How To Clean A Dishwasher For The Best Results

Among other tools in the kitchen, the dishwasher is a cleaning tool that stands out. It must be cleaned at regular intervals. But before cleaning the dishwasher, a study of its anatomy is a must with the process of cleaning it manually.

1. Exterior

The outer surface of the dishwasher has a control panel and a door, therefore to clean the outer surface is a task to conquer. The most important thing to keep in mind while cleaning the exterior is for the door handle and control panel to be avoided because of the electricity.

2. Filter

The dishwashers have filters in them that are responsible for collecting and trapping all the debris as well as other tough residues that can be agents of blockage.

Therefore cleaning the filter is a must because it gets rid of any remaining dirt that is still stubbornly occupying the space. Otherwise, the dishes that are being placed inside the dishwasher will not be clean as the dishwasher is unclean in itself.

3. Spray arms

Spray arms usually get blocked due to buildups as these are there to spray water and detergent onto the utensils. These are the parts that distribute the water and are responsible for cleaning the dishes kept inside.

This water forms a thin layer from the particles found dissolved inside the water that later can form into blockages. These blockages can be the buildup of the water residue or the debris left by the use of detergents or food.

4. Utensil holder and shelves

There are utensil holders and utensil shelves inside the dishwasher machine which are easily removable keep the utensils in place by holding them well while they are being cleaned inside the dishwasher.

Even if the water force inside the dishwasher is extremely high and it has the capacity to scatter the dishes here and there, these utensil holders hold them back from breaking inside the dishwasher during cleaning.

These shelves are the biggest reason for the dishwasher to be able to wash the fragile cutleries.

5. Interior Tub

The dishwashers can sometimes emit a bad odor after multiple dishwashing which is the result of the food residue or other debris being left inside the dishwasher.

However, it can be cleaned by running the water cycle with only a simple cleaning solution. The absence of kitchen utensils gives ample space for the water to run better and clean the dishwasher by removing odors thoroughly.

6. Seal and Gasket

The dishwasher has a gasket made from rubber that can be found at the edge of the door entrance of the dishwasher attached to the door's inner surface. Cleaning the seal will clear it up from any leftover residue that is attached to the gasket.

As the residue can be removed, once it is done so, it prevents obstruction caused by the layer formed from residue and the gasket can do its job with grippy strength.

Among these many produced dishwashers, six varieties of dishwashers can be found. All of these types are different on their own which are all listed below

• Built-in Dishwashers: As most common dishwashers, built-in are used frequently. It doesn't take that much counter space and most of the time, these have more features than portable ones. This variety is used by installing them under the countertop
• Portable Dishwashers: Because these varieties of dishwashers are not installed permanently, these types of dishwashers are the perfect to choose to incorporate in places that have less space. These also add additional countertop space and as these are moveable, they use sink faucets to lower price points.  
• Integrated Dishwashers: These dishwashers are panel-ready dishwashers and these kinds integrate well with the kitchen designs. These are pleasing to see because the panels are custom-made. Such custom panels are attached at the front, like a cabinet which makes the kitchen look beautiful in an aesthetical way. 
• Countertop Dishwashers: These popular kinds of dishwashers are the type that are chosen for small kitchens. The countertop dishwashers have smaller sizes than portable dishwashers and these can save a lot of space. For is easy to set this dishwasher up over the counter, these types of dishwashers are popular among dense kitchens.
• Drawer Dishwashers: Drawer dishwashers are the type that have different drawers placed separately inside. And all these separate drawers can be run individually and separately. These types of dishwashers are ideal energy savers as they can run for smaller loads as well. 
• Smart Dishwashers: The dishwashers that carry modern technology itself with traits like monitoring and controlling by smartphones are known as smart dishwashers. These are modern and very convenient to use as no physical presence is required to run them. Only putting in the utensils needs to be done manually, the rest can be done through the phone. 

The dishwasher cleans other utensils and kitchen tools. However, during the cleaning process, those tools and utensils leave their grease and food debris that combine and become a home for bacteria. Therefore, only when the dishwasher is clean, it can guarantee that the utensils are cleaned properly.

Prevents Clogging:

If the dishwasher is clean, it can function better. The filters, jet sprays, and water flow, every part of the dishwasher functions relatively faster, better, and also cleaner.

Once the dishwasher is clean and unclogged, all of its functions can be seen functioning at their best performance which is a huge assistance to make the cleaning of the utensils faster and save a lot of effort.

Energy saving:

The clean and uncongested dishwasher runs in its optimal condition because there is neither any debris nor any occlusion that is blocking the dishwasher from any part. This in turn will save a lot of energy, including the physical energy of humans to the electrical energy. Thus saving time and money.

Long life:

Cleaning the dishwasher properly and regularly keeps the parts regulated in their optimal condition. This is one of the ways to know that a dishwasher not only saves energy but also burdens itself less when it is cleaned regularly.

This also improves the condition of the dishwasher thus, increasing its life expectancy exponentially.

Minimum Repairs:

A dishwasher is a machine that might have to be repaired again and again. Anything can go wrong in any part of the machine either filter or wires or motor.

However, if the dishwasher is being cleaned well enough and not a lot of debris is being jammed in the entrance and exits of the multiple parts of the dishwasher then the reiraing can be reduced.

