Deep Cleaning a Dishwasher Guide

Wash after wash, a clean dishwasher can help remove grit and grime from your dishes and cutlery. Incidentally, a dishwasher with mineral build-up won’t always function as it should, leaving your dishes and other items dirty. The good news is that cleaning the inside of your dishwasher routinely can help prevent residue buildup and keep your dishwasher working effectively. This guide will introduce you to the steps to deep clean and deodorize your dishwasher, including some natural methods.

You can use a few different methods to get your dishwasher’s interior clean. The best option is often to use a uniquely formulated dishwasher cleaner, like affresh^® Dishwasher Cleaner tablets, which is designed to help remove unsightly mineral build-up and limescale that is prone to hindering your dishwasher's performance. Another option is to use natural dishwasher cleaners, like vinegar and/or baking soda. These common household items can clean and deodorize the inside of a dishwasher. However, vinegar is highly acidic and may damage your appliance if it’s used too often. It should only be used for the occasional deep clean, and always consult your appliance’s user manual to confirm if vinegar or other household products are safe for cleaning your dishwasher’s interior. 

A handful of supplies can help remove grime while also deodorizing your dishwasher.

Running an empty dishwasher with or without detergent won’t likely remove the mineral, detergent, and food particle build-up. This is really a job for dishwasher cleaning agents, which are designed to handle these tough jobs. However, it’s okay to run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner as a means to tackle build-up often missed by water and regular detergent.

You should never run a cycle using both vinegar and baking soda at the same time. Instead, use these few simple steps to clean a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda: 

• Run a cycle with white vinegar

• Then, run a separate hot water cycle with baking soda. 

Remember, not all dishwasher interiors should be cleaned with vinegar. It’s always recommended to consult your dishwasher’s user manual before cleaning your appliance with household ingredients.

Cleaning a dishwasher’s interior with bleach can potentially remove mould, mildew, and tough stains. That said, it’s not suitable for every model. Bleach can be harmful to a dishwasher with stainless steel parts, including the tub. Always consult your dishwasher’s user manual before using bleach to clean it. If you clean with bleach, don’t use it at the same time as baking soda or vinegar.

Depending on how often you use your dishwasher, you might need to deep clean it monthly using cleaning tablets or less often if using household ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. Help keep your dishwasher free of odours and build-up between deep cleans by always removing any leftover debris or food from the bottom of the appliance after each load.