Sponsored by Frigidaire Gallery®.
I don’t know about you, but to me it sounds like an oxymoron to clean your dishwasher. Isn’t it cleaned every time you use the dishwasher? I mean it is what the dishwasher does—wash dishes. But just like with your washer machine, soap scum can build up along with food particles and other yuck.
So what should you do to clean your dishwasher? Just follow these steps …
How to Clean your Dishwasher
1. Take Out and Clean Dishwasher Parts
Take out all parts of the dishwasher that can be removed by hand. Typically dishwashers have a filter in them to remove and clean. In my Frigidaire Gallery® Dishwasher I have a fine grade and coarse grade filter, and so I only need to check and clean it when necessary if large food particles become trapped or when I notice a drop in cleaning performance. The filters on my dishwasher are self-cleaning, but when I want to do a deep clean or get out tough gunk I do clean those filters out. Here is the gunk I found when I cleaned my filter out….I know…ewwwww!
Take them out, and clean them with warm, soapy water. You may need a sponge to get all the gunk out of your filter.
2. Wipe out the inside of the Dishwasher with Soap & Water
Gunk—everything from food particles to bits of plastic—can get stuck in on the edges of the dishwasher door, or on the walls of the dishwasher. Take a dishcloth with warm soapy water and wipe it all down well.
3. Clean and Sanitize Dishwasher with Vinegar
Make sure the dishwasher is completely empty of all dishes. Then take a dishwasher-safe cup, such as a glass measuring cup, and fill it with vinegar. Place the cup with the vinegar in the dishwasher on the bottom rack and run the dishwasher on the hottest cycle. The vinegar will sanitize the dishwasher removing any odors that linger. If your dishwasher has a lot of hard water stains you may need to do this routine more than once.
4. Clean the Outside of the Dishwasher
Once the inside is clean, next you’ll want to clean the front of the dishwasher. Start by wiping down the top of the door that meets the top of the dishwasher. Then take warm soapy water and wipe down the front of the dishwasher. Then dry it all off with a soft towel.
When I clean my Frigidaire Gallery® Dishwasher regularly once every 2-3 months, I find that my dishes come out sparkly clean which saves me time. No more irritating little food particles to have to rewash! And I really love the soft rubbery prongs that keep my cups from banging all around while they are getting cleaned. It’s probably my favorite feature about my dishwasher.
Cleaning out your dishwasher not only helps with odors and ickiness, but it can also help your dishwasher keep your dishes coming out sparkly clean.
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Kelly says
I just wish there was a printer friendly version.
Angela says
I’m gonna have to try the vinegar to maybe help with smell and scum
Mary says
I do not use a rinsing agent. I just add about 1/2 cup of vinegar right into the dishwasher. My dishes, glasses, silverware and pots and pans come out sparkling clean.
Charlene says
Had different dishwashers all my life and NEVER had to do this. This particular model has a defect and that is why your dishes are not coming out clean and you have to go through all this work every month to get a clean set. I do not recommend this brand of dishwasher to anyone. Get one that is self cleaning and that breaks down food particles and doesn’t reuse the dirty water twice! I wish I could return mine, but it’s passed the warranty. I have never had a dishwater before that worked so poorly. It looks nice, but that is about it.
Gary Eisenhauer says
Fully sympathize with you. Having the exact same problem. It is gross for a dishwasher to do this! Will never buy a Frigidaire Dishwasher again.
Deb Hansen says
I was told by a repairman to never use vinegar in dishwashers because it destroys all the rubber parts over time. I don’t know if this is true but I stopped using it. Has anyone else heard about this? I’m thinking about using baking sods instead. I use that to clean my frig.
Merrikay says
We can all do this. One tip that my son gave me though is to take photos as I take the filter apart. Sure helped me get it back together correctly!
Pawalk says
I struggled with my dishwasher and finally switched to a liquid (Cascade Gel) and it made a huge difference. I think it depends on your water and the make and model of dishwasher you have, what works best.
Oleth says
Are you running your water first to get it hot, before starting the dishes? If so, then maybe switch detergents.
Helen says
I definitely need to try this! My dishes have been coming out of the dishwasher with spots — maybe this will help.
Granny Sandy says
For hard water areas, try Lemi Shine ~ EXCELLENT product for spots and film on dishes/glassware.
Patti says
We have hard water so Finnish cubes dishwasher detergent works best for me, (Cascade gel is the worst) and the solid Jet Dry rinse agent that comes in a little basket. Every once in a while the glassware looks spotted so I dip a cotton ball in vinegar and wipe glasses inside and out and they look like new again! I also put white vinegar in the rinse agent dispenser.
mark says
I always use a cup or more of white vinegar, when I wash my dishes and they come out looking like new!
mark says
I also use white vinegar in my laundry as a natural bleach substitute!
Jennifer says
I do not clean mine on a regular schedule but when my dishes start look dingy or I see bits of food in the bottom…I know its time :0)
Cleaning the dishwasher definately makes a difference to its performance!
Jessica says
I’m not sure how to take apart my machine… LOL
Hope says
I don’t think I can take it off? I don’t want to end up calling a repair man?
Crystal says
Me too! Mine’s at least 19 years old so most of what’s posted today doesn’t help me. ?