Top cleaning tips: How to clean your dishwasher
I like washing dishes by hand. I feel that there is a certain truth, a lost art and a chance for you to switch your mind off for a few minutes and relax in the kitchen.
But, I must admit, I do like the dishwasher. You can just load it up, switch it on and the rest of the evening is yours. You can sit and do a crossword or go for a walk, it really is up to you.
However the dishwasher becomes a problem when it starts to get dirty. It just doesn’t do its job properly. Can you imagine trying to clean your car with a dirty rag? It just wouldn’t work would it? No.
So if your dishwasher is in need of a bit of a spruce up, fear not. Here is my step by step guide to cleaning a dishwasher.
1. Empty it
The first thing to do is pretty obvious. Just empty your dishwasher. Take everything out so you are ready to clean.
2. Spinning arms
The spinning arms have small holes in them. You have to make sure they are clear so water can run through them with ease. They sometimes fill up with debris, so using fine pointed or needle-nose pliers; remove any dirt from the spinning arms.
3. Door and gasket
Using a cloth and some water or maybe even some spray cleaner, give the area under and around the door a wipe. Then give the area around the gasket a lovely clean too. These two areas don’t get cleaned during the cycle of the dishwasher so make sure you do a good job.
4. The drain
you should inspect around the drain and the bottom of your dishwasher where a lot of food builds up. There will be a grate or grill around the drain under the arm so look fr any food debris clogging this area and remove.
Do clean the drain properly you should unplug the dishwasher, and then unscrew the grill leaving the drain exposed. Then using your hand remove any solid dirt that has accumulated, however, be careful because sometimes you can find a lot of broken glass at the bottom of a dishwasher.
You should then give it a wipe over with the cloth and put it back together.
5. Lime scale
If you have a build up of lime scale in your dishwasher you should add some food acid, either distilled white vinegar or lemon juice to your dishwasher and run it on empty.
6. Mould
So you have that dreaded mould. Well you need to run a separate cycle using just bleach. Never mix bleach with any other type of cleaner or dishwashing powder, make sure you are using the bleach on its own.
7. Finishing touches
Now all you have to do is give the outside a lovely wipe to get it nice and shiny and you are nearly there. Give the cleaning racks a once over in the sink until they are clean and hey presto! You are done!
Now that your dishwasher is lovely and clean, why not keep it clean? Regular use of your dishwasher will mean it stays lovely and clean for longer and will prevent the build up of dirt.
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