How To Clean A Dishwasher Easily at Your Home?

By Consumer Advise Team
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Among the few kitchen appliances that are worth mentioning is a dishwasher. Easy to maintain and efficient cleaning system made it a popular requirement for every household. The machine is also a time savior and minimizes the effort for all those who don’t enjoy daily chores.

But for the smooth working of the dishwasher, cleaning the machine is much needed. Clean your dishwasher frequently to prevent your kitchen from foul smell and be free from microbes.

Now the main question which arises is – how to clean a dishwasher? 

This article will serve the purpose and try to provide a stepwise guide to understanding the cleaning technique of the dishwasher. 

Why is periodic cleaning necessary for a dishwasher?

Your dishwasher to give your utensils a sparkling effect needs regular servicing and cleanliness. Due to the constant usage of a dishwasher, leftover foods may get clogged inside the machine. And even the spray arms and the drain of your dishwasher can get clogged.

As a result, the inside circulated water also gets filled with food leftovers and soap. Due to this, the sooner your dishwasher will start misbehaving, the duration of the machine will also get short. 

Therefore, it is vital to know the frequency of cleaning a dishwasher and knowing how to clean a dishwasher!

The best dishwasher in India needs to be deep cleaned periodically a year at least two to four times. Regular cleaning will enhance the life of your dishwasher. A deep clean once a year will retain the water flow in the drains of the machine. A yearly deep clean will wipe out all the spoiled, molded leftovers from the dishwasher. 

Also, if you have enough time, then depending on the degree of your usage, you can clean your dishwasher twice a month or thrice in three months. 

how to clean dishwasher

6 Steps to Clean a Dishwasher at your home

You should carefully clean your dishwasher so that no part remains unattended. Wash in such a manner so that it remains effective for next time usage. You can use vinegar and baking soda to clean the dishwasher. Here, you will know stepwise how to clean a dishwasher. Make sure that you follow all the steps to get a sparkling effect every time you use it. 

1. Arrange the cleaning products

Firstly, arrange all the essentials that you will require fit clean the dishwasher. Gather the following supplies:

  • Hot water.
  • Arrange some distilled white vinegar in a bowl.
  • Baking soda. 
  • Some toothpicks.
  • A clean piece of microfiber cloth. 
  • Dishwashing gloves of your hand’s size.

Arrange all these essentials at a table so that you can use them as per your need. 

2. Remove the inner parts like the filter, racks, and utensil holder

To avoid any scratches and damage to the dishwasher machine, remove all inner parts of the machine. Like the dishwasher racks, filters, and utensil holders must be dismantled accordingly. Once unscrewed, you have to dip all the parts inside a large warm water container. Now mix a cup of distilled water vinegar in the warm water container. Then, for approximately half an hour, soak them in the warm water mixture. Clean the dishwasher filter as illustrated in the next section.

3. Wash out the residue from the machine

Once the inner parts are cleaned, you can wash the machine thoroughly with any hindrances. Now, begin the washing process by wiping the sidewalls and arm spray of the dishwasher. Don’t miss out on any corners or tops and bottoms of the spray arms. Check for debris on all the small holes and other slots from where water sprays out. There if you locate any debris blocking the holes, then pick a toothbrush and clean them thoroughly. 

4. Use vinegar mixed First hot water cycle

Refresh the dishwasher by filling a cup of vinegar and locate it at the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Now on a hot water cycle, run the machine. White vinegar helps break down the remaining sticky bits of food, soap scam, and other leftovers. 

5. Run for the second wash cycle with baking soda

After the first wash cycle finishes, run it for the second short wash cycle. Use baking soda for the second short cycle. And you must use baking soda for the second cycle because it removes the dishwasher. The result will be amazing. You will get a clean and sparkling dishwasher soon. 

6. Wash the outer door

Pick an all-purpose cleaner so that you can clean the outer doors of the dishwasher. And you should pick an all-purpose cleaner mainly because the stainless steel doesn’t washer. However, you should carefully handle the cleaner so that it does not result in any scratches on the steel door.

