How to clean your dishwasher in 5 simple steps
by Janine, Feb 2022Let’s be honest – the appliances in your kitchen don’t get nearly as much TLC as they deserve. Your dishwasher saves you from the dreaded washing-up duties, so we don’t want to take it for granted. But how to clean your dishwasher properly and maximise its performance?
To help you, our expert cleaning perfectionists have put together this straightforward guide on how to clean your dishwasher in 5 easy steps.
Equipment needed to clean your dishwasher
First things first, gather your equipment. Here’s what we’d recommend having to hand when cleaning your dishwasher:
- Warm water
- White wine vinegar
- Baking soda
- Toothpicks
- Toothbrush
- Clean microfibre cloths
- Rubber gloves
Clean the dishwasher filter
Start by cleaning the filter out. You will need to remove the filter, the racks and the utensils holder, making a mental note of the order everything came out so you can put it back in easily. Remove all food and debris that’s lodged in the filter.
To make life easy, have a sink or a bucket filled with warm water and a cup of white wine vinegar ready, and pop the filter and associated bits into the water. Leave them to soak for at least half an hour, and then rinse.
Remove debris and wipe the insides of the dishwasher
With the racks out of the way, you should have a clear line of sight into the dishwasher. So, you should be able to see any lingering debris (i.e. the pasta you ate 2 weeks ago!) Remove any of this, wipe down the sides and back of the appliance, and also wipe down the spray arms.
Remember to check in any crevices or small holes for any old food and use your toothpicks/toothbrush to remove! Once complete, put the filter and racks back inside the dishwasher.
Run white vinegar through the dishwasher
You can buy ‘dishwasher cleaners’ that are expensive – but we recommend simply using white wine vinegar. Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with the substance, place it in the bottom of the empty dishwasher and run the machine on a short cycle.
The vinegar will remove any remaining debris, grime and residue. This is a simple and cost-effective hack for cleaning your dishwasher and leaving it gleaming!
Run baking soda through the dishwasher
When that’s finished, run another short cycle, but this time, with a cup of baking soda in the bowl.
Baking soda is a highly effective stain-remover when it comes to cleaning your dishwasher and leaves it smelling fresh.
Finish by cleaning your dishwasher door
Now let’s clean the dishwasher door! Use a cleaner that’s specifically designed for your dishwasher’s material – i.e. if it’s made from stainless steel, look for a cleaner that’s designed for stainless steel.
Use this substance along with your microfibre cloth to give the internal and external of the door a good going over.
How to clean your dishwasher: FAQs
Why should you regularly clean your dishwasher?
You’ll notice that cleaning your dishwasher means the machine runs far more efficiently and your dishes come out sparkling. So, you want to try and maintain this as long as possible.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
As a rule of thumb, you should clean your dishwasher every 6 months. But as soon as you notice your dishes coming out of the wash looking a bit grimy or dull, it’s a surefire sign that the appliance is in need of some TLC!
Cleaning your dishwasher the easy way
Of course… if cleaning your dishwasher feels like just another tedious task on your already too-long to-do list, why not give the perfectionists at Well Polished a call?
Our cleaners can include dishwasher cleaning as part of a regular service or tackle it during a one-off deep clean, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.