How to Clean the Inside of a Dishwasher to Remove Soap Scum (Cheap Method)

Member

By StacyP
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating:

(3 Ratings)

Keeping the inside of your dishwasher clean is not just for the sake of appearance. A clean interior is important part of maintaining a dishwasher. Built-up soap scum inside a dishwasher can interfere with how well the kitchen appliance is able to function. The soap scum can get stuck in hoses and cause your dishwasher pump to work harder than normal. This simple, cheap method for cleaning the inside of a dishwasher will help ensure that your dishes get as clean as possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

powdered drink mix containing citric acid

Step 1

First, make sure your dishwasher is empty before proceeding to the next step to remove the soap scum.
Step 2

Fill your dishwasher’s detergent cup with any powdered drink mix that contains citric acid. I’ve used a store brand lemonade mix to successfully get rid of soap scum inside my dishwasher. (I’ve also heard that Tang is especially useful in getting rid of dishwasher soap scum.)
Step 3

Run your dishwasher through a normal cycle. This should get rid of the soap scum. If not, consider using an industrial strength citric acid cleaner. This type of soap scum remover can be found at major retailers and grocery stores among the dishwasher detergents and cleaners.