The humble dishwasher is one of my favourite household appliances. In order for it to do its job well, it also needs some tending loving care. Regular cleaning of your dishwasher will help it perform at its best. It's a super simple process and can done with a few basic pantry ingredients.
IN THIS BLOG
1. WHY DOES YOUR DISHWASHER NEED TO BE CLEANED?
Over time, a dishwasher can accumulate a build-up of food debris, grease and grime. This build-up can result in an increased level of bacteria and a not-so-pleasant smell. Food debris can also clog the spray arms and drain, ew! If you also happen to have hard water and/or unfiltered water going into your dishwasher, this can result in a build-up of minerals that can reduce the water flow. It is a great idea to give it a clean every month or so to help it run as effectively as possible. This blog will show you how quick and easy it can be.
2. GENERAL TIPS
There are a variety of store-bought products you can use, but these can be costly, and I'm sure you can already predict me saying that they are full of chemicals! Here are some general and natural cleaning tips to keep your dishwasher functioning at its full potential:
General Tip 1
Always rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. This will help reduce the build-up of gunk and grime inside your dishwasher and in the pipes.
General Tip 2
Use white vinegar as a rinse aid. This a cheap and natural alternative to store-bought rinse-aids and it does just as good a job.
General Tip 3
Leave your dishwasher ajar after you have done a load and emptied it, so it can fully dry and air out.
3. HOW TO CLEAN YOUR DISHWASHER, NATURALLY
Only three simple ingredients are needed to help your dishwasher do its job of providing you with hygienically clean dishes.
Step One
Clean the drain located on the bottom of your dishwasher. Pull it out and remove any food debris. Give it a rinse under hot water.
Step Two
Make a paste using about 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 2 tbsp baking soda and put it into the detergent dispenser.
Step Three
Pour about 1 cup of white vinegar into a small bowl or glass jar and place on the top rack of your dishwasher. This provides further cleaning and deodorising benefits. NB: It will be filled with water at the end of the cycle.
Step Four
Run your dishwasher on its longest and hottest cycle.
Step Five
Leave the dishwasher door ajar after the cycle has finished to properly dry out.
Step Six
Wipe around the rubber seal on the door and wipe down the front of the dishwasher with diluted white vinegar. About 1:3 vinegar to water.
4. STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
Watch how I use this process to clean my dishwasher below:
