Follow these steps to clean your dishwasher

Our dishwashers have to put up with a lot. They’re put to work at least once a day, maybe even twice or three times when you have a particularly large family or if you’ve thrown a party. Since the dishwasher makes all of our dirty dishes come out squeaky clean, we expect our machine to remain clean itself as well. But this isn’t the case at all! Food scraps are left behind, which can cause bacteria and moulds to grow and give off nasty smells.

Clean your dishwasher on a regular basis to prolong its life.

Clean

It’s important to clean your dishwasher regularly. The food scraps that are left behind can start to emit nasty smells because they start to grow mouldy. Not only that, but bacteria will also start to spread and they can keep circulating in the dishwasher. Food scraps, grease and soap scum can clog the machine, which can cause it to break. So, make sure you clean it regularly if you want to avoid expensive repairs.

This is what you need

• dishcloth
• dishwasher soap
• white vinegar

Step 1

Use a damp cloth to wipe down the insides of the dishwasher to get rid of dirt and food scraps. Clean the walls and the door.

Step 2

Fill the detergent dispenser with the dishwasher soap (don’t use regular dish soap!). Put the cutlery pad upside down and then run the dishwasher without any dishes inside. If your dishwasher has a cleaning or Self Clean option, choose that one.

Step 3

To eliminate nasty smells and white spots, the next step is to run the dishwasher again without any detergent. When the dishwasher starts to flush, interrupt the cycle and place a cup of white vinegar inside the machine, in the lower basket. Close the dishwasher again so it will continue its cycle and let it finish. Again, if your machine has a Self Clean option, use that one. If not, just use your normal cycle.

Step 4

Clean the filters of the machine once a month and check the nozzles as well. Use a soft brush and some water to get rid of any stuck food scraps, grease or soap scum. Make sure you check the user manual of your machine before removing the filter and nozzles.

Read more: This is the grossest spot in your fridge that you’re forgetting to clean

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