How To Clean Your Dishwasher the Proper Way

Cleaning the dishwasher might seem like a trivial notion but like any appliance, it requires cleaning and maintenance to function properly. So how do you properly clean the cleaner? Handyman Connection of McKinney discusses this further.

Materials You Need

To properly clean your dishwasher, you’ll want to get the following:

– an old toothbrush

– toothpicks

– cloth or a soft rag

– lemon juice

– baking soda

– distilled white vinegar

The First Steps

Start by running the dishwasher as normal to give the inside a rinse. Once that’s done, you’ll want to remove the racks and utensil trays and set them aside for now. Next, take a look at the spinning arms. You’ll want to make sure that the holes are open so that water can properly run through it. If it isn’t, use  a toothpick to clear out the debris build-up. Just be careful not the scratch the spinning arm.

Next, we suggest you clean the area under the bottom of the door. This is actually an optional step, but some dishwasher designs have a “blind spot” where water can’t go and accumulates a lot of debris. Simply wash this area with warm water to get rid of the dirt.

Cleaning the Dishwasher

Next, you’ll be cleaning the drain. Apply baking soda paste on your toothbrush and scrape the drain and the surrounding area. Clean this area carefully since food can easily stick into the crevices of the drain. Once you’re done dislodging the debris, wipe the area with a damp cloth soaked in white vinegar mixed with a bit of lemon juice.

We suggest you repeat this step at least one more time if you notice there’s still dirt and debris in the drain area. Once you’re done, simply wash the area clean with warm water to clear out the baking soda paste.

Finally, use another abrasive cloth dipped with the vinegar and lemon mixture to clean the utensil rack and holder. You may want to use the toothbrush as well to get rid of any pieces of food stuck on it. Rinse it with warm water and you’re done.

Need help cleaning your dishwasher? Fill out our form or give us a call at (972) 439-9695 for more information on our services. We’ll be happy to give you an estimate as well.