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.

3 of 57 questions

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Linda
on Nov 4, 2018

My question was unclear as I got responses for stopping electricity to my dishwasher.

What I should have asked is I have standing water in my dish washer that won't drain away. Is there a liquid I can use to add to the dishwasher to loosen the clog from clogging up my dish washer? Hopefully it will be safe to use inside the dish washer.

5

Answer this
- Diane Prentice
  on Jan 15, 2019
  
  I have my husband take that screen out monthly for cleaning. I didn't know it was there either till I stopped the yearly maintenance on it. Nasty job, but my dish washer works like new.
  
  4
Cat34409984
on Dec 28, 2018

How much vineger and baking soda do you use?

0

Answer this
Marty
on Feb 1, 2019

HELP, i DON'T HAVE PLASTIC GLASS LIKE U HAVE? WHAT ELSE CAN I USE AND HOW MUCH VINEGAR CUP SIZE?? HELP

1

Answer this
- Katz215
  on Feb 24, 2019
  
  Use a regular glass.

2 of 191 comments

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Judy Billeaudeau Gary
on Oct 3, 2018

I use this combination to clean sink drains. It also works on washing machine drains, just use really hot water. I even heat the vinegar some.

10
Linda Hardin
on Feb 2, 2019

My whirlpool has a round filter screen in the bottom that needs cleaning about once per month. Just unscrew it with your hand and wash it in the sink with a toothbrush and dish soap. B. It helps so much with a slow draining dishwasher. Most of us can do this kind of maintenence and prolong the life of our appliances and save money on repair bills.

4

How to Clean Your Dishwasher

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