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Updated on June 12, 2024
Day 10: Clean Dishwasher. In just 31 days, get your home in tip-top shape. Today’s task is to deep clean the dishwasher.
Welcome to day 10 of the 31 Days of Deep Cleaning Your Home series!
Clean the Dishwasher
Today’s task is to clean your dishwasher.
You would think that an appliance designed for cleaning would clean itself, but that is not the case! Dirt, grime, and food particles can get stuck in all the nooks and crannies that the water doesn’t touch.
So gross!
Supplies:
First, I usually lay down some old towels underneath the opened door. This way I don’t have to worry about messing up the floor while I am scrubbing!
Remove Racks
Start by removing the racks from your dishwasher. I must pull two little tabs out to get my top rack out.
Scrub the Inside of the Dishwasher
Once you have the racks out, start scrubbing any grime you see. I use warm, soapy water and a microfiber cloth. For extra tough spots, I use a small scrub brush.
For any hard water spots, I will spray them with full-strength vinegar and then scrub them. If you have really tough-to-remove gunk on your dishwasher, you can use a paste of baking soda and water to scrub it.
Clean Dishwasher Door and Gasket
Pay particular attention to the area at the bottom towards the front where the door closes. A lot of stuff drips and spills down there, but once the door is closed, the water can’t get to it. A toothbrush works well to get into this area.
Wipe the rubber gasket with a damp microfiber cloth.
Also, make sure to clean around the edges of the door. Again, food can spill here, but the dishwasher can’t clean it.
Clean the Filter
Make sure there is no food or debris around the water drain in the bottom. If you find anything, pull it out!
Newer dishwasher models usually have a filter on the bottom that you can remove and clean. Make sure to scrub that and reinstall it.
There should be a spot where water comes in from your sink. The cover on mine pops out, so I scrub it around the opening since food particles can build up in there.
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Check and Clean Sprayers
Lastly, check to be sure your sprayers are free of clogs. If food particles are stuck in them, you can carefully use a toothpick or a pipe cleaner to clear the holes.
Run a Cycle
After you have finished scrubbing, replace your racks back into your dishwasher. Fill a glass bowl or cup with vinegar (about 1 – 2 cups) and place it in the top rack.
Run a full cycle on the hottest setting. This will remove odors and hard water build-up from your dishwasher.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run the hottest cycle.
Don’t add baking soda and vinegar to the same cycle, as they cancel each other out. I usually use the vinegar method because our water is so hard.
Tip: If you have a garbage disposal, run it to clear your sink before running your dishwasher. This will help cut down on getting particles of food all over your dishes since your dishwasher drains into the same pipes as your sink!
Clean the Outside
While this cycle is running, wipe down the outside of your dishwasher. Scuff marks can often be removed by a magic eraser.
I have some scratches on mine that I can’t remove, but my dishwasher is over 7 years old and I have two small kids, so it is just part of life!
Make sure to scrub around the outside buttons and knobs, as a lot of stuff can build up there!
Tip: If your water heater is set to a temperature lower than 120°, use the high temperature setting on your dishwasher to ensure the water is hot enough. Also, it can help to run a little hot water in the sink before you start the dishwasher. Your dishes will come out cleaner if the water starts out hot.
There is really no way to shorten the process of cleaning your dishwasher, but if you don’t have much time today, focus on the cleaning the sides and front edge of the dishwasher. This will make the biggest impact on your dishwasher, making it look cleaner!
Some recommendations for cleaning the interior of your dishwasher will call for bleach. But if your dishwasher has a stainless steel interior, never use bleach!
This post is part of the 31 Days of Deep Cleaning Your Home series. In just 31 days, you can get your home in tip-top shape.
This series includes deep cleaning lists, tips and tricks, ideas, and how-tos.
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Zena Sue says
Did your dishwasher come with the little basket on the top rack?
Lauras Crafty Life says
No! I got this basket from Target. It is the Munchkin Dishwasher Basket. I use to use it for pacifiers and bottle parts and now I use it for sippy cup parts. Here is the link: https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-deluxe-dishwasher-basket/-/A-13991502