DIY Dishwasher Soap Scum Remover

Regular cleaning is necessary to keep your dishwasher looking like-new.

The soap used in dishwashers can build up over time and cause soap scum, which is unattractive and can cause your dishwasher to malfunction, as well. Regular cleaning is necessary to keep your dishwasher looking like-new and to make it work effectively. There are a variety of methods you can use to rid your dishwasher of soap scum.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Powdered laundry detergent
• Cloth or sponge
• Lemon oil
• Scrub brush
• Ammonia
• Spray bottle
• Rubber gloves

Instructions

1. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda into the bottom of the dishwasher, and run it through a cycle. Then, pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, and run it through another cycle. This thoroughly cleans the dishwasher, releasing dirt, grime and soap scum buildup from the inside of the machine.

2. Add a few drops of water to powdered laundry detergent, and mix the two into a paste. Then, scrub the soap scum buildup inside your dishwasher with this paste using a cloth or sponge. Run the dishwasher through a cycle when finished to rinse the dishwasher thoroughly.

3. Rub lemon oil over the soap scum buildup in your dishwasher, and scrub the buildup with a scrub brush to loosen it. Then, wipe it away with a soft cloth.

4. Pour a mixture of 1/4 cup of ammonia and 1/2 gallon of water into a spray bottle. Alternatively, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Then, spray this solution onto the soap scum inside of your dishwasher, and scrub away the residue with a scrub brush. Run the dishwasher through a cycle when finished to rinse the dishwasher thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• If using ammonia, wear rubber gloves while cleaning to protect your hands.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Remove Soap Scum
• Mrs. Clean: Dishwasher Cleaning Tips