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How to Clean a Dishwasher

Your dishwasher simplifies the daily routine of cleaning mountains of dirty dishes and cookware. But to remain in full working order, it needs a thorough cleaning once or twice a year. This will help prevent mineral deposits and hard water stains, as well as musty odors from accumulated grease, food debris and soap scum. Additionally, most new-model dishwashers have a manual-clean filter that needs to be regularly cleaned out to avoid drainage problems and foul odors.

To avoid skin irritation or splash-back into your eyes, wear protective gloves and eye protection when cleaning. Consult your machine's manual for any special tips or warranty statements before starting.

1. Clear the drain: Remove the bottom dish rack from the machine. Clear out any food residue or other obstacles caught in the dishwasher drain, to improve drainage flow and increase cleaning efficiency.
2. Clean the filter: If possible, remove the filter system (look for a center cylinder to unscrew for removal), and spray thoroughly with Simple Green Lime Scale Remover. Then use a stiff, non-metallic brush to dislodge any bits of food, greasy buildup and other material. Rinse thoroughly and replace.
3. Clean the interior: Spray Simple Green Lime Scale Remover on the interior of your dishwasher, coating the walls, dish rack, spray arm and drain. Let the product sit for 3 minutes to work into hard water deposits, then scrub the entire surface with a wet, non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
4. Clean the spray arm: Lift the arm off its base, scrub thoroughly with your brush, and unclog any plugged holes using a toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly before reinstalling.
5. Rinse: Run a full rinse cycle on your empty dishwasher. Then run a full cold wash cycle. If necessary, repeat this step.

 

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