Isn’t it weird to think how little we clean something that we rely on to do so much cleaning for you? Now I don’t know about your house but there are days we go through so many dishes the dishwasher gets run two or three times. However, have you ever stopped to look at how really clean your dishwasher is? (I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. )
This seemed like a crazy thing when I first found out I should be cleaning my dishwasher. But once you crack that dishwasher open and look around you will see what I am talking about. It is amazing how much soap scum residue accumulates along with grease and food particles. These things will eventually create an odor in your dishwasher because of bacteria growth. Cleaning your dishwasher once a month using one of the following methods will help keep it fresh and clean.
Tips For How To Clean Your Dishwasher:
Vinegar and baking soda– Vinegar is something that is extremely versatile since it is often used for cooking, getting rid of weeds and even cleaning. When you combine vinegar with baking soda, you have created a cleaning gem. Start by removing the filter from your dishwasher and soaking it in hot, soapy water for 15 minutes. After you put the filter back, pour one cup of vinegar into the dishwasher bottom and run the machine for a cleaning cycle, with the dishwasher empty. Once the cycle is complete, sprinkle baking soda on the dishwasher bottom, let it set overnight and run another cleaning cycle, again with the machine empty.
Heinz White Vinegar Distilled – 128 oz
ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, 13.5 Pound
Borax- It is important to start off by noting that Borax is not the same thing as baking soda. Borax is sodium borate and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Borax is a very effective cleaner for your dishwasher. Sprinkle a layer of Borax on the bottom of the dishwasher, using about ¼ cup. You can add dishes with the Borax since it will not only clean and freshen your machine but will get rid of spots from glasses. Use your regular dishwasher detergent and run a normal cleaning cycle.
20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster 4 Pounds
Bleach- You have probably already discovered that you can use bleach for cleaning an array of things. If you have a dishwasher that has stainless steel inside, you don’t want to use this method since bleach is harmful to stainless steel. Bleach is great for killing any mold or mildew that may be present inside your dishwasher. Fill a cup with bleach and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher and run at the hottest cycle your dishwasher allows.
Clorox HE Performance Bleach, 121 Oz.
Dishwasher Cleaner Tabs- These can be a time saver and a lot easier! I have used them a couple times with great results, was especially handy when I moved into a rental house that hadn’t been lived in for a couple months was amazing for cleaning up the dishwasher while I focused on the rest of the house!! I always keep these a pack of these on hand and luckily when I notice I get low I order another pack from Amazon with my prime and have it here in two days. (Don’t have Prime? You NEED for easy online shopping!!)
Whirlpool W10282479 Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner-12 Count Jumbo Size Pack
How often do you clean your dishwasher? Do you have any tips?
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner-12 Count Jumbo Size PackHeinz White Vinegar Distilled – 128 ozARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, 13.5 Pound
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Linda says
I was really good about this when we got the new one. Last week, I cleaned the filter for the first time in awhile. Yikes@ so greasy. Thanks for these tips. Will do after the current load. visit from the Scoop. Linda
Lynn Spencer says
Thanks Jenny, going to run some borax in my dishwasher tonight!
Lynn
Sahana says
We don’t have dishwasher. But I will share these tips with my friends and sisters who has. But I use vinegar and baking soda quite a lot in cleaning things. Especially my hubby use them for cleaning his coffee mug.
jo n says
If I remember correctly, I would void my warrantee if I do anything more than cleaning out the filters.
Kim says
Great tips here!
Kim
Seana Turner says
Have to admit I don’t think I’ve cleaned my dishwasher. Good to know that I should use bleach with my stainless steel!!
Nina says
Hi! So glad you shared this advice at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. We have really hard water, and even with a new water softener, there are still rust and mineral build-up stains in our dishwasher. I’m going to try some of your ideas and see if it will help with some of those annoying problems.
Olivia says
Hi Jenny,
I have used the first tip, baking soda and vinegar, for years now. I swear by it! I use those two ingredients to clean array of things. Since my coffee maker is a percolator it has all sorts of nooks and crannies. I sprinkle baking soda on each part and pour vinegar over it. Once the foaming ceases, I can usually wipe away any grime without scrubbing too hard. Baking soda and peroxide work well too. I know, so old school, but I’m not about to dump Ajax or Comet in my coffee pot. Yuck!
I use baking soda in my tubs and spritz it really good with Mrs. Myers multi-surface cleaner. Then I follow up with a light bleach spray down. Toilets, though, now those germ bowls get filled up with Clorox or Lysol toilet bowl cleaner. No way am I go environmentally friendly on those icky things. Ha ha.
P.S
Baking soda works wonderfully to get funky odors out of clothing that was forgotten in the washer. Just run clothes back through a wash cycle with about 1 cup of baking soda. Poof, no more yucky odor. Your baking soda and vinegar recipe works to clear odors out of front loading washers too. I don’t have a front loader anymore. We had two machines break in a matter of 10 years and the non-stop odor inside the machine was a constant battle unless I left the door open for several hours after a load of wash went through. Weird thing…. I don’t even live in a humid state. In fact, I live in an Arctic desert that happens to be green and lush. Why there would be odors in front loaders doesn’t even make sense to me.
Kim says
Love this approach! I’m going to need to deep clean our dishwasher. It has been WAY too long!
Erin @ Stay At Home Yogi says
Great tips! We are relatively new homeowners so I’m really interested in learning to take good care of my appliances so they last longer!
Karyl Henry says
Thanks for these tips Jenny! I buy the dishwasher magic at the grocery store. Not a money saver, but since I only clean the dishwasher once a month (it’s just me in the house), I figure it all evens out. I had never thought of doing vinegar and baking soda, but I do use that trick monthly to clean out my shower drain and it works so well.
Amberjane says
I love using the vinegar and baking soda method of cleaning
Lindsey says
I need to do this SO BAD. Seriously, I’m cringing just thinking about it. Vinegar and baking soda for me since I have stainless steel. Thanks for sharing! Pinning!
FABBY says
Thank you so much for sharing this cleaning method.
Enjoy your weekend.
FABBY
FABBY says
Pinned it too.
Fabby
Julie says
Years ago I would buy the special cleaner stuff but for the last few years I’ve just done the vinegar and baking soda each month and it does work great, I use it on our shower drains and the front loader washing machine too. SImple and effective.
chellie says
#trueconfessions~ I’ve never cleaned my dishwasher! But I will now, thanks for sharing how to do this! Hope you’ll join us again next week at FTAF!
Karren says
This is a great reminder to remove the filter and proceed to clean and freshen.
Karren
Carol says
Baking soda and vinegar are my go to for most cleaning. Yes, yes, yes you must clean your dishwasher!
nylse says
I appreciate this reminder especially since I hardly clean my filter. I’ll bookmark so that I do this properly.
Sandra L Garth says
I must admit to being a tad lazy about cleaning the dishwasher. Perfect timing and great tips, thank you!
Disney Magic Mommy says
I had never thought about the Borax, i need to do that. When ours needs a deodorizing, I use a Lemi Shine pouch, but those are kind of expensive so I don’t do it often!
Roseann Hampton says
It is amazing how much junk accumulates in there! I know I definitely do not clean mine often enough!
Amy says
I’m so glad I found this! I was just looking for ways to clean my dishwasher without buying Affresh or something similar – thank you for posting!