Have you ever had a meal at a friend’s house and as you were taking a sip out of your drinking glass, you smelled something that was….uh, a little stinky? More importantly, has that ever happened in your own home?
A few weeks ago, as I was unloading the dishwasher, I noticed that our dishes just didn’t smell clean. This just didn’t make sense. They had just been sanitized for over 70 minutes!
Little did I know the dishwasher was dirty!
What? How can a machine that is literally washed several times a week be dirty?
Well, trust me. It gets dirty. Really dirty!
Stop reading and go take a look at your dishwasher now. ….I’ll wait….
[pinit]
Food and soap scum can get trapped in all the tiny crevices and around the door. If your silverware tray is on the door, there’s likely dirt behind that as well.
How to clean and disinfect your dishwasher:
There are dishwasher cleaners on the market but it’s easy enough to clean and disinfect your dishwasher with what you already have at home.
- Just grab a toothbrush (one of the best tools you can keep in your “cleaning belt”) and scrub those corners and crevices until they are clean. Pay special attention to the areas around and under the door. Since it’s hot and damp, mold/mildew can grow quickly in those areas.
- Then put vinegar in a cup and place it right side up in the top rack of your dishwasher.
- Run a cycle on the highest temperature possible.
3 easy steps to a spotless dishwasher!
Cleaning your dishwasher once a month should keep your dishwasher clean and keep odors away! I know I’ll be adding this to my cleaning schedule. The last thing I want is for a guest to be able to smell my dishes. I have enough to worry about with my cooking!!
So let me know, have you ever cleaned your dishwasher?
iDreamOfClean
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my goodness….never thought about doing this….nooooooooooooooo!
.-= Alicia´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday–April 19th =-.
I have also found out the hard way :-) that the bottom filter/drain can get trapped with food and junk and that it needs to be taken off and cleaned out like a sink drain. Yeah I didn’t realize that and we have had our dishwasher for about 7 years – should I be admitting that. Oops too late now I guess. Don’t fret, I now clean it out every couple of weeks just to be on the safe side!!
Sooo smart! I need to look at mine and see if I cleaned out the filter!!
Eeerrr…what?! Oh no! I’ve never even THOUGHT about doing this…yikes! Guess I know what I’ll be doing Saturday!
I will definitely try to clean my dishwasher this way this week. Also, I will probably link up my other “green” cleaning posts for future Real Clean Wednesdays too, but feel free to browse through. I have another new one I’ll put up soon. I’m just starting my Spring cleaning by using your method too!
Yes! Please link up your other “green” cleaning posts! So glad you are Spring Cleaning…let me know how it goes!
I do regularly clean my dishwasher using a rag/brush and vinegar. I have purchased the dishwasher cleaners at wal-mart but I don’t think they do a better job than just plain vinegar. I do like running lemi-shine in my dishwasher, though.
Just did this right now, after reading your ‘inspiration’. Wiped down the door and seal too. Yucky!
I have to clean ours out regularly because our water is so hard that the lime build up kills the DW. As long as I am de-liming the washer, I clean it, too. Vinegar is my favorite way to do both!
thanks so much my husband and i have been noticing our dishes haven’t been getting as clean as usual im trying this today
I did this…. Should the vinegar still be left in the cup? Mine was.
Yes. It probably wasn’t 100% vinegar since some of it spills out and it fills up again with water. Or at least that’s how it should be!
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