Dishwasher cleaning in four simple steps

Although most dishwashers will run smoothly for quite a while, over time food, dirt, grease, and detergent can build up and get stuck inside the filter and main compartment of the appliance. This may sound contradictory – after all, shouldn’t an appliance used to clean dishes clean itself? Dishwashers usually do a great job at relieving us of the most dreaded kitchen task, but as with most appliances, they function best when they’re well-maintained. That’s why it’s essential to know how to clean your dishwasher. Once you start noticing an unpleasant smell hitting you as soon as you open the door, or dishes that aren’t coming out properly cleaned, you know something is wrong. In that case, it’s time to show your machine some love and give it a good scrub – inside and outside. Here’s four easy steps, explaining what we think is the best way to clean your dishwasher.

So, how do you clean a dishwasher? Well, as part of your dishwasher care, it’s good practice to get into the habit of cleaning out any bits of food left after each washing cycle. That way, you’ll avoid dirt build-up in the long run. Simply pull out the bottom rack fully and collect any large bits of food or gunk by hand or with a towel. 

If you’ve been wondering how to clean a smelly dishwasher, the filter is the crucial part to look at. It serves to trap the food waste, so your dishes come out sparkling. If it’s not regularly emptied over time, the muck inside the filter will begin to reek of rotting food. Regular cleaning (once a week) ensures that gunk isn’t left to accumulate. Luckily, cleaning your filter is super easy:

• Locate and remove the filter
• Rinse it using hot water
• Scrub the inner filter using a soft brush
• Put it back into your machine

When food gets trapped in the door seals, your dishwasher may begin to leak. To avoid your kitchen being flooded, you can use a wet sponge or towel to wipe down the door rims and seals. Whilst you’re at it, give the outside of the machine a quick wipe to get rid of any unsightly finger marks left from opening and closing the door.

A thorough clean is the best way to clean your dishwasher and rid it of even the most persistent muck and dirt build-up. You can use dedicated cleaning products for this or choose a more natural option like white vinegar. Harsher cleaners such as bleach are often not necessary and may not be recommended by your machine’s manufacturer.

For natural cleaning:

• Measure two cups of white vinegar
• Pour it into a glass and place it on the top rack
• Run a normal, empty cycle 

If your dishwasher still stinks after using white vinegar, you can sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom, leave it overnight and then run a normal empty wash.

Using a cleaning tablet:

• Simply drop the cleaning tablet into the machine as usual and run on an empty load

Or you can use the Oust Dishwasher and Washing Machine Cleaner. 

That was easy, wasn’t it? Knowing how to clean your dishwasher properly will allow you to get plenty of good use out of it. Check out our other kitchen-related topics such as how to clean a washing machine, how to clean a ceramic hob and how to preheat an oven.