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How to Clean the Dishwasher

Cleaning a dishwasher

I received a great response to my How to Clean your Washing Machine post.  I’m so glad to know I wasn’t the only one out there with a dirty washing machine! 🙂

That post however lead to more questions from my readers (which is awesome).  Here’s a question I received from a reader, asking about cleaning a dishwasher:

“Do you have any similar tricks for how to clean the dishwasher? Mine just looks gross. I have tried running it empty with borax and it helped a little but nothing fantastic. Thanks!”

Answer:
The process of cleaning a dishwasher is very similar to cleaning a washing machine.

Step 1: Wipe out your dishwasher with a washcloth removing any excess food or grime.

Step 2: Place a glass or mug on the top rack of an empty dishwasher and fill it with white vinegar.

Step 3: Run your dishwasher through an entire cycle.

Step 4: When the dishwasher has completed it’s cycle wipe it out again with a clean washcloth.  If there is any grime left that you want to tackle use a sponge and straight white vinegar to scrub off the tough spots.

Here’s a hint I learned from our repair man: Before running your dishwasher, let the water in your kitchen sink run until it gets to it’s hottest.  This way when the dishwasher starts it’s cycle it’s starting with hot water instead of cold water.  Who wants there dishes to be pre-rinsed with cold water?  Gross!

Happy Cleaning!

About Anna

"Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Ask Anna. I have always enjoyed cleaning, organizing, decorating and helping people, so I've put that all together on the pages of this blog. I truly hope my tips help you in your home and make sure to contact me if you have a question!"

Comments

  4. Jan at Jewelry4Change says

    This is great! I've bought "dishwasher cleaning tablets, but didn't realize I could just use vinegar. Thanks. I found you on the Making the world Cuter Blog Hop and am now following.

  5. Crystal Jigsaw says

    Mine needs doing. Doesn't the vinegar make it smell though, I remember my late father in law cleaning windows with vinegar and the house wreaked! Thanks for the tip.Found you on Totally Tuesday Blog Hop.CJ xx

  7. rskmom says

    For the OP, I have never had it smell much at all! And I admit I'm lazy – I just pour a big glug of white vinegar in the bottom of the machine instead of using a cup. Works great!

  8. Keri says

    I'm giddy with excitement!!! I can actually clean my dishwasher and washing machine now! We live in areas with really hard water which is hard on my appliances. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

  13. Jen says

    My husband and I took apart and scrubbed our dishwasher. It is now sparkly white and smelling good. Thanks for the tips!

  15. Laurie A says

    Very cool….vinegar is the cleaner of all cleaners….same thing for your microwave….one part vinegar to one parts water in a bowl and microwave for 5 minutes….let sit for 2 mins and wipe! Vinegar rocks!

  17. Milcarsky says

    Thank you for the cleaning tip! I’ll have to do this when I get home so the inside of my dishwasher will look just as good as the outside.

  18. Melissa says

    I also use a product called Lemishine whith each wash and it cleans really well leaving the glassware with no water stains. This product is incredible. I buy it at Target by the other dishwasher products

  21. Angel says

    The link for how to clean your washing machine is not working. Everytime I click it I just get redirected to this page.

  22. connie says

    Hi, I recently purchased an all natural product from Walmart for cleaning the dishwasher as well as the glasses and dishes of hard water deposits, it works great, my stainless steel is now shiny and clean. I use the powder with every wash. I beleive it to be citric acid, the longer I use it the better it looks. I have cut back on the amount but still use in every wash with the all in one tabs by Cascade.

  25. Lisa says

    I have also used Tang (or generic orange drink mix) to get the hard water stains off.

  26. Tara says

    When I try to read the rest of the directions on cleaning drains with baking soda & boiling water I redirected to here.

