How to clean your dishwasher — because yes, that's something you should be doing
If you suspect your dishwasher could use a deep clean, first things first, locate your appliances' manual. If you don't have it, you can usually find one online. The manual can tell you the nitty gritty about your specific model so you can clean it properly. Can't find it? No problem, start here:
This may seem like a no brainer, but just make sure you've taken all the dishes, cutlery and cups out of your dishwasher, and if you can, remove the bottom rack. This will make it easier to get in there to clean.
The filter is located on the bottom of the machine. Gently unscrew it, and take the filter completely out.
Start by soaking the filter in hot, soapy water, then scrub it clean with a brush. This should go without saying, but make sure all of the food particles are gone and there isn't any mold or buildup in any of the small crevices.
Using a damp cloth, wipe off the dishwasher's gasket or seals (the part around the frame that seals it shut) and the interior walls.
Put the filter back in its place, roll the bottom rack back in and place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top or bottom rack. Then, run a hot water cycle, and when it's done, it's clean!
First of all, if you have a stinky dishwasher, that smell is most likely coming from a clogged drain, a dirty filter, mold and mildew buildup in the seals or food particles trapped in soap scum buildup. Yuck! But most of the time, it's a dirty filter. Food particles can get trapped in there and start to smell, and they can cause dirty water to recirculate. This is why it's important to clean that filter regularly.
After each cycle, you should take a quick peek in the unit; if you see any loose food particles, definitely remove them and wipe things down. Otherwise, you should aim to clean your dishwasher once a week by removing and cleaning the filter, and wiping down the door edges and seals. Then give it a deep clean (as explained above) with a vinegar cycle once a month.
You can also try using Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets. These little babies can get rid of limescale and mineral buildup to keep your machine in tip-top shape. The tablets clean those hard-to-reach places like the tub, the internal hoses and the pump and valve, and they're safe enough to use once a month or more if needed.
Toss an Affresh tablet in the detergent tray and run a normal dish cycle. If you suspect your dishwasher is extra grimy, you can toss a second one in the bottom of the unit as well.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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