How to Clean Your Dishwasher

3 Materials

30 Minutes

Easy

My dishwasher is one of the hardest working things in my house (I basically run it everyday!), but it’s easy to forget that it needs a good cleaning too. When my dishwasher starts to smell, you know it's time to give it a good cleaning. With just two green ingredients you can have an Eco clean dishwasher (without using expensive dishwasher detergent).

As with any green-friendly cleaner, baking soda and vinegar are my go-to cleaning ingredients.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

I used white vinegar (cleaning vinegar), baking soda, and a dishwasher safe cup (not pictured).
Step 2: Put Your Cup in the Top Rack

Place your cup upright on the top shelf. I did this, because it allows the dishwasher to flood the vinegar out of the cup. This gives it a slow release as opposed to being poured out all at once. You don't have to do this, but I think it makes the cleaner work better.
Step 3: Add the Vinegar to the Cup

Fill the cup almost all the way to the top with vinegar.
Step 4: Sprinkle Baking Soda and Set Your Machine to Wash

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. Then set it to the hottest setting, and let it start.

How simple was that? The smell is gone and now my dishwasher is nice and clean.

Resources for this project:

Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, 1 lb. - 4...

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3 of 53 questions

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Kat29766325
on Dec 22, 2017
How often do you do this in the dishwasher?
3
Answer this
- Loi31711874
  on Dec 22, 2017
  Baking soda and white vinegar is a good combo to clean showe and shower doors. Just don't ever try to contain it,because it foams up and can explode.
  5
Betty Douglas
on Dec 22, 2017
How much vinegar,and baking soda and what size cup?
2
Answer this
- Eleanor Korf
  on Dec 22, 2017
  I just put about 1/3 of a cup of vinegar in my loaded dishwasher periodically and it keeps my dishwasher clean and my glasses sparkling clean. Instructions say do not use vinegar too often. When I take the dishes out of the dishwasher the last thing I do is take my kitchen towel and wipe the door until dry. My dishwasher stays nice and clean without a lot of work.
  10
Barbara Vaughn
on Dec 22, 2017
Can this also be done in washing machine?
10
Answer this
- Sou28554399
  on Sep 5, 2018
  Does it stop static cling? That's the main reason I use "clear" fabric softner.

2 of 188 comments

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Connie Sue Nardi Macmillan-Carter
on Jul 24, 2018
Hi. In response to your comment about glass possibly being bad for the dishwasher, I believe they were talking about a garbage disposal...and how to sharpen the blades in it, not for the dishwasher.
Darlene Lewis
on Aug 12, 2018
I use this combination to unplug a toilet that is very stubborn.....works great!!!!!
1