You can also use a do-it-yourself cleaner. You can prepare it by blending dish soap, water, and white vinegar in a bowl. Now dip a microfiber cloth and wipe it on the surface door. Also, don’t forget to rub the control panel and handles with the dumped fabric. 

Now, as you know, how to clean a dishwasher, you can notice that the dishes will not gunk when inside the washer. 

dishwasher filter

How to clean the dishwasher filter?

After cleaning your dishwasher, let’s have a look at how to clean a dishwasher filter! A self-cleaning filter gets thoroughly cleaned with the help of distilled white vinegar. They are mainly used for commercial purposes and are cleaned once a month. For manual filters, you must clean twice to thrice a month. Cleaning filters do not take much time, only five to ten minutes for manual filters. 

You would require tools like a larger sink, sponge, old toothbrush, and a nylon brush for cleaning the filters. 

Stepwise direction on how to clean a dishwasher filter-

  • Step 1. Remove the filter by twisting it

A filter is found on the interior floor of the dishwasher. And you can remove the filter easily from the washer. These filters are generally round, so twist the filter anti-clockwise to remove the filters. Arrows are also there to help you how to twist. Some filters have flat components which are easily lifted by following the manuals. 

removal of dishwasher filter
  • Step 2. Mix the cleaning solution well

Then in a large bowl, mix the hot water with a white vinegar solution or dishwashing liquid. Always use a quality detergent that consists of a degreaser for smooth cleaning. 

  • Step 3. Sink the filters in the solution for some time

Now, place the filter in the cleaning solution and wait for five to six minutes to loosen the debris. The soaking step is mainly helpful to remove the paper labels from the filter. Once soaked, scrub the filter with the assistance of a nylon brush. 

  • Step 4. Rinse and scrub the filter

For the next few minutes, rinse the filter in the warm water well. And then, scrub the opening of the filter with soap water to loosen the debris from the area. 

how to clean dishwasher filter
  • Step 5. Insert back the filters into the machine

Dry the filter well and insert the filters back into the dishwasher. If there’s a flat filter, then insert it first and then lock the cylindrical filter in the washer. 

Remember that knowing how to clean a dishwasher cleaner filter is equally important as knowing the cleaning process for the dishwasher. 

Tips for maintaining cleanliness in a dishwasher

Your dishwasher is the lifeline of the kitchen. And kitchen freshness is well maintained with a dishwasher. It swiftly cleaned your dishes and prevented the foul smell of dishes. As your responsibility is to ensure the smooth functioning of this machine, here are some tips for your help.

clean dishwasher
  • Never ignore periodically wash the dishwasher, or else it will not function well. 
  • Similarly, like periodical cleaning, running the dishwasher is equally essential. It is so because it prevents the buildup of grease and dirt in the spray nozzles and armholes. At the same time, don’t overuse the machine. 
  • Use a good quality dishwasher to efficiently lose the debris. 
  • Regular servicing will also help in maintaining the dishwashing machine. 
  • Every time you clean the inner machine, scrub the gasket. It will help you to seal the door tightly. 
  • To enhance the life of the dishwasher, scrape away the extra leftover foods from your dishes before you place them in the machine. 
  • Don’t try to wash heavy sets of dishes at one time. It will put pressure on the machine.
  • Mark a date in the calendar to clean both dishwasher and the filter thoroughly. 
  • Check common dishwasher problems and solutions to quickly troubleshoot them.
  • If you have a short space in your kitchen try stacking the dishwasher and washing machine together. It will help in cleaning, as well as ease of operation.
neat and clean dishwasher machine

Dishwasher Cleaning: Conclusion

The dishwasher is one of the significant devices used in our kitchen. While it lasts longer than one year, servicing is regularly needed. And cleanliness is essential to maintain the dishwasher. This article will help you with having an idea about how to clean a dishwasher! 

Similarly, like the dishwasher, maintaining the cleanliness of the filters is also important. You can easily detach the filters by twisting them in opposite directions. And at last, know some tips for the maintenance of the dishwasher by following this article. Also, compare dishwasher vs hand washing to know which is better and why.

Knowing how to maintain the cleanliness of the dishwasher will help you to have a clean kitchen for a long time for sure. 


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