Keeping your dishwasher clean will not only will help it look and smell better, but it will help it to perform better and possibly extend the life of the appliance. Use eraser sponges to clean the plastic items inside your dishwasher without any added detergent or dish soap.
Cleaning the Inside of the Dishwasher’s Tub with Eraser Sponges
Use a paper towels to remove any large food debris from the bottom of the tub. Next, you will want to loosen any grime or leftover food. While your dishwasher is empty, place a cup of vinegar on the top rack,. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher and then choose the cleaning cycle or a hot-water cleaning cycle. The vinegar and baking soda will help clean the dishwasher and remove any bad odors.
Some blogs suggest cleaning the inside of your dishwasher with bleach. However, if your dishwasher is stainless steel on the inside, this could corrode and ruin the finish of the dishwasher. Instead use an approved commercial dishwasher cleaner or the baking soda and vinegar method.
Next, check to see if your dishwasher has a removable filer that needs to be cleaned. The filter traps larger food particles to prevent the dishwasher’s water pump from becoming clogged. This can also be a source of bad smells if it has not been cleaned in a while. Remove the filter and wash it using warm soapy water. Use a soft sponge to wipe off any stuck-on food particles, or small stickers. An eraser sponge, like our large erasers sponges, can be used to remove grime on any plastic parts of the filter. Return the filter back to its housing before running your next dishwasher load.
Removing Stains and Smells From Inside the Dishwasher Tub
After the cycle is complete and your dishwasher is cool, use an eraser sponge to remove any grime from plastic racks, utensil baskets and wash arms.
The detergent dispenser can become encrusted with old soap which can prevent it from opening during the wash cycle. Remove any excess detergent from around and inside the plastic dispenser using an eraser sponge. Test the lid of the dispenser to make sure it shuts properly.
Check the lower dishwasher spray arms to make sure the holes are free and clear of any blockages, like food particles. During your dishwasher’s wash cycle, water and detergent spray through these holes to clean your dishes, so clogged spray arms might be preventing your dishwasher from properly cleaning your dishes.
Clean the Gasket Seal Around the Dishwasher Tub. The plastic or rubber-like seal around a dishwasher tub opening helps to secure the door and prevent any water leakage. Over time, the seal can become encrusted with dirt and grim made up from food particles, soap and dirt, leading to unpleasant smells. Use an eraser sponge, or just a wet sponge with dishwashing soap to remove any dirt, grime or food particles from the seal. Be sure to dry it using a microfiber cloth or towel.
Polish a Dishwasher Door Using This Cleaning Trick!
You can polish and clean the inside and outside of Stainless Steel Appliances using microfiber cloths. To give your stainless steel appliance door a nice shine on the outside, use a drop of olive oil and rub it in using a microfiber cloth.
Find out more about the “Advantages of Microfiber Towels for Cleaning,” on our blog post.