In many households, dishwashers are used virtually every day, and sometimes multiple times a day. While they’re a remarkable invention that have undoubtedly made our lives easier, it’s important not to take them for granted. Dishwashers need to be able to clean the dishes properly, and so you must ensure that the machine itself is also kept clean and maintained well.
Why should you clean a product that’s designed to clean things?
It might sound counterintuitive, but while a dishwasher is a wonderful machine, it isn’t a miracle worker, and if food particles and other debris get stuck in its cracks, crevices and filters, this will inevitably affect its ability to clean to a high standard. Minerals can also build up in the machine, causing the dishes to become discolored after washing. Not only that, but a dirty dishwasher will use more energy to carry out the task, and you could even see your utility bills increasing with a poorly performing machine.
Either way, a dirty machine makes for dirty dishes, and if you’ve invested in a dishwasher, you really ought to invest in protecting it.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
Most dishwashers benefit from being cleaned at least once every month, and as a result, they will clean the dishes to a higher standard, and more effectively eliminate germs and bacteria that can build up both on the dishes, and in the machine.
Add cleaning your dishwasher to your daily routine
Once you incorporate a cleaning task into your weekly, monthly or bi-annual cleaning schedule, it will eventually become a habit that you no longer even think about it, and it’s the same for cleaning your dishwasher.
How to clean your dishwasher
Begin with an empty dishwasher, and taking a sponge, cloth, rag or old towel, dip it in your favorite all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar, and meticulously wipe the edges and seal.
Then, take out the bottom rack and check it thoroughly for trapped food particles or any other blockages. Some items of debris will be harder to remove than others, and you might find a toothpick helpful.
If your dishwasher has a filter, remove that and give it a good rinse with hot water. You might need to give it a light scrub with a soapy sponge or toothbrush if some stains or blockages won’t shift with water alone.
Next, pour one cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, close the door and set it going on a quick, hot wash to sanitize it. this will help clean the entire machine and wash away any mineral build-up.
Once the cycle has finished, wipe the entire dishwasher down with a dry cloth, stand back and admire your handiwork!
Don’t forget that if you have certain cleaning chores that you hate doing, such as cleaning the dishwasher, you can ask your regular cleaning service to add it to their list – if they’re not already including it, of course.
