How to Deep Clean & Maintain Your Dishwasher

How to Deep Clean and Maintain Your Dishwasher 

If your dishwasher isn’t washing dishes properly, you may want to try cleaning the dishwasher itself. Over time, bits of food, grease, detergent, and water minerals can build up in your dishwasher’s filter and on the interior walls. Not only will your dishwasher look grimy and start to smell bad, but it can also leave spots and film on your glasses, dishes, and silverware.

Also, food and grime build-up can damage your unit’s filter and pump, resulting in costly repairs. In this article, we are going to discuss the most effective ways to clean your dishwasher and keep it clean and odor-free. For starters, use a quality dishwasher detergent and rinse aid which can help reduce unsightly spots that can develop on the interior of your dishwasher. Leaving the door open at the end of a cycle can also help prevent mold or mildew from developing along with that stale odor.

Bleach is not recommended for your dishwasher, especially if it has a stainless steel interior or if parts are stainless steel. And never use bleach with vinegar as the combination of the two can create potentially lethal chlorine gas. You should be doing an element of upkeep on your dishwasher anywhere from daily to weekly to monthly. Once you have a better sense of how dirty your dishwasher actually gets, you can adjust your cleaning schedule: 

• Daily: Remove bits of food
• Weekly: Wipe down the dishwasher door, gasket, and clean the filter
• Monthly: Deep clean the interior
• As needed: Exterior cleaning and buffing

Remove bits of food daily 

The root of most dishwasher odor problems is usually leftover food on dishes that have landed in your unit. Get in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of food out after each dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to look for any food bits that may have fallen into the well and remove them with a paper towel to prevent odors and future buildup.

Avoid unwanted smells by wiping excess food from plates, bowls, silverware, and other items before loading them into the dishwasher. Also, check for labels on reused jars or if new items have barcode stickers on them and remove them completely before putting the item into the dishwasher.

Wipe away dishwasher door and gasket grime 

Cleaning the inside of the door:

• Wipe away any residue and spots that may have splashed or settled onto the interior surface of the door, along with door edges, handle, or dishwasher controls with a damp microfiber cloth or sponge.
• Avoid damaging any touch screens or special finishes by not using any cleaning product on the sponge or cloth.

Cleaning the dishwasher gasket:

• Gently scrub any icky gunk from the rubber seal using an old soft toothbrush.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Remove and rinse your dishwasher filter 

If the filter isn’t clean, your dishes won’t be clean either. The filter is found below the bottom spray arm, and you’ll have to pull out the bottom rack to get to it. If you’re not sure how to remove it, check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for details. To eliminate pesky spots on future loads:

• Unlock and remove the filter and rinse it under hot running water.
• Using a soft toothbrush, scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame to remove any grease or particles stuck in the crevices. Then, rinse it clean.
• Lock the filter back into place.
• Never run the dishwasher without the filter properly locked in place, as you can cause severe damage to your machine, and possibly void the warranty.

Deep clean your dishwasher monthly with tablets 

On a monthly basis, it’s important to remove any trapped particles, mineral buildup, and detergent residue. For a more thorough clean, try cleaning tablets as they contain surfactants that dissolve food bits and greasy residue. Dishwasher cleaner tablets contain a range of components to help them clean.

Surfactants are a class of molecules found in many other cleaning products including shampoos and laundry detergents. One end of surfactant molecules dissolves in water, while the other dissolves in oil and grease, helping to wash it away. 

Nonionic surfactants are often used in dishwasher detergents as they foam less than other types. Make sure you read the instructions before using cleaning tablets since some can’t run in the same cycle as dishes and detergent.

Dishwasher tablets such as Affresh, Cascade, and Finish, along with other brands on the market, are specially formulated to help remove limescale and mineral buildup that can cause odor and affect performance.  