  27. Donna says

    Cleaning Dishwasher. I have used Koolaid lemonade (must be lemonade) to clean my dishwasher. Add it to the soap dispenser and run. Amazing

  28. Denise says

    Ok so I have moved into an apt and of course no one thinks to clean the dishwasher so I will try this And pray it works..
    Thanks for the tip. Also need to clean Washing Machine so how would I do that?

  30. Betty says

    you should also find out how to remove the sprayer arms to clean the pieces of stuff out of it
    check your owners manual for how to unscrew or pop each off and on

  31. Bonnie Hilley says

    My repairman told me to run the dishwasher about once a month with a cup of bleach in it. If that won’t get it nothing will! Run it through the full cycle. I never have to wipe mine down but my sister-in-law gripes because we prerinse our dishes before we put them in the dishwasher!

  32. Kaloyan says

    Hi! Sorry, but I did not get the part with the hot water… My dishwasher is connected only to cold water, so there is no way that heating kitchen soak will help. At least here in Europe it’s like this

  33. Pat says

    Good idea. Also be sure to rinse everything before putting in dishwasher. I know from experience if you don’t have soft water or are on well water the inside really gets grungy looking and hard to clean. Hope this helps.

  34. Wendy says

    Sears repair man told me to clean my dishwasher with Tang orange drink mix…cheaper than dishwasher cleaning mix and works great

  35. Nancy says

    If you want to make your wipe down at the end of the cycle even more efficient, use a fiber cloth. Get your cloth wet and wring our until just damp. Wipe out the inside and you will not only be amazed at the left behind scum that it picks up, but how easily it dries and shines the inside in the process. I love sponges and am always placing them in the dishwasher to clean and sanitize, but I am also I firm believer in microfiber. I use them for everything including on my swiffer sweeper! If you have neve tried micro fiber you owe it to yourself to buy at least one and try. They are relatively inexpensive at the dollar stores and if you get hooked then they can be purchased in bulk at most warehouse clubs and sites like Amazon.

  36. Erika Allen says

    I have a cleaning question that I just can’t find an answer to; maybe you can help. ?.
    I foolishly put some candle holders (quite a few actually) into my dishwasher to clean them and get rid of remaining wax. Ever since then my dishes all come out with a waxy film on them. (Yes, I did say FOOLISHLY.) Is there any product that will clean all of the plumbing in my dishwasher of this remaining wax? I have been searching for an answer for quite some time without any luck.

    • mreynolds says

      Erika – This is a tough one. For the sake of not damaging your dishwasher, our best suggestion would be to call the manufacturer or a dishwasher reapair and ask their advice. You can try what is suggested in the post but I am not sure if it will work on something like wax. Sorry we could not be more helpful!

  37. Donna says

    While your on the subject of dish washers, if you ever have to take the sliding racks out and you end out breaking the plastic slide stops don’t order new ones that cost $15.00 per stop, use a button that is large enough to fit the slide and use a small plastic slip tie to secure it.

  38. Gilbert says

    what is the best way to clean grates from a gas stove, always difficult after building up

    • mreynolds says

      Hey Gilbert,

      This is Monique, Anna’s assistant. Do you have cast iron grates or metal grates?

  40. Pat says

    vinegar will remove the hard water stains.. if you really want to clean your dishwasher easily and quickly, find some oxalic acid (at either the drugstore or hardware store) and full the dishwasher container with the oxalic acid and run a full hot water cycle.. much less work and much more effective that a meager cup of vinegar.

  41. Margaret King says

    my repairman is a good friend & the vinegar or bleach is good. but you need to turn off the power supply & remove the spray arms. clean them with pipe cleaners & the strainer at the bottom. was yukky stuff collected under there!

  43. Rosa says

    I watched a you tube video and found all dishwashers are the same. Four screws later I disassemble my dishwasher clean out all the paper, glass, chicken bone, etc. then I scrubbed the blade clean that chews up the food now my dishwasher works like new. I almost bought a new one because my dishes were not getting clean. Before doing this I tried the vinegar , cleaning tables and wiping it down, I will be doing this once or twice a year,