Washing dishes after cooking meals is a challenging task for many of us. But thanks to the innovation of the dishwasher, it has become easier to wash utensils now. This expensive gadget needs proper maintenance because it does all the dirty work for you and, thus, it is important to clean it. Cleaning a dishwasher prevents the pungent, wet food odour and also keeps the dishes clean and shiny. So, learning the basics of cleaning this gadget is a must, but if you don't know how to clean a dishwasher correctly, then these tips will be super beneficial for you.
How Often To Clean Your Dishwasher?
It is important to deep clean the dishwasher. Photo Credit: istock
The first thing you should know is how often can you clean the dishwasher? This depends totally on your usage. If you use it daily, then removing bits of food has to be done every time you use the dishwasher. Once in a week you should clean the filter and wipe the door edges and corners. The interior can be cleaned monthly or even twice a month if it does not look clean. Clean the exterior accordingly if there are any stains on it.
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Here Are 5 Tips To Clean A Dishwasher:
1. Remove The Waste Food
Make it a practice to remove any food particles you see after each dishwashing cycle. Check the bottom rack and look for any remaining food that might have stuck inside. Simply remove it with your hands or a paper towel. If you don't do it, the foot will start rotting and release bad odour.
2. Wash The Parts
You can easily remove some parts and wash them. Take out the utensil holder and dishwasher racks. Now keep them in water and add 1 cup of vinegar. Keep it like that for 20 minutes and then rinse and wipe the parts properly. Once they are fully dry, you can place them back in the dishwasher.
Take out the removable parts and clean them. Photo Credit: istock
3. Clean The Grime
With every cycle of wash, grime accumulates inside the dishwasher, which can lead to bad odour. So, it is important to clean the interior at least once a week. Start with emptying the dishwasher, then add 1 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda in a bowl. Don't use these two together. Place it on the top rack and run the hottest cycle on the dishwasher. Once done, let the dishwasher dry naturally.
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3. Clean The Filter
Ensure to clean the dishwasher filter weekly as it holds a lot of waste food. Pull out the filter and rinse under water. Now clean it with dishwashing soap and scrub it properly. Wash it with water again and clean dry it naturally. One it is clean, fix it back inside.
4. Clean The Drain
The soapy water, dirt and oil - all goes down through the drain, which makes it greasy and gives unpleasant smell. Clean this with a mixture of vinegar and baking powder. In a bowl, add vinegar and 2 spoons of baking powder. Put the slurry inside the drain and let it sit for 12-15 minutes. Now pour hot water in the drain. This will help in clearing out the clogs.
5. Clean The Exterior
Don't forget to clean the dishwasher's exterior. The doors and edges get stained and often collect dirt. Simply clean it with a dry cloth first, then dip the cloth in soapy water and wipe it from outside. Make sure the spots are removed, but don't rub the cloth harshly. Now clean it with a dry cloth and your exterior will be shiny.
Always keep the exterior clean and shiny. Photo Credit: istock
Note: Before you start the cleaning process, make sure to check the instruction catalogue which you get along with the dishwasher.