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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rinse: Run a full rinse cycle on your empty dishwasher. Then run a full cold wash cycle. If necessary, repeat this step.