How To Clean A Dishwasher

Close-up of a dishwasher with cleaned dishes inside

Let’s face it, you give your dishwasher a pretty hard time.

Chances are that your dishwasher will clean your dishes for you at least once a day, if not more.

In return, we tend not to do a lot to keep our dishwasher in good condition, or help to extend its lifespan. This can be because we don’t have the time, or simply because we haven’t got the knowledge or the inclination to do so.

However, periodically cleaning your dishwasher will keep it in top quality condition and help to prevent your machine from breaking down on you.

Therefore, to help you give your appliance a well-deserved shine, read on for a helpful guide on how to clean your dishwasher.

How do I clean my dishwasher?

Close-up of a dishwasher with cleaned dishes inside

Step One: Clearing the internal drainage

If your dishwashers internal drain is not clean, it can easily become blocked and stop your dishwasher from draining properly. Therefore, it is important to clean this every so often.

• Open your dishwasher door and remove the bottom rack from the appliance.
• You should be able to see a plastic drain with holes in, simply ensure that these holes are free from gunk and food debris.
• This should improve efficiency and water flow within the machine.

Step Two: Service washes

There are two ways that you can perform a service wash on your machine, or for extra effect you can do both.

• Place a cup of white vinegar in the top rack of your dishwasher in a dishwasher safe container.
• Ensure that there is nothing in the machine.
• Run it on a hot cycle.
• This should effectively remove any grease, grime, and smelly odours.

The second type wash is equally as simple.

• Sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of your dishwasher.
• Run it through a hot cycle.
• This should remove any grime and dirt from your dishwasher, and leave it smelling much fresher.

Step Three: Fluid top-ups

Just like a car, your dishwasher will need fluids to allow it to run correctly.

If you attempt to run your dishwasher with low fluid levels, this can not only cause a deterioration in the quality of cleaning, but also lead to some long-term problems with your appliance.

Be sure to top up the rinse aid in your machine, which is usually located next to your dishwasher cleaning tablet dispenser.

After this, top up the salt, which is located at the base of the dishwasher and can be done by simply unscrewing the cap and topping up.

Pretty blonde woman emptying the dishwasher in the kitchen

Once all of this is done, feel free to give your dishwasher a quick clean on the outside with a damp cloth. While this step isn’t necessary for the functional running of your appliance, it does make it look more aesthetically pleasing!

We hope the above helps keep your machine free from trouble. However, should you encounter any problems do not hesitate to book a dishwasher repair, to a professional can diagnose and rectify any bigger faults.