The dishwasher is one of the most used appliances in your home. It’s constantly running, which means it can be easy to become dirty and clogged. If you’re looking for an easy way to clean your dishwasher, try using unscented vinegar.
It’s important to keep your dishwasher clean because it is constantly running. When you clean your dishwasher with vinegar, it will run better and last longer.
First, remove the bottom rack of the dishwasher so you have complete access to everything inside. Then, remove the filter and spray arm so you can reach the entire inside of the appliance. Spray everything down with white vinegar (this works better than apple cider vinegar) using a plastic spray bottle or squirt bottle.
When you’re done spraying everything down, replace the filter and spray arm and put a bowl or cup of white vinegar on the bottom rack where it won’t tip over. Run a full cycle on hot wash/high heat setting without any dishes in it. This will help sanitize the inside of the machine as well as get rid of any lingering bad smells that might be lurking about. You should run this once a week or once every two weeks depending on how often you use your dishwasher to keep it clean
You can use only vinegar in your dishwasher. Because of the way dishwashers are designed, excess detergent will drain away once the wash cycle has started. However, for optimal results, you should use a dishwasher detergent as well as vinegar.
When using only vinegar in your dishwasher, be sure to use white distilled vinegar instead of apple cider or other types of vinegar. The acidity in white distilled vinegar is high enough to dissolve mineral deposits and eat away at soap scum.
To clean your dishwasher with vinegar, simply fill a dishwasher-safe mug half full with white distilled vinegar, and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher on a hot water setting with no dishes inside.
After running an empty load with just vinegar, run another empty load with baking soda sprinkled on the bottom of the dishwasher. This will help remove lingering odors from your machine.
Dishwashers are among the biggest water hogs in the kitchen, so it makes sense to use a natural cleaning agent that will properly clean your dishes and also save you money on your water bill. Vinegar is perfect for this: It kills bacteria, cuts grease and removes food stains from cups and glasses. Adding vinegar to your dishwasher will also get rid of any lingering odors. Using only vinegar in your dishwasher will not only save you money, but it also won’t cause any damage to the machine or to your dishes; however, it can leave behind a slight odor in your dishwasher. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, there are ways to add scents to your dishwasher to make it smell fresher.
Step 1
Pour about 3/4 cup of vinegar into the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Vinegar is an all-natural cleaning agent that works especially well on hard water deposits and soap scum, which both form on the inside walls of a dishwasher as part of its normal operation.
Step 2
Run the dishwasher through a full cycle on the hottest setting possible. The heat combined with the vinegar will help to remove any stains or build-up that has formed on the inside walls and floor
It is recommended to run the dishwasher empty with a cup of unscented white vinegar in the bottom once a month. The acidic properties of vinegar will help keep your dishwasher clean and smelling fresh.
It is not recommended to use scented vinegar in your dishwasher, as any scents added may react with other substances (such as detergents) in the dishwasher and cause odors on your dishes or leave residue on your dishwasher parts.
My previous dishwasher smelled terrible and the dishes were left coated with white residue. I tried everything to get rid of the smell and residue, including running empty cycles with vinegar, adding a rinse aid, purchasing expensive detergents, and more, but nothing worked. The smell was so bad that it was making me feel sick.
I needed a new dishwasher. There was absolutely no way I was going back to that old dishwasher. But once I started shopping for a new dishwasher I discovered what a minefield it is out there: there are all sorts of brands and models and it wasn’t easy to figure out which ones were good and which ones were bad.
I wanted an affordable dishwasher that would clean well without being too noisy or using too much water or electricity, and that would not develop an odor no matter what I put in it. It seemed like a tall order, but after doing some research I found a few models that seemed promising:
The fill valve is located at the bottom of your dishwasher. If you have trouble opening the valve, use a flat head screwdriver to pry the cap off of it. Remove all debris from the valve and surrounding area, then replace the cap.
The water inlet valve is located on the back of your dishwasher and connects to the fill valve that we cleaned in step 1. It also may be clogged with debris, so remove any debris from this area.
The spray arm is located underneath your dishwasher’s top rack and sprays water out of several nozzles to clean your dishes. It may become clogged with food residue or mineral deposits, which will prevent the spray arm from spinning freely while the dishwasher is running. Using a small brush and some vinegar, scrub away any residue along the nozzles of your spray arm.
If you have a filter, it’s usually located at the bottom center of your dishwasher (underneath where your dishes go). Remove and clean it using soap and water to remove any food particles or residue that may have collected there.
by Shannon Lush