DIY clean your dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda (not together)

If you opt to take the DIY route to fight residue and buildup, go with vinegar in an empty dishwasher. Place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with one cup of distilled white vinegar on the top rack and run a normal (hot) cycle without detergent or dishes.

You can also sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the floor of an empty dishwasher and run a short cycle on the hottest setting to clean the interior and kill odors. As with cleaning a dishwasher with vinegar, skip the drying cycle and let the dishwasher air dry. 

Using vinegar and baking soda are easy, effective ways to clean inside a dishwasher, but do not use them together at the same time. Clean with the vinegar first and then with the baking soda. Combining soda and vinegar won’t hurt anyone, but don’t expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either.

According to Amanda Morris (associate chair of the chemistry department at Virginia Tech University), “baking soda and vinegar together basically cancel each other out and what you are left with is glorified water.”

Clean and polish your dishwasher exterior as needed 

Stainless steel is more of a challenge to keep clean because it shows fingerprints and can easily look streaky. Because of this, it’s very important to move your cloth in one direction and go with the grain when you clean.

If you’re not sure which direction you should go, start in a small area and test things out. A clean microfiber cloth works best, though you can also use paper towels. There are also some major “don’ts” when it comes to cleaning stainless steel:

• Avoid using steel wool or any other abrasive sponges or scrubber pads.
• Don’t use any chlorine-based cleaner or anything with chloride in it.
• Don’t use an oven cleaner.
• If your tap water is harsh, it might leave spots or stains.

Many people swear by the simple combination of vinegar and olive oil for keeping their dishwasher and other stainless-steel appliances clean:

• Add white vinegar to a clean spray bottle.
• Spray down your dishwasher exterior  
• Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth 
• Once clean, dip your cloth into a small amount of olive oil 
• Move the cloth in the direction of the grain to add shine and remove any remaining streaks or marks 

Simple dish soap can also work to clean your stainless-steel appliances.

• Clean the appliance with dish soap.
• Put a small amount of baby oil on a microfiber cloth.
• Move the cloth in the direction of the grain to polish and shine  

There are also a variety of stainless-steel cleaning products on the market you can use to shine up the exterior of your dishwasher. 

Clean your dishwasher drain trap 

If your dishwasher is draining slowly, it’s probably time to clean the trap. The procedure is straightforward and requires only that you remove the bottom basket in the dishwasher to get to the trap. The average DIY-er can perform this task without calling in a repair technician.  

• Open the dishwasher and remove the bottom wash basket. Remove any large food particles from inside the dishwasher.
• Locate the dishwasher drain trap in the bottom of the dishwasher. It will look like a grate.
• Lift the edge of the trap up and pull it off the bottom of the dishwasher. It will take a little effort since the trap snaps into place.
• Locate the locking snap on the bottom spray arm and release it if the trap in your model dishwasher is in the center, as some are. The clip will be on the side of the spray arm shaft. Pull the spray arm straight up to remove it.
• Remove the trap from the center of the dishwasher by pulling it up. Clean the trap in warm soapy water. Use a scrub brush to loosen any dried-on food particles.
• Install the food trap into the dishwasher, pushing firmly at the corners to lock it in place. If your dishwasher is one with the center trap, replace the spray arm and push it on the shaft until you feel it snap into place. Install the bottom wash basket into the dishwasher.

The takeaway: If your dishwasher isn’t clean, it can’t fully do its job. Whether you are looking to de-gunk the gasket, filter, door, or just do some daily maintenance to keep odors at bay, follow the step-by-step guide above so your dishwasher can do a good job of cleaning your dishes for years to come.

We all know that house cleaning can be a challenge. Whether it’s dusting and scouring or vacuuming and sweeping, it’s always on a to-do list. If you have a busy schedule with little time leftover for tasks like cleaning the house, why not hire a professional cleaning service like Clean Nation Company to do the cleaning for you? Our weekly, bi-monthly, and once-a-month professional house cleaning services will help keep your home spic and span and looking amazing!