Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar is the best way to keep it clean. It provides hygienically clean dishes. You might be wondering how often you should wash your dishwasher.
Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar is not the only way to keep it clean. It gets dirty with daily use, so you need to take more care. Food residue and grease, improperly rinsed cleaners, and limescale buildup must be removed on a regular basis to prevent a build-up that causes a lot of problems.
Dishwasher cleaning: home remedies are effective and cheap
I’m going to tell you how to clean the dishwasher. Homemade methods are just as effective as ready-made preparations for cleaning this home appliance. The bottom line is that they are much less invasive, more pro-ecological and much cheaper. You must clean your dishwasher regularly to keep it in good condition and ensure it works efficiently. A clean dishwasher ensures shiny plates, cups and cutlery.
Using dishwasher salt is a good way to prevent limescale build-up on the internal components of the appliance. However, it is not a substitute for regular cleaning of the dishwasher. If you don’t take care of your dishwasher properly, you’ll not only lose the shine, but you’ll also fail to wash your dishes. You must clean your dishwasher regularly at home to avoid this.
How often should you wash the dishwasher? It depends on the area that needs cleaning:
- Wipe the door, front, handle and control panel with a damp microfibre cloth every day when cleaning the kitchen. Don’t forget the seals.
- The filters and baskets for dishes and cutlery should be cleaned at least once every two weeks.
- You must clean the inside of your dishwasher once every two to three months, unless you use it every day, in which case you should clean it every 30 full wash cycles.
- Remove all moving parts from the inside of your dishwasher, including the dish and cutlery baskets, before cleaning it..
- It’s worth removing debris, such as food residue or leftover labels from cups.
- Wash these accessories under running water or with a damp cloth and a little dishwashing liquid.
You will also need to clean the dishwasher filters.
- Filters selected in accordance with the instructions in the user manual should be cleaned of food debris, fruit seeds or other small objects. (Grease may also accumulate on the filter surface.)
- Once cleaned, the filters must be washed under running water, using a dishwashing liquid if possible. If the filter is very dirty, especially if limescale has appeared on its surface, place it in a container of warm vinegar and leave it there for about two hours.
If you want to use home remedies to clean your dishwasher, it pays to use substances like:
- Vinegar
- baking soda
- citric acid
- borax.
Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar
Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar is the best way to deal with contamination. Vinegar is a basic cleaning agent that has been used in many households for a long time and is still used today. Vinegar is bactericidal and effectively removes dirt and limescale due to its highly acidic pH. This is why we use it to descale the kettle.
- Clean your dishwasher with vinegar. Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of the appliance and another equal portion into a glass bowl. Place the bowl in the top basket of the dishwasher. Start the wash cycle and let the dishwasher do the rest.
Cleaning the dishwasher with baking soda
Cleaning the dishwasher with baking soda is the best way to remove dirt from the inside of the machine. Baking soda has mild caustic properties, which allow it to clean effectively. Baking soda is a safe and environmentally friendly cleaner that effectively neutralises unpleasant odours emanating from the inside of the dishwasher.
- Sprinkle three tablespoons of baking soda on the place where you usually put the dishwasher tablet, then turn on the intensive wash mode. This cleaning method will make your appliance look and smell like new.
The most effective solution is to combine both methods. Do not use vinegar and baking soda together. Vinegar is highly acidic, while baking soda is alkaline. They neutralise each other when used together. Not only will they fail to clean the dishwasher, but they will also leave behind a scum that can build up in the pipes and clog them.
