire dishwasher will become unhygienic to use. It is also important to load the dishwasher correctly.
This accumulated gunk can actually start leaning spots and a thin film of grease on your glassware, silverware, dinnerware, plasticware, and flatware. If you allow the food, oil, and grime to build up in the dishwasher racks, it will eventually damage the filter and pump. Definitely calling a technician and replacing those parts will cost you a good deal of money. Instead, just clean your dishwasher on a regular basis and enjoy a stress-free life in the kitchen.
1. Remove food particles daily-
None of the modern dishwasher brands will advise you to pre-wash your utensils before putting them in the dishwasher. However, it is always advisable to throw away the bigger chunks of food before you insert your dinnerware into the dishwasher trays.
If you are not planning to run a cycle immediately, then rinse the plates, pots, glasses, and bowls in the sink or run a ‘Rinse Only cycle’. This will help to inhibit the rotting of the food particles inside the dishwasher.
If you have bought new cutlery, crockery, or dinnerware, often there will be a sticker of the brand attached to the utensils. Remove them before you put the utensils in the dishwasher because the plastic or paper labels often clog the drain.
2. Clean the interiors-
Use a damp microfiber cloth, wiping cloth, or sponge to wipe away any food residue and grime that might be showing up there. They often are found in the interior portion of the door or other parts of the dishwasher.
Door edges, rubber gasket, door handle, and dishwasher controls often have grease and food particles stuck to them. You may use a toothbrush to remove the food particles from the rubber seal of the gasket.
Since it is corrugated, often food particles remain stuck between the layers. Use a dry cloth or paper napkin to clean at the end before you close the door of your dishwasher.
3. Clean the filter weekly-
The filter is located below the bottom tray of your dishwasher. You will need to pull out the bottom tray to remove it conveniently, and if you are not sure about it, check the user manual first. After unlocking and removing the filter, rinse it thoroughly under running water. Use a toothbrush and remove the mesh screen properly.
There will be grease and food particles stuck in the mesh screen and the plastic frame. Secure the filter properly back in place. Your warranty will be null and void if you run the dishwasher for the next cycle without locking the filter properly. It causes serious damage to the appliance.
Run a wash cycle with vinegar as it will remove the grease and grime in any part of your dishwasher that you cannot reach with your hand. Even the appliance will start smelling good. Even baking soda is a good option here. Check the manual of your machine if you can do this as each device is different.
Watch this video to get some more tips-
4. Use dishwasher cleaner monthly-
Give a deep cleaning to your dishwasher using a heavy-duty dishwasher cleaner on a monthly basis. Cascade is a good brand that many homeowners use to remove the grime and filth which gets accumulated inside the dishwasher over a period of time.
It disinfects the racks and internal walls and you can be assured that your family is eating food in hygienic utensils. Simply place it in the empty dishwasher and start the machine. It is also important to use dishwasher salt.
Conclusion
Life will be more comfortable if you maintain your gadgets well and clean them on a regular basis. The way we need to get our car serviced on a regular basis we need to take care of all our equipment at home and office. Regular car servicing is meant to ensure that the vehicle does not break down in the middle of the road; the same applies to all other appliances too. Happy Summers!!!
Source
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/g2877/dishwasher-tricks/
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher-with-vinegar