Tools Required

• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Toothpick
• Toothbrush
• Citric acid powder
• Microfiber cloth
• Rubber gloves

Instructions

To clean the dishwasher with above mentioned ingredients following instructions must be followed. Each of these steps has its own importance which is why following every mentioned step, one by one is necessary to get a properly cleaned dishwasher.

1. Clean The Tub 

Open the gate of the dishwasher and inspect the dishwasher for any residue or odor. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar on the top rack and 2 teaspoons of baking soda in the bottom and then run the empty dishwasher without any detergent.

2. Safety Measure

Unplug the dishwasher off of electricity after done and break the power source off. Then wear rubber gloves on as they will protect the hands responsibly during cleaning.

3. Clean Individually

The individual parts inside the dishwasher must be cleaned thoroughly for a good cleanup of the dishwasher. Take the removable parts off of the dishwasher one by one and then clean them individually.

• Dishracks and dish holders: Empty the rinsed dishwasher by removing the dishracks and dish holders. Wash them individually with soapy water or can also clean them slowly by wiping them with a damp microfiber cloth. A toothbrush can be used to brush off the debris to remove the clogging made on the surface of the racks and dish holders.
• Filter: Take a look at the filter that is usually at the bottom of the dishwasher. If there are obstructions, brush it well to remove the clogs and run it under clean water to wash it clean. If needed use a toothpick to pick out the residue from small pores that cannot be reached or cleaned while cleaning with water and brush.
• Spray arms: Go through the spray arms and inspect them for any residue buildup. If there is, use the toothbrush to brush to remove the obstructions or blockages made by stuck food, leftover detergents, or water clogs. 
• Seal and Gasket: Take a thorough look at the rubber gasket at the door of the dishwasher, this gasket is a seal that accumulates lots of slimy clogs of residue. Wipe the seal with a damp microfiber cloth and it will be clean enough to do its job.

4. Make the cleaning solution

Make two mixtures. For the first, mix a mild detergent in water. However, for the second mixture, add 2 and a half tablespoons of baking powder in 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and mix them well. Take two microfiber cloths and submerge them inside the both mix and solution separately.

5. Wipe the Exterior

Take the damp microfiber cloth that was dipped in mild detergent and wipe the outside surface of the dishwasher first. After done, wipe the second time to take the detergent off with the cleaning solution.

Wipe off all the outer surfaces from the top of the dishwasher to the sides except for the control panel. Wipe them all dryly to prevent electric current.

6. Reassemble and restore

Once all the parts are done being cleaned, assemble them back to the dishwasher in their dedicated spots. Do it one by one. After all the parts are reassembled back to their designated place, turn the power back on.

In the case of the still-wet surface that has not dried out, let the solution water dry completely out before turning the power on.

Maintainence

Maintaining a clean dishwasher for a longer period is also a very important factor for cleaning as this maintenance extends the life of the dishwasher. Here are some of the ways that can used to keep the dishwasher clean for longer.

• Rinsing the food grits and scraping them off before putting them in the dishwasher will save from forming the residue.
• To stop the debris from forming frequently, use hot water to clean the utensils. It improves effective sanitization.
• To clean the utensils thoroughly, keep the space for the water to run freely. Overloading the utensils can impact qualitative washing.
• Keep checking the filter regularly on certain days or keep certain gaps in between the cleaning days that are scheduled for a particular day.

A dishwasher is undoubtedly a cleaning tool that is often ignored. However, in terms of cleaning, it needs the same amount of attention as any other tool or equipment that can be found to be useful inside the kitchen. 

Daily Cleaning

Daily cleaning can be done within five to ten minutes or so. Things like cleaning up the leftover residue and washing off the debris can be done daily as this will lessen the burden of the dishwasher.

Not giving those residue an opportunity to block the dishwasher in some way is a good way to go as doing so will keep the dishwasher in its optimal condition with efficiency. 

Weekly Cleaning

Taking time off once a week for the dishwasher cleaning can be more than just one task to complete. Clean the exterior with a cleaning solution. Wipe the whole exterior of the dishwasher and also wipe the seal on the insides of the door to get rid of any stickiness that is layered or can layer later.

Wiping off the exterior and the gasket once a week is good enough as this will not take much time but will keep the dishwasher in good condition. And being in good condition gives better performance making washing the dishes easier.

Monthly Cleaning

The detailed cleaning process mentioned above is also called deep cleaning which can be done once a month. Deep cleaning needs time and patience.

Therefore, deep cleaning once a month is enough for the dishwasher as well as our own schedule. If the deep cleaning is always done regularly and on a certain day of the month then it can be a good embracing to the schedule   

When Required

Sometimes the dishwasher may mishap. This is inevitable that the dishwasher might have issues on some days. Clean the dishwasher during those days as required.

Some days one part may not work and some days another, but if that happens, cleaning the dishwasher right away is the good way to go. In fact, that might need the help of the professionals which can happen without warning. So. cleaning them as required is necessary

Although the dishwasher is to clean the tools and dishes, it also accumulates dirt. Here are some tips, if followed, which can help to maintain the dishwasher and let it remain cleaner for a longer period.

• Lock the filter properly before using the dishwasher.
• Do not use rough and abrasive pads or cleaners as they can scratch the outer surface.
• To avoid streaks, clean by wiping the stainless steel towards the direction of the metal's grain.