Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Removing leftovers
• Part 2 of 3: Using a vinegar wash program
• Part 3 of 3: Maintaining your dishwasher
• Necessities

A dishwasher should be kept clean to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. However, it can be very tedious and inefficient to hand wash the entire device with soap and water. Fortunately, there are alternative and easier ways to clean your dishwasher. By using agents like distilled white vinegar and baking soda, you can quickly clean the inside of your dishwasher just by running a wash cycle.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Removing leftovers

1. Empty the dishwasher and take out the bottom drying rack. When you have removed all plates and cutlery from the dishwasher, carefully pull out the bottom drying rack. Pull the rack towards you until it slides out of the dishwasher.
2. Remove large pieces of food from the dishwasher drain. The dishwasher drain can sometimes become clogged with larger pieces of food. Find the drain in the bottom of your dishwasher and take the food out with your hands. Then wipe the area with a cloth.
   • Regularly removing food scraps from the dishwasher's drain will improve the performance of the appliance and save you money in the long run.
   • A clogged drain can damage the dishwasher's pump and scratch your dishes.
3. Take out the filter and clean it. The filter has small holes and catches the dirt that comes from the inside of the dishwasher. A filter is usually attached with screws that you have to loosen to remove the filter. After removing the filter, soak it in a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap for 10 minutes, then scrub it clean with a sponge.
4. Put the lower drying rack and filter back in the dishwasher. When you have cleaned the filter and the drain, you can place the drying rack and filter back in the dishwasher so that they can also be cleaned with vinegar.

Part 2 of 3: Using a vinegar wash program

1. Place a container of white vinegar in the top rack. Pour 250 ml of white vinegar into a container or cup and place it in the top rack of your dishwasher. During the wash cycle, the vinegar will help sanitize your dishwasher.
   • Make sure to use a dishwasher-safe container.
2. Sprinkle 200 grams of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. Baking soda helps to absorb the unpleasant odors and makes your dishwasher smell fresh. Measure 200 grams of baking soda into a measuring cup and sprinkle it on the bottom of the dishwasher.
3. Set the dishwasher to a washing program with hot water. Press the button for the washing program with hot water on the front of your dishwasher and let the appliance do its work. Set an alarm so you don't forget to come back when the wash cycle is halfway.
4. Stop the washing program when it is halfway and let the vinegar do its work for 20 minutes. Pause the washing program and open the dishwasher door. The vinegar and baking soda will remove the caked on dirt and any unpleasant odors.
5. Wipe the inside of the dishwasher when the washing program has finished. Use a dry cotton rag or cloth to wipe the inside of the dishwasher until it is dry. Maintaining your dishwasher this way once a month will prevent food residues from accumulating and the dishwasher will not stink.

Part 3 of 3: Maintaining your dishwasher

1. Wipe the outside of the dishwasher and the door seal. The door seal of a dishwasher gets dirty quickly. Wet a cloth with distilled white vinegar and then run it over the soft white plastic on the door gasket. Examine the door seal to see if you have removed all the dirt and food. Wipe the outside of your dishwasher with the same cloth.
2. Clean your dishwasher with vinegar once a month. Cleaning your dishwasher monthly will keep it smelling fresh and prevent bacteria from growing in it. If you notice that your dishwasher stinks and it stops working even after cleaning, it probably needs service.
3. Wipe the washing racks and the spray arm with vinegar. If you want to remove caked-on food from the laundry racks, you can take them out of the dishwasher and wipe them with distilled white vinegar. You can also remove the spray arm from the dishwasher and soak it in distilled white vinegar. This will help loosen up dirt and food scraps so that your dishwasher works better.
   • The spray arm sprays water on the dishes and is located at the bottom of the dishwasher.
   • Make sure to read the dishwasher owner's manual when removing the spray arm.
   • Switch off the group to which the dishwasher is connected when you unscrew the spray arm.

Necessities

• Cloth
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dishwasher-safe container