It's a common misconception that dishwashers clean themselves. After a few months of cleaning the leftovers off of your dishes, food gets caught in the filter, and hard water builds up on around the jets, making your dishwasher clean less effectively.
There's really nothing more unappetizing than drinking out of what you thought was a freshly washed glass, only to find some caked on mystery grime soaking inside. To prevent that horrifying moment, here's how to clean your dishwasher in under 15 minutes so it runs like new.
Before you do anything, take out the top and bottom dish racks. Then, check the jets where the water sprays out for any food build-up. Use something thin and sharp, like a toothpick or pen, to pick away at any debris. Use paper towels and soapy water to wipe off any dirt from the inside of the dishwasher.
If you notice any mold or mildew inside the dishwasher, use diluted bleach to scrub it away. However, bleach will damage stainless steel, so avoid using it to clean your stainless steel appliances.
Then, wash the filter. Many dishwasher filters are attached to the appliance with screws. If that's the case, carefully unscrew the filter and wash it with soapy warm water or baking soda. Let it soak for about 10 minutes, then put in back into the dishwasher.
For a final wash, add 2 cups of vinegar to the bottom of the empty dishwasher and run it on a low, short, or energy-saving cycle. Halfway through, pause the cycle for 20 minutes to give the diluted vinegar a chance to loosen any remaining food debris or hard water buildup. Then restart and complete the cycle for a beautifully clean dishwasher.
Depending on how often you use your dishwasher, you should thoroughly clean it every 2-4 months. You can also just do the vinegar soak in between cleanings for a quick and easy refresh.
