How to Clean a Dishwasher

Unlike other household appliances, we seldom think of cleaning a dishwasher. Over a period of time, debris, mold, and mildew begin to deposit inside the dishwasher, which significantly affects the efficiency of this useful home appliance. The good part is that dishwashers are fairly easy to clean, and it takes 30 minutes or less to complete the task. Following are the steps to effectively clean a dishwasher.

Items Needed:

• Lime juice or vinegar
• Sponge or toothbrush
• Toothpicks

Step 1 - Cleaning Solution

• Remove all the trays or utensil holders and empty out the dishwasher. Mix a tablespoon of lime juice or vinegar in water and run the dishwasher at highest temperature for few minutes. Mold, mildew and deposited debris are easily removed at this stage.

Step 2 - Interior

• Look around the corners. Usually, the upper hand corners, which are mostly untouched with water, have some sort of dirt or mold deposits. Add lime juice or vinegar in a cup of water and using a sponge or toothbrush to scrub off the deposits.

Step 3 - Spinning Arm

• Spinning arm holes accumulate lots of dirt and debris. Using a toothpick or similar object, gently clean out the holes without leaving any scratches.

Step 4 - Large Debris

• Using the lime or vinegar and water mixture, clean the edges and interior areas of the front door by gently scrubbing the surface. Larger debris, which might have accumulated near the drain (at the bottom), can also be easily scrubbed off using this solution.