How do you clean a dishwasher?
Clean dishwasher with 7 tips
Clean your dishwasher regularly, so you keep the appliance in the best condition.
- Tip 1. Clean the filter
- Tip 2. Clean the spray arm nozzles
- Tip 3. Clean the door seal
- Tip 4. Descale your dishwasher
- Tip 5. Use a cleaning agent
- Tip 6. Run a hot cycle
- Tip 7. Use a freshener
Tip 1: clean the filter
A dishwasher collects food residue in the filter, so they don't end up in the pump. Check the manual on how to remove the filter and rinse the filter under the faucet with a brush. You can clean the filter compartment of the dishwasher with a sponge. You can then put everything back in the dishwasher.
Tip 2: clean the spray arm nozzles
Residue can also collect in the spray arm nozzles, so the dishwasher can't distribute water as well. Remove the spray arms and pierce the holes with a toothpick, for example. Then, rinse them under the faucet an place them back.
Tip 3: clean the door seal
Clean the door and seal with some soap and a cloth. Make sure that you reach between all edges with the cleaning cloth. When you've cleaned everything, you can go over it again with a dry towel.
Tip 4: descale your dishwasher
Because the dishwasher uses water, limescale can build up in the pipes and it can form a layer on the heating element. To make sure that water can run through your dishwasher smoothly, you descale your dishwasher once a year. You can use baking powder, or a special descaling agent. Make sure you use the right dose, otherwise you can damage the dishwasher.
Tip 5: use a cleaning agent
For hard-to-reach parts of your dishwasher, like the pipes, you can use a special cleaning agent. This way, you can also clean your dishwasher on the inside.
Tip 6: run a hot cycle
Do you often use dishwasher cycles at a low temperature or short runtime? This way, the inside, pipes, and filters get dirty faster. Run a cycle at a high temperature occasionally, so you give the dishwasher a good rinse. Some models also have a special cleaning cycle.
Tip 7: use a freshener
Is your dishwasher completely clean, but it still doesn't smell right? A freshener or neutralizer can help with this. You can hang it in the inside of the dishwasher, so it covers bad odors. This tip also works well if you don't use your dishwasher every day.
