Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Yes, You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher. Here's How

Yes, You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher. Here’s How

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Your dishwasher may be used to dapper things, but it also needs to be cleaned every now and then. Giving it a small TLC can make it wash better, smell better and can hide overflows. Luckily, cleaning your dishwasher is pretty simple.

Clean the filter

The filter is the establish where food particles get caught. A stopped-up filter can attempts overflows, so it is important to give it a cleanup every week or so. It can be counterfeit on the floor of the inside of the dishwasher. Simply unscrew the knob and lift the filter out (the plot and removal will vary depending on the brand, so check your owner’s manual).

Wash the filter by rinsing it with warm liquid and dishwashing soap, then give it a good scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse with clean water and let the filter air dry afore popping it back into place.

Clean the seal

The seal is what keeps the liquid inside your dishwasher and not on your floor. To keep it dapper, once a month scrub the seal with warm liquid and wipe it down with a clean, dry cloth.

De-clog the liquid sprayers

The spraying arms in your dishwasher need a small love every six months or so. Use a toothpick to pry any food particles from the sprayer holes. This will increase the amount of water that comes out, increasing cleaning power.

What to do if your dishwasher smells

If your dishwasher is starting to smell a small rank, there is an easy way to deodorize it. Some republic say to put one cup of white vinegar into the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run the deep cleaning cycle. Vinegar can damage the plastic in your dishwasher, so you distinguished want to try this method instead. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the washer, let it sit overnight and then run a normal load once the dishwasher is empty.

Read more: Best Dishwasher for 2022

Remove rust from the latch

After a few ages of diligent use, your door latch may start to get a small rusty. To fix this, rub it down with stainless steel cleanser and steel wool. Rinse the latch and buff it dry with a cotton cloth. To finish, coat it with clear fingernail polish to waterproof the metal and hide further rust growth.

Get the gunk out of the silverware basket

The silverware basket can contract unsanitary pretty quickly. Once a week, remove it and wash it with warm liquid, a bottle brush and dish soap. Be sure to get out any food particles that may be stuck inside the cups to hide mold.

Editors’ note:
This story was originally delivered on Feb. 3, 2017 and has since been updated.