When you buy a dishwasher you save up a lot of time and effort because you no longer have to wash the dishes by hand, but you should know that dishwashers actually develop stains that can sometimes be hard to remove like water stains for example. Start cleaning your dishwasher regularly to give it a longer life span and make it work as if it’s its first time.
When you think about cleaning the dishwasher, you think about all of the expenses you will have to deal with, but actually, you don’t have to because we bring you 6 methods you can use to clean your dishwasher.
1. Regular cleaning with baking soda and vinegar
Source: COOKTOP COVE
Make sure to clean your dishwasher at least once a month or once every two weeks to make sure that water stains are on a controllable level. Use baking soda and vinegar powder to clean the machine by placing a cup of white vinegar on your dishwasher’s top rack, then run a hot cycle. Once done, start sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher then run another cycle. Just like that, you have a clean dishwasher.
2. Use a toothbrush to remove mold and mildew
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Some dishwashers build up mold, gunk, and mildew in areas that you won’t notice that often. Most of the time, you can’t reach those areas, that is why you should use a toothbrush soaked in soapy warm water to gain access to those areas and clean them efficiently. If you have mold or mildew in your machine, use a 3% hydrogen peroxide to get rid of them.
3. Clean your dishwasher with essential oils
Source: COOKTOP COVE
To freshen up your dishwasher, simply start by adding a cup of vinegar to the bottom of your machine, then sprinkle a cup of baking soda on top of the vinegar and add some drops of lemon essential oil. Once done run a hot cycle and you are done.
4. Clean the filter weekly
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Make sure to clean the fine filter at least once a week because if debris and gunk start filling the filter, the dishwasher will start leaking water, causing a flood in your kitchen. The process takes on a few minutes of your time, remove the filter then rub the filter clean with the help of dishwashing detergent, then rinse the filter and put it back where it belongs.
5. Look under the course filter
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Make sure to clean the bottom side of your dishwasher, right below the course filter because it is a place that gathers a lot of unseen gunk. Mix white vinegar and baking soda to create a paste, then apply it on the filthy areas and let it sit for about 20 minutes, then use a sponge and start rubbing gently. To effectively clean the gunk, make sure to use the paste several times.
6. Make your own Lemi Shine dishwasher cleaner
Source: COOKTOP COVE
If you have food debris and water stains, make sure to use the Lemi Shine dishwasher cleaner to get rid of the hard stains. If you can’t afford one, then make one at home by mixing 1/3 cup of citric acid with 2/3 cup of baking soda and two teaspoons of lemon essential oil. Empty your dishwasher and sprinkle 1/4 cup of the DIY cleaner, then run a hot cycle